\n
By\u00a0Paul R. Jones!\u00a0 <\/i><\/b>Each year,\u00a0EAST SIDE BOXING <\/b>\u00a0hands out its \u201cESBY<\/b>\u201d awards to honor boxing\u2019s best fighters, fights, knockouts, and moments.<\/p>\n
Here are our 2022 ESBY Award Winners<\/b> and Nominees<\/b>:<\/p>\nFIGHTER OF THE YEAR, MALE<\/h2>\n
\ud83c\udfc6<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>WINNER: DMITRY BIVOL<\/b><\/h3>\n Our top honor, Fighter of the Year<\/b>, goes to DMITRY BIVOL<\/b>, a fighter who ratcheted up his level of competition and took significant risks in 2022.<\/p>\n
BIVOL<\/b> bested former pound-for-pound kingpin, CANELO \u00c1LVAREZ<\/b>, and formerly undefeated WBO world titlist, GILBERTO \u201cZURDO\u201d RAMIREZ <\/b>over a 12-month span \u2014 opponents boasting a combined 101-1-2 record going into their fights with BIVOL<\/b>. Considering that \u00c1LVAREZ<\/b> and RAMIREZ<\/b> were still in their respective primes, and that \u00c1LVAREZ vs. BIVOL <\/i><\/b>qualified as a bona fide UPSET OF THE YEAR<\/b> candidate, it\u2019s easy to see how BIVOL<\/b> was well-deserving of our FIGHTER OF THE YEAR<\/b> honors.<\/p>\n
NOMINEES<\/p>\n
JESSE \u201cBAM\u201d RODRIGUEZ<\/b><\/p>\n
Naoya Inoue<\/b><\/p>\n
Jermell Charlo<\/b> <\/b><\/p>\n
Devin Haney<\/b> <\/b><\/p>\nFIGHTER OF THE YEAR, FEMALE\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n(Photo by Mark Robinson\/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\ud83c\udfc6<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>WINNER: CLARESSA SHIELDS<\/b> <\/b><\/h3>\n The Female<\/b> <\/i>Fighter of the Year<\/b> is a no-brainer: CLARESSA SHIELDS<\/b>. Earlier in the year, SHIELDS<\/b> upended the formerly undefeated, EMA KOZIN<\/b>, to defend her middleweight world titles. For an encore, SHIELDS<\/b> beat long-time rival, SAVANNAH MARSHALL<\/b>, in October. The fact that SHIELDS<\/b>\u2019 victory over MARSHALL<\/b> came on MARSHALL<\/b>\u2018s home turf, against another undefeated fighter, was icing on the cake. More important, the MARSHALL<\/b> win was a legacy play, marking SHIELDS<\/b>\u2019 third time as an undisputed champion.<\/p>\n
SHIELDS\u2019 <\/b>2022 campaign added teeth to her \u201cGWOAT\u201d claims, and made her, hands-down, the Female<\/b> <\/i>Fighter of the Year<\/b>.<\/p>\n
NOMINEES<\/p>\n
Katie Taylor<\/b><\/p>\n
Natasha Jonas<\/b><\/p>\n
Alycia Baumgardner<\/b><\/p>\n
Yokasta \u201cYoka\u201d Valle<\/b><\/p>\nFIGHT OF THE YEAR<\/span>, MEN\u2019S BOXING<\/h3>\n\ud83c\udfc6<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>WINNER: LEIGH WOOD TKO12 MICHAEL CONLAN<\/b> <\/b><\/h3>\n LEIGH WOOD<\/b> and MICHAEL CONLAN<\/b> put on modern classic<\/span><\/span> in their bout for dibs on WOOD\u2019<\/b>s World Featherweight crown. Their thriller saw WOOD<\/b> rally back from a first-round knockdown to return the favor to CONLAN<\/b> in the penultimate round. WOOD<\/b> then closed the show in the 12th<\/sup><\/span> round with a buzzer-beating knockout that parked CONLAN<\/b> outside out of the ring.<\/p>\n Because WOOD vs. CONLAN<\/i><\/b> had it all: high-stakes, huge momentum shifts, blood and cuts, multiple dig-deep moments, and a KNOCKOUT OF THE YEAR<\/b> candidate, this matchup was more-than-worthy of our ESBY\u2019s for Fight of the Year<\/b>.<\/p>\n
NOMINEES<\/p>\n
Sebastian Fundora RTD9 Erickson Lubin<\/b><\/p>\n
Sivenathi Nontshinga SD12 Hector Flores <\/b><\/p>\n
Jermell Charlo KO10 Brian Casta\u00f1o<\/b><\/p>\n
