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Has been updated:
December 31, 2022
It’s been an interesting year for boxing. The sport continues to struggle with an identity crisis as a YouTube intruder blurs the lines between real professional martial arts and his teenage fantasies. On the other hand, the fragmented nature of professional gaming, including promotional ties, broadcaster partnerships, and multiple governing bodies, means that conversation remains one of the frustrations. Fans collectively regret the big fight that didn’t happen.
This year’s Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua and Terrence Crawford vs. Errol Spence definitely fit that category. Both were the subject of debate, aspirations and feverish speculation, but neither made it past the negotiating table. It’s a situation the boxing world is used to.
But despite all its shortcomings, the sport continues to provide a lot of excitement.
3. Sebastian Fundora v Ericson Rubin
Two top contenders in the super welterweight division had a thrilling ups and downs in Las Vegas on the 9thth April. With the WBC interim title on the line, the action unfolded from the first bell. Fundora is an odd looking character for a 154 pounder, he’s 6 foot 5 tall and has incredibly long pipe his cleaner legs.
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Still, his 80-inch reach gives him a huge advantage over his opponents. Like many ranged fighters, he’s also a devastating force at three-quarters or full-range.Rubin entered the fight with just one loss to WBC champion Jermell Charlo, and there was a There was no lying down. Both boxers hit on this canvas. You can watch this on YouTube.
2. Dimitri Bivol v Saul Alvarez
‘Canelo’ has been the sport’s number one draw since winning his first super-welterweight world title in 2011. In 2019, he stepped up to light heavyweight and TKOed a badly weakened Sergey Kovalev to win the WBO title in that division as well. Bolstered by that success, Alvarez attempted to repeat his WBA his belt feat against Kovalev’s compatriot Bivol this year. Performed in Las Vegas cinco de mayo It seemed like all the cards stacked up in his favor for the weekend Alvarez would each year brutalize a fallen man in front of thousands of ecstatic Mexicans. But Bivol, a wonderfully composed operator with a solid boxing foundation, had other ideas. Their contest, which is not a slugfest but an intriguing clash of styles, can be viewed at this link.
- Katie Taylor v Amanda Serrano
Women’s boxing has long struggled to earn credibility, but 2022 was the year it matured. It was spread out and didn’t seem to be strong enough. Too often, world title fights were badly mismatched. Several battles in the women’s top end bucked that trend this year.
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The first and most impressive of them all was Ireland’s Katie Taylor, who set a new standard with her multi-belt lightweight defense against former unified featherweight champion Amanda Serrano. Staged at the historic Madison Square Garden at the end of April, the action was intense from beginning to end. Not only did it deserve a number one for that reason alone, but it also had the feel of a historic landmark. The battle that defined and perhaps created an era. You can watch it here.
World in Sports Fighter of the Year 2022 – Naoya Inoue
It’s usually hard to pick a boxer for this year. There are multiple candidates, which boil down to opinions. However, this year is probably easier than the others.
The attention of boxing fans (and the media) is generally focused on the heavyweight classes, so lightweight boxers are often ignored. This oversight means that some of the best fighters of the era may be largely unknown to the general spectator of the sport. ” Naoya Inoue is definitely someone who deserves more than mainstream recognition.
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The bantamweight Wrecking Machine defeated Filipino legend Nonito Donaire and England’s Paul Butler this year to unify his division and win all four major belts. In the ring, he brings a disturbing intensity, and outside the ring, he’s an unpretentious character with boy band styling.
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It may go to show that much of the way boxing is currently reported is wrong.A true pound-for-pound superstar like this could be ignored by international broadcasters. There are paid events. Someone, somewhere, has their priorities wrong.
If you’re interested, check out Inoue’s Destruction of Donaire.
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