Boxing got a very decent amount of attention this year across the major weight divisions as fans and neurals were treated to a handful of pulsating matches.
Without doubt, the biggest name out of the sport this year is Oleksandr Uysk. The Ukranian WBC, WBA (Super) and WBO heavyweight dominated the division and unified it.
While the heavyweight got some decent bouts this year, other divisions witnessed some great bouts as well.
Perhaps, the Artur Beterbiev v Dmitry Bivol bout still leaves memories in the minds of boxing fans and non-fans who were treated to exchange of power punches from start to finish.
Saudi Arabia also got attention as the host of most of the major boxing bouts this year. The gulf nation influence continues to grow not just just in boxing but also football, tennis, formula 1 among others.
1. Oleksandr Uysk v Tyson Fury (May 2004)
The first meeting of the two heavyweight boxers was keenly contested. It was a match that showed two different strategies.
While Tyson Fury, the then WBC heavyweight champion relied on his size and power, Uysk showed his amazing footwork, clean punches and ring intelligence.
The bout lasted 12 rounds as both sides couldn’t get a knock out.
Usyk eventually won via split decision after 12 rounds as he became the WBC Heavyweight champion of the World
He came the undisputed champion of the world – the first boxer to achieve the feat since Lennox Lewis did in 2000.
2. Artur Beterbiev v Dmitry Bivol (October 2024)
Artur Beterbiev v Dmitry Bivol was one one of the most intense boxing clashes of the year.
The two Russian boxers came into the bout as undefeated light-heavyweight champions and put their boxing skills on display from start to finish.
Bivol took Beterbiev to 12 rounds becoming the first boxer to go the distance against a champion who had won all his previous fights either by knockout or stoppage.
The bout was keenly contested from start to finish with very little margins separating both men.
One of the judges scored the fight a draw (114-114) while the two otters scored it in favour of Beterbiev (115-113), (116-112).
Beterbiev won won majority decision as he got crowned as the undisputed light-heavyweight champions of the world.
3. David Haney v Ryan Garcia (April 2024)
The super lightweight bout between David Haney and Ryan Garcia ended in a very convincing win for Ryan Garcia.
Ryan Garcia, the former WBC interim lightweight world champion beat via majority decision after knocking down Haney three times in round 7, 10 and 11.
Garcia landed more power punches 95-45 than Haney and outlanded him 106-87.
Unfortunately, the bout was declared a no contest bout by the New York State Athletic Commission after Garcia tested positive for a drug test.
Ryan Garcia tested positive for Ostarine, a performance-enhancing drug a day before and on the day of the bout against David Haney.
4. Kenshiro Teraji v Carlos Canizales (January 2024)
The EDION Arena in Osaka Japan hosted the WBA, WBC, and Ring Magazine light flyweight between defending champion Kenshiro Teraji and challenger Carlos Canizales.
Kenshiro Teraji was the favorite win given his previous records but the “Amazing Boy” was far from impressive as Canizales gave him a run for his money.
Canizales knocked down the home boy in the third round after bombarding him with punishing shots from the second round.
Teraji left his chin exposed for most of the rounds but dominated in the middle rounds.
Kenshiro Teraji win but it was a very narrow escape as one of the judges scored the fight a draw (113-113) but the others scored the bout (114-112).
Carlos Canizales was quite unlucky to have lost the fight via majority decision.
5. Jesse Rodriguez v Francisco Estrada (June 2024)
The WBC super flyweight bout between Jesse Rodriguez and Juan Estrada which took place at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
Jesse Rodriguez knocked out Juan Francisco Estrada in the seventh round to become the new WBC and Ring Magazine super flyweight world champion.
Although Francisco got outboxed and lost, but he showed the ability to cause an upset as he knocked down Rodriguez in the sixth round with a left-right combo.
Rodriguez’s defeat of Estrada adds to his list of winning against legends in the division with wins over Thai boxer Srissaket Sor Rungvisai and Carlos Cuadras.