Alen Babic UD10 Adam Balski<\/b><\/p>\nFIGHT OF THE YEAR, WOMEN\u2019S BOXING<\/h3>\n\ud83c\udfc6<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>WINNER: KATIE TAYLOR SD10 AMANDA SERRANO<\/b><\/h3>\n In a revolutionary year for Women\u2019s Boxing, KATIE TAYLOR<\/b> and AMANDA SERRANO<\/b> fought in arguably the most important fight to date. And, unlike many marquee matchups, TAYLOR vs. SERRANO<\/i><\/b> actually lived up to the hype, featuring a nip-and-tuck battle between two highly-skilled fighters in their primes. And while a razor-thin split decision went TAYLOR<\/b>\u2018s way, many in the hometown crowd believed SERRANO<\/b> did enough to warrant the nod.<\/p>\n
Factor in the competitiveness displayed by both fighters, their guaranteed seven-figure paydays, the buzz associated with the event, and widespread disagreement about who won the fight, and there\u2019s little doubt that TAYLOR vs. SERRANO<\/i><\/b> was Women\u2019s Boxing\u2019s Fight of the Year<\/b><\/span>.<\/p>\n NOMINEES<\/p>\n
Alycia Baumgardner SD10 Mikaela Mayer<\/b><\/p>\n
CLARESSA SHIELDS UD10 SAVANNAH MARSHALL<\/b><\/p>\n
ERICA FARIAS SD10 SANDY RYAN<\/b><\/p>\nPROMOTER OF THE YEAR<\/h3>\n
\ud83c\udfc6<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>WINNER: MATCHROOM BOXING <\/b>(EDDIE HEARN)<\/h3>\n Having a hand in our consensus picks for FightER of the Year<\/b> (DMITRY BIVOL<\/i><\/span>), Fight of the Year<\/b> (WOOD vs. CONLAN<\/i>; TAYLOR vs. SERRANO<\/i><\/span>), and Breakout fighter of the Year<\/b> (JESSE \u2018BAM\u2019 RODRIGUEZ), made MATCHROOM BOXING<\/b> and promoter EDDIE HEARN<\/b> our surefire pick for\u00a0Promoter\u00a0of the Year<\/b>.<\/p>\n NOMINEES<\/p>\n
PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS <\/b><\/p>\n
(HAYMON BOXING)<\/p>\n
TOP RANK<\/b><\/p>\n
(BOB ARUM)<\/p>\n
Golden Boy Promotions<\/b> <\/b><\/p>\n
(oscar de la hoya)<\/p>\n
Queensberry Promotions<\/b><\/p>\n
(Frank Warren)<\/p>\n
KNOCKOUT OF THE YEAR<\/h3>\n\ud83c\udfc6<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>WINNER: LEIGH WOOD KTFO12 MICHAEL CONLAN<\/b> <\/b><\/h3>\n WOOD vs. CONLAN<\/i><\/b> not only earned our top honors as the\u00a0Fight of the Year<\/b><\/span>, but it also featured our pick for KNOCKOUT OF THE YEAR<\/b>: LEIGH WOOD<\/b>\u2019s emphatic 12th<\/sup><\/span> round knockout of MICHAEL CONLAN<\/b>.<\/p>\n With time running out in their clash, WOOD<\/b> locked in on CONLAN<\/b>\u2019s <\/b>chin and reeled off a final flurry that culminated with CONLAN<\/b> deposited outside of the ring. WOOD<\/b>\u2019s knockout win was a storybook ending to an epic fight, and ensured that his WBA title would remain around his waist.<\/p>\n
NOMINEES<\/p>\n
CALEB PLANT\u2019s GRAVEDIGGER KTFO9 ANTHONY DIRRELL<\/b><\/p>\n
JOE CORDINA MONSTER KTFO2 KENICHI OGAWA<\/b><\/p>\n
NAOYA INOUE\u2019S HIGHLIGHT-REEL TKO2 NONITO DONAIRE<\/b><\/p>\n
JORDAN GILL\u2019S COMEBACK KTFO9 KARIM GUERFI<\/b><\/p>\nTRAINER OF THE YEAR<\/h3>\n
<\/b> \ud83c\udfc6<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>WINNER: <\/span>DERRICK JAMES<\/b> <\/b><\/h3>\n DERRICK JAMES<\/b> easily walked away with our TRAINER OF THE YEAR<\/b> award. All JAMES<\/b> did in 2022 was coach ERROL SPENCE <\/b>to his 3rd<\/sup><\/span> World Title as a unified champ, lead do-it-all lightweight, FRANK MARTIN<\/b>, from blue chip prospect to the verge of stardom, and help JERMELL CHARLO<\/b> reach a career milestone by becoming only the 7th<\/sup><\/span> undisputed champ in the modern 4-belt era (at the time). Having one undisputed or unified champ in your stable is a major accomplishment. Having two of them is rare air.<\/p>\nNOMINEES<\/p>\n
