As the year comes to a close, it’s time to look back and celebrate the best of the best in the world of boxing. From the biggest upsets and most memorable bouts to the rising stars and veteran champions, there’s a lot to reflect on.
In this article, I’ll share my top picks, So let’s dive in and see which moments and achievements stood out in the past year in the world of boxing.
Prospect of the year 2022 – Keyshawn Davis
Davis is truly a promising young fighter in the sport. 2022 was really the year where he demonstrated his ability in the pro game with some strong performances in his few fights.
He is also being heavily backed by the promoter, Top Rank for big things which is hoping he will become the next great former U.S. Olympian stars like Errol Spence Jr. and Shakur Stevenson.
While Davis’s competition has been limited so far, his opponents have been experienced and had more wins than losses.
It will be interesting to see how he progresses in 2023 and if he can become a contender at lightweight. Make sure to check out Hanzgod’s highlight of him below:
Honorable mentions
- Robeisy Ramírez
- Xander Zayas
Trainer of the year 2022- Derrick James
It’s hard to look past the work of the Texas-based Derrick James as Trainer of the year. As he continues to get some brilliant results with his fighters.
A solid performance and TKO win for Errol Spence Jr over Ugas in a packed-out football stadium. Helping and adjusting Jemell Charlo’s gameplan vs Castano to become an undisputed champion at 154lbs. While we have also seen the sudden rise of highly-rated lightweight contender Frank Martin with his win over Rivera along with two other wins this year.
James will no doubt be wanting to keep up his current form with this crop to achieve even more in 2023.
Honorable mentions
- Gennady Mashianov – Work with Bivol
- Bob Santos – Garcia’s win over Colbert, Carlos Adames win over Montiel
Upset of the year 2022 – Bivol vs Canelo
Canelo Alvarez had been dominant in the super middleweight division, defeating top champions like Callum Smith, Billy Joe Saunders, and Caleb Plant.
It seemed like no one could stand in his way. However, instead of continuing to defend his belts at 168 lbs, Canelo decided to take on a new challenge by moving up to 175 lbs to face the highly-rated Russian fighter, Bivol.
Most boxing fans expected Canelo to come out on top, but instead, Bivol completely outboxed the Mexican superstar, leaving Canelo with no answer to Bivol’s moves. This unexpected outcome shows that anything can happen in the world of boxing.
Honorable mentions:
- Garcia defeating Colbert
- Opetaia defeating Briedis
Women’s Fighter of the year 2022 – Claressa Shields
Shields continued to prove why she is the top women’s fighter in the sport today in 2022. But it was her display against Marshall that will go down in the history books as she became undisputed at Middleweight again!
On the night of the fight, Shields and Marshall went the full 10 rounds. According to CompuBox stats, Shields outlined Marshall significantly, landing more jabs and more power punches. In the end, Shields won the fight via unanimous decision.
This fight was historic for a few reasons: it took place at the O2 Arena in the United Kingdom, and it was the first time that two female boxers headlined a major venue in the UK. It was also the first all-female boxing card in the UK. It’s great to see women’s boxing getting more recognition and opportunities to showcase their skills.
Honorable mentions:
- Katie Taylor
- Alicia Baumgardner
KO of the year 2022 – Caleb Plant vs Dirrell
Knockout of the year is always a hotly contested title, with so many devastating KOs taking place in the world of boxing. But for me, there was one that really stood out above the rest: Caleb Plant’s incredible double-left hook knockout over Anthony Dirrell.
This knockout was a thing of beauty. Plant landed a perfect left hook to the body, before pausing for a moment and then delivering a returning left hook up top. Dirrell had no chance to defend himself, and the knockout was swift and brutal.
But it wasn’t just the knockout itself that made this moment memorable. Plant’s celebration after the fight was equally savage. It was a truly unforgettable moment in the world of boxing.
If you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend checking out my video on this knockout. It’s a must-see for any boxing fan.
Honorable Mentions:
- Wood vs Conlan
- Tank vs Rolly
- Cordina vs Ogawa
- Fury vs Whyte
- Crawford Vs Avanesyan
Fight of the year 2022 – Wood vs Conlan
It’s no secret that the fight between Leigh Wood and Michael Conlan was an absolute classic. The action was nonstop from start to finish, and both fighters demonstrated incredible skill and determination.
What made this fight particularly special was the sheer drama and emotion that played out in the ring. Wood, the reigning WBA featherweight champion, was knocked down in the first round by Conlan, but he refused to give up. In the final two rounds, Wood staged a stunning comeback, dropping Conlan in the penultimate round and delivering a final-round stoppage.
The final three minutes of the fight were absolutely electric, with both fighters going on the attack and Wood landing the decisive blow that sent Conlan crashing between the ropes.
The immediate aftermath of the fight was focused on Conlan’s welfare, as he was taken out of the ring on a stretcher. The entire boxing community is wishing him a full recovery.
Despite the dramatic ending, the fight was an extremely entertaining and competitive one, with both fighters displaying a high level of skill and heart. Conlan started strong and looked to be in control for much of the fight, but Wood’s comeback in the final two rounds was truly memorable.
In my opinion, this fight was the fight of the year. It had everything you could want in a boxing match: excitement, drama, and a comeback for the ages. I’m sure we’ll be talking about this fight for years to come. Check out the highlights in the link below:
Honorable mentions:
- Fundora vs Lubin
- Taylor vs Sarrano
- Charlo vs Castano
- Joyce vs Parker
Fighter of the year 2022 – Dmitry Bivol
When it comes to picking the fighter of the year, it’s a tough competition with so many talented fighters having standout performances. But for me, Dmitry Bivol stands out above the rest.
Bivol had an incredible year, highlighted by his dominant victories over two of the biggest names in the sport: Canelo Alvarez and Zurdo. Canelo was on the form of his life when he faced Bivol, but the Russian completely outclassed him, outsmarting and outboxing him at every turn. And against Zurdo, Bivol faced a giant undefeated southpaw with five straight knockouts leading up to the fight, yet he still managed to completely outbox him.
These victories alone would be enough to make Bivol a strong contender for fighter of the year, but when you consider the stats of the fights, it’s even more impressive. Canelo and Zurdo combined to throw 1373 punches against Bivol, but they only landed 191 of them, a measly 14.7%. This just goes to show how effective Bivol’s strategy was at neutralizing his opponents and leaving them feeling frustrated and helpless.
Bivol’s style might not be the most entertaining for fans, but it’s hard to deny the effectiveness of his approach. He’s a master of outsmarting and outboxing his opponents, and it’s no wonder he’s had such a breakout year in the boxing world. In my opinion, Bivol is the clear choice for fighter of the year.
Honorable Mentions:
- Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez
- Naoya Inoue
- Jermell Charlo
- Devin Haney
- Oleksandr Usyk
- Tyson Fury
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