Fighter of the year
Andre ‘SOG’
Ward’s KO victory against Sergey Kovalev puts him among the all-time greats in
my opinion however, his win has been overshadowed by a fighter who has put
every opponent to shame this year with a combination of high class movement and
underrated punching power.
Vasyl ‘Hi-Tech’
Lomachenko has once again looked unstoppable at the 130lb limit beating Jason
Sosa, Miguel Marriaga and Giullermo Rigondeaux, who became the second opponent
he made quit in his short professional career.
His
movement, ring IQ and speed make him the most technically perfect fighter in
boxing today and an absolute pleasure to watch. Massive fights wait for him at
lightweight and super-lightweight if he makes the plunge and a win against
Mikey Garcia would secure his legacy as an all-time great.
Winner: Vasyl Lomachenko
Trainer of the year
A slightly
left-field winner for ‘Trainer of the year’ however, Anatoly Lomachenko must be
recognised for his work with not only his son Vasyl Lomachenko but also
Oleksandr Usyk, who secured victories against Michael Hunter and Marco Huck in
the World Boxing Super Series quarter-final.
Lomachenko
has much to thank for his father’s coaching; it has already been mentioned how
no boxer can match his movement and ring IQ while Usyk is going from
strength-to-strength and is fast becoming one of the most feared fighters on
the planet.
Winner: Anatoly Lomachenko
Fight of the year
There were
many to choose from in this award however, Anthony Joshua’s eleventh round
knock-out victory against Wladimir Klitschko had shades of heavyweight boxing
during the Golden Era of the 1970s.
This fight
was the classic young, up and coming fighter against the old veteran and for a
moment it looked as though the old veteran would do it when Joshua gassed in
the sixth and seventh round.
With three
knockdowns, this fight swung more ways than a cricket ball in overcast
conditions and in front of 90,000 people no less, it went far beyond its
billing and had hardcores and casuals alike out of their seats.
Winner: Anthony Joshua vs Wladimir Klitschko
Moment of the year
Billy Joe
Saunders went into his fight against David Lemieux off the back of some
terrible form in the ring. He looked far from his usual best against Willie
Munroe Jr. however, a move to Sheffield and trainer Dominic Ingle has done him
the world of good and has put him back on the map.
Amid his
schooling of Lemieux this month, Saunders even had time for some showboating
when the Canadian threw a wild right hand, the southpaw avoided it with ease
and had time to look up into the crowd to see where the punch had gone; a great
moment and one which summed up the fight in its entirety.
A special
mention must go to Josh Taylor who made Ohara Davies quit up after beating him
up for seven rounds up in Glasgow in July.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyf1XXGG6LE
Winner: Billie Joe Saunders showboat against David Lemieux
Winner: Billie Joe Saunders showboat against David Lemieux
Tom Eckett
@boxinguru44
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