JOEL D\u00cdAZ <\/b><\/p>\n
ROBERTO GARCIA<\/b><\/p>\n
SHINGO\u00a0INOUE<\/b><\/p>\n
FREDDY ROACH<\/b><\/p>\nCOMEBACK FIGHTER OF THE YEAR<\/h3>\n
\ud83c\udfc6<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>WINNER: KELL BROOK<\/b><\/h3>\n After being stopped by Terence Crawford<\/b> in 2020, many wrote Kell Brook <\/b>off as washed. BROOK, who admitted prior struggles with depression and alcohol<\/span>, even flirted with retirement following the CRAWFORD<\/b> shellacking. \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nHowever, a long-awaited scrap versus Amir Khan<\/b> was just what the doctor ordered for Brook<\/b> after a 15-month layoff. Brook<\/b> went on to lay waste to Khan<\/b> over 6 rounds, effectively closing the book on their bitter fued.<\/p>\n
BROOK<\/b>\u2019s ability to conquer his personal demons, end the Khan<\/i><\/b>\u2013<\/i>Brook<\/i><\/b> rivalry in style, and finish his career on his own terms, made him our pick for Comeback Fighter of the Year<\/b>.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nNOMINEES<\/p>\n
Keith Thurman<\/b><\/p>\n
ABNER MARES<\/b><\/p>\n
Danny Garcia<\/b><\/p>\n
Sergey Kovalev<\/b><\/p>\nMOST IMPROVED FIGHTER OF THE YEAR<\/span><\/h3>\n\ud83c\udfc6<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>WINNER: <\/span>JAI OPETAIA<\/b><\/h3>\n Our Most Improved Fighter of the Year<\/b> is JAI OPETAIA<\/b>. OPETAIA<\/b> emerged in 2022 with a signature win over former IBF Cruiserweight Champ, MAIRIS BRIEDIS<\/b>. What made the upset win over BRIEDIS<\/b> more impressive was that OPETAIA<\/b> fought a significant portion of the fight with a broken jaw, and BRIEDIS<\/b> entered the bout on a 5-fight-win-streak dating back to a decision loss to former undisputed Champ, OLEKSANDR USYK<\/b>, in 2018. Not a bad year for the <\/span>27-year-old Aussie, who wrestled away BRIEDIS<\/b>\u2018 World Title, and quickly established himself as an elite Cruiserweight.<\/p>\n NOMINEES<\/p>\n
Fernando Martinez <\/b><\/p>\n
Alexis Rocha<\/b><\/p>\n
Zaur Abdullaev<\/b><\/p>\n
Isaac Cruz <\/b><\/p>\nUPSET OF THE YEAR<\/h3>\n
<\/b>\ud83c\udfc6<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>WINNER: <\/span>DMITRY BIVOL UD12 CANELO \u00c1LVAREZ<\/b><\/h3>\n Few oddsmakers gave DMITRY BIVOL<\/b> more than a snowball\u2019s chance of beating perennial pound-for-pound star, CANELO \u00c1LVAREZ<\/b>. However, BIVOL<\/b> and veteran trainer JOEL D\u00cdAZ<\/b> executed a flawless gameplan, featuring a pesky jab, volume punching, and persistent pressure. The strategy proved successful, earning BIVOL<\/b> the biggest win of his career (versus a prime CANELO<\/b>) and our pick for\u00a0UPSET OF THE YEAR<\/b>.<\/p>\n
NOMINEES<\/p>\n
Mark Magsayo MD12 Gary Russell Jr. <\/b><\/p>\n
Jai Opetaia UD12 Mairis Briedis<\/b><\/p>\n
HECTOR GARCIA UD12 CHRIS COLBERT<\/b><\/p>\n
Fernando Martinez UD12 Jerwin Ancajas<\/b><\/p>\nBREAKOUT FIGHTER OF THE YEAR\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n\ud83c\udfc6<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>WINNER: <\/span>JESSE RODRIGUEZ<\/b><\/h3>\n JESSE \u201cBAM\u201d RODRIGUEZ<\/b> took the boxing world by storm in 2022, becoming the youngest Super Flyweight World Champion in history. And RODRIGUEZ <\/b>went through a gauntlet to shift the paradigm at 115 lbs., including besting former champs CARLOS CUADRAS<\/b> and SRISAKET SOR RUNGVISAI<\/b>, and world title challenger, ISRAEL GONZALEZ<\/b> \u2014 not too shabby for a 22-year-old. RODRIGUEZ<\/b>\u2019s activity level, strength of schedule, and history-making campaign netted him our vote for BREAKOUT FIGHTER OF THE YEAR<\/b>.<\/p>\n
