Duarte Victory, Nunn Acclaimed by Boxing Group

There was controversy after Frankie Duarte’s 10th-round TKO over Albert Davila last June at the Forum. Was Davila the victim of an illegal head butt? After deliberating, the California State Athletic Commission did not overrule the decision.

But there can be no dispute that the fight was thrilling. That decision was reaffirmed over the weekend in San Diego by Boxers Against Drugs. At the organization’s annual convention, it picked the Duarte-Davila bout as its fight of the year.

Middleweight Michael Nunn of North Hollywood was selected fighter of the year. Nunn won seven fights in 1987, six by knockout, and climaxed his performance last month in Las Vegas by stopping Darnell Knox after four rounds to win the North American Boxing Federation middleweight title. Nunn is 27-0 with 18 knockouts.

Each award winner received an Archie, a trophy named after former champion Archie Moore.

Duarte (42-7-1, 32 knockouts), like Nunn a member of the Ten Goose Boxing Club of North Hollywood, has been inactive since the Davila fight, hoping his handlers can land a world title fight. But to stay sharp, he will return to the ring Tuesday night for a three-round exhibition at The Country Club in Reseda against three different opponents.