Welcome to The Queensberry Rules’ annual year-end boxing awards, continuing throughout this week. Here’s how we do it around these parts:
The major categories are Knockout of the Year, Fight of the Year and Fighter of the Year. For each category, we give five finalists, with video and/or relevant info. On the second day after a category is introduced, we’ll give you the winner and explain why.
Previously: Knockout of the Year nominees and Knockout of the Year winner. On deck: Fight of the Year winner and Fighter of the Year nominees.
FIGHT OF THE YEAR NOMINEES (IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER)
Oscar Valdez vs Scott Quigg
The tally of misery is incredible: a broken jaw, a broken nose and before it even started, a broken foot. This one was pure offensive acumen.
Deontay Wilder vs Luis Ortiz (recap video)
Wilder’s clumsy power-punching routine won out over Ortiz’s more focused attack, but only in the final round did the American leave no doubt.
Jarrett Hurd vs Erislandy Lara (highlights)
It’s still hard to believe that the classical Cuban craftsman ended up in such a war, but he clearly made a conscious decision to buck the “boring” label against a guy whose style is anything but.
Canelo Alvarez vs Gennady Golovkin 2
Is it better than the first? Maybe, which is saying plenty. The late rounds are undeniably sensational by any standard.
Kosei Tanaka vs Sho Kimura
It may have flown under your radar. You have no excuse now. These two started at a ridiculous pace and never let up.
THE HONORABLE MENTIONS (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER) [WILL BE UPDATED 1/3]
Alex Saucedo vs Lenny Zappavigna
Srisaket sor Rungvisai vs Juan Francisco Estrada
Vasyl Lomachenko vs Jorge Linares
Murat Gassiev vs Yunier Dorticos
Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder (highlights)
John Molina vs Ivan Redkach
Oleksandr Usyk vs Mairis Breidis
Miguel Berchelt vs Miguel Roman
Jessie Magdaleno vs Isaac Dogboe
Adonis Stevenson vs Badou Jack
Oleksandr Gvozdyk vs Adonis Stevenson
Shawn Porter vs Danny Garcia
Dillian Whyte vs Dereck Chisora 2