NOMINEES<\/p>\n
JAI OPETAIA<\/b><\/p>\n
Jared Anderson <\/b><\/p>\n
Zhanibek Alimkhanuly<\/b><\/p>\n
David Morrell<\/b><\/p>\nPROSPECT OF THE YEAR<\/h3>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\ud83c\udfc6<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>WINNER: FRANK MARTIN<\/h3>\nIn a lightweight division bursting at the seams with talent, Frank Martin<\/b> sewed up our Prospect of the Year<\/b> <\/i>honors by displaying elite skills and staying busy in 2022. The undefeated lightweight fought 3 times, effectively transitioning from blue chip prospect to a full-fledged breakout fighter in a year. The fact that Martin<\/b> consistently increased his level of competition, and gave fits to opposing fighters despite often ceding height and reach advantages, also bolstered his case. Add Martin<\/b>\u2019s win over MICHEL RIVERA<\/b> in their WBA lightweight title eliminator to the equation, and there\u2019s little doubt that Martin<\/b>\u2019s the real McCoy when it comes to boxing prospects.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nNOMINEES<\/p>\n
Xander Zayas<\/b><\/p>\n
Keyshawn Davis<\/b><\/p>\n
Diego Pacheco<\/b><\/p>\n
Bakhodir Jalolov<\/b><\/p>\nWORST DECISION OF THE YEAR<\/h3>\n
\ud83c\udfc6<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>WINNER: <\/span>JOSH TAYLOR SD12 JACK CATTERALL<\/b><\/h3>\n The WORST DECISION OF THE YEAR<\/b> goes to the two judges responsible for awarding JOSH TAYLOR <\/b>a \u201cwin\u201d over JACK CATTERALL<\/b>. Of course<\/i>, <\/i>CATTERALL<\/b> <\/i>did enough to win the fight. TEAM CATTERALL<\/b> even went as far as calling the decision a robbery. As CATTERALL<\/b>\u2018s trainer, JAMIE MOORE<\/b>, put it, \u201c[CATTERALL<\/b>] has worked all his life to wait for that moment . . . on the promise that he would get the opportunity. He gets the opportunity, he performs like that and beats the champion in his own back yard, and get absolutely robbed.\u201d \u201cThink about the message that sends,\u201d MOORE<\/b> added, \u201cIt\u2019s absolutely disgusting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although opinions on boxing Twitter were mixed (e.g., CARL FRAMPTON<\/b> tweeted, \u201cthe wrong man got his hand raised #TaylorCatterall\u201d), CompuBox stats showed CATTERALL<\/b> out-landing TAYLOR<\/b> in all but one round. And, while TAYLOR<\/b> held slight advantages in total and power punches landed, there was little doubt that CATTERALL<\/b> was the busier fighter. Factor in the British Boxing Board of Control<\/b>\u2019s reported investigation into the bout\u2019s scoring, and it\u2019s easy to see why the ongoing debate about the judging in TAYLOR vs.<\/i><\/b> <\/i>CATTERALL<\/i><\/b> qualifies as our boxing\u2019s worst decision of 2022. <\/i><\/p>\n
NOMINEES<\/p>\n
ILUNGA JUNIOR MAKABU SD12 THABISO MCHUNU<\/b><\/p>\n
BADOU JACK SD10 RICHARD RIVERA <\/b><\/p>\n
BRIAN PARRELLA SDRAW10 KEVIN SALGADO <\/b><\/p>\n
TE\u00d3FIMO L\u00d3PEZ SD10 SANDOR MARTIN<\/b><\/p>\n
DID WE GET IT RIGHT?<\/b><\/p>\n
Don\u2019t forget to let us know by leaving us a comment below, retweeting this article, and smashing the like button on social media.<\/p>\n
It would mean a lot to us<\/i>.<\/p>\n
