Top 5 boxing stories of 2012

Boxing had one of its best years in a long time in 2012, as it returned to network television, regularly attracted very large crowds, had several massive pay-per-view shows and welcomed several new stars.
The news wasn't all good, though. Its biggest star went to jail for a few months, its second-best was knocked cold and lost two in a row and everywhere, it seemed, fighters were testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.
Sadly, 2012 will also be remembered in boxing for a number of tragedies. Ex-world champion Paul Williams, then 30, was paralyzed in May in a motorcycle accident on his way to his brother's wedding. The sport lost some of its best and brightest, with boxers such as Johnny Tapia, Corrie Sanders and Hector Camacho dying way too young.

Other notables who died in 2012 include legendary trainers Angelo Dundee and Emanuel Steward, Hall of Fame fighters Carmen Basilio and Teofilo Stevenson and colorful journalist Bert Sugar.

Here are the five boxing stories in 2012: — By Kevin Iole

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4. Boxing plagued by performance-enhancing drug woes
Several of the sport's big names failed drug tests. Lamont Peterson had an elevated testosterone ratio, and his bout with Amir Khan was canceled. Erik Morales tested positive for clenbuterol, but was allowed to fight Danny Garcia anyway. Antonio Tarver tested positive following a bout with Lateef Kayode and was yanked from his announcer's post on Showtime.
4. Boxing plagued by performance-enhancing drug woes
Several of the sport's big names failed drug tests. Lamont Peterson had an elevated testosterone ratio, and his bout with Amir Khan was canceled. Erik Morales tested positive for clenbuterol, but was allowed to fight Danny Garcia anyway. Antonio Tarver tested positive following a bout with Lateef Kayode and was yanked from his announcer's post on Showtime.