Finally, dear readers, I wish you all the best in the New Year! \uf03c<\/span><\/p>\n* * * *<\/p>\n
About the Author:<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nPaul R. Jones!<\/i><\/b>\u00a0is a longtime writer and ringside photographer for EAST SIDE BOXING<\/b>. His articles, photographs, and commentary have appeared in Boxing News 24<\/i>, Round by Round Boxing<\/i>, Boxing Insider<\/i>, Medium.com<\/i>, and more.<\/p>\n
Follow me on Twitter <\/i>@boxingepicenter<\/i><\/span><\/a>. Email me or send me a secure tip at <\/i>prjones1@hotmail.com<\/i><\/span>.<\/p>\n More Great Articles from Paul R. Jones!<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
2021\u2019s Best Fighters, Fights, And Knockouts: East Side Boxing Hands Out Its 2021 Awards!<\/b> Which Fighters, Fights, And Knockouts Were Truly the Best Of 2020? East Side Boxing Hands Out Its 2020 Awards!<\/b> The \u201cESBYS\u201d: Handing Out East Side Boxing\u2019s 2019 AWARDS \u2013 Winners and Nominees!<\/b> EAST SIDE BOXING\u2019s 2018 AWARDS: Complete List of Winners, Nominees, More!<\/b> ESB Best of 2017! Lomachenko, Crawford, Joshua, More!<\/b> The Year in Review: Six Notable Fights in 2014 \u2013 Part I \u2014 Pacquiao, Hopkins, Froch, More!<\/b> <\/p>\n\nBoxing News \u00bb <\/span>Boxing\u2019s Best of 2022: East Side Boxing Hands Out its Annual Awards!<\/span><\/p>\n<\/nav>\n<\/small><\/p>\n
![\"Boxing\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.boxing247.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/081A2444-Boxing-Photos.jpg.webp)
<\/picture><\/p>\n![\"Boxing\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.boxing247.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Claressa-Shields_victory-Boxing-Photos.jpg.webp)
![\"Boxing\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.boxing247.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/MR3B4029-Boxing-Photos.jpg.webp)
![\"Boxing\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.boxing247.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/EM1_6488-Boxing-Photos.jpg.webp)
![\"Boxing\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.boxing247.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/hearn-eddie-Boxing-Photos.jpg.webp)
![\"Boxing\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.boxing247.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/MR3B4347-Boxing-Photos.jpg.webp)
![\"Boxing\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.boxing247.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Showtime-Spence-v-Ugas-PPV-Dallas-Fight-Night-WESTCOTT-145-Boxing-Photos.jpg.webp)
![\"Boxing\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.boxing247.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/MANC-KHANvBROOK-79-Boxing-Photos.jpg.webp)
![\"Boxing\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.boxing247.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/canelo-bivol-fight-result10.jpg.webp)
![\"Boxing\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.boxing247.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/EM1_6815-Boxing-Photos.jpg.webp)
![\"Boxing\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.boxing247.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/0037_Michel-Rivera-vs-Frank-Martin-Boxing-Photos.jpg.webp)
![\"Boxing\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.boxing247.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/GLASGOW-TAYLOR-CATTERALL-64-Boxing-Photos.jpg.webp)