MENS FIGHTER OF THE YEAR: TERENCE ‘BUD’ CRAWFORD
The consensus for this pick comes down to three names in the debate for fighter of the year, Terence Crawford, Naoya Inoue and Devin Haney, each with a claim to be deserving of the accolade of fighter of the year.
The majority of publications have gone the pick of Japanese sensation Inoue who continues to grip the combat world as Godzilla did when tearing through Tokyo back in his heyday.
In 2023 he followed through with his promise of becoming undisputed in a second weight class, wanting to make an immediate splash in choosing the big fish of the Super Featherweight division, a contest that for the first time had fight fans slightly undecided on a winner, a rare feat if you have followed the career of the ‘Monster’.
Stephen Fulton was judged to be the best the division had to offer, travelled to Japan with his WBO/WBC titles firmly in-tact but would leave that same continent empty handed, Inoue reeling in his catch with a good old fashioned beatdown that lasted eight rounds.
Next stop on his tour of devastation was a collision course with Marlon Tapales who unfortunately for him was in possession of the IBF/WBA titles, Inoue dethroned the Filipino, knocking him out in ten rounds in brutal domination.
It was enough to tip the balance in favour of Inoue for the majority of publications but just not this one.
Littered picks have found Devin Haney as the other main contender with a claim to being 2023’s best. Wins over Vasily Lomachenko and Regis Prograis lent argument to that debate.
Both solid picks respectively but for me, one man came to the forefront in my thinking in my pick of Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford.
Each passing year for the last few my wish list has included Crawford vs. Spence, a wish that was left unfulfilled until 2023 when the stars finally aligned to give us THE fight.
Uncertainty hung over the fight in regard a prediction with few willing to step off the fence, instead we heard boxing’s most knowledgable telling us, fighter ‘A’ would win if he does this but if fighter ‘B’ does this he could win, edging the bets either way of a winner not prepared to put his/her reputations on the line.
So when it came to fight night, the way in which Crawford dismantled Spence came as quite the surprise, not because of the winner but the way in which he secured the victory.
Terence Crawford was simply sensational, his jab setting up the heavy artillery that damaged the face of Spence to an extent that left nothing to discourse on the king of the division.
Honourable Mention: Naoya Inoue, Devin Haney
FEMALE FIGHTER OF THE YEAR: KATIE TAYLOR
Katie Taylor became undisputed in her second weight class in 2023, but for the first time in a long while, she went into the rematch in November as the underdog with many believing her best days were behind her.
The thinking stems from May of the same year, the Irish star dropped a majority decision against Chantelle Cameron which lead people to believe a similar feat would be replicated, little did they know, it served only to invigorate Katie who set out to avenge the only loss on her record, one which she thought was unjust the first time around.
Same Opponent, Same Location, different result. Katie on the night was sensational in taking home victory via a thrilling majority decision to reverse the previous result, once again she reigned as a undisputed world champion, this time in a new weight class.
Honourable Mention: Amanda Serrano
FIGHT OF THE YEAR – JAIME MUNGUIA VS. SERGIY DEREVYANCHENKO
This one always had ‘rock em, sock em’ written on it from the moment the fight was signed, neither take a backward step which meant an explosion for the fight fans who recouped their monies worth from the twelve rounds that the fight lasted.
Both men took turns to inflict pain on the other but it was the Mexican bull who landed a combination that concluded with a body shot that dropped the Ukrainian to his knees. The knockdown would ultimately mean that Munguia had done enough on the judges scorecards to win by unanimous decision. If it wasn’t for that act a majority draw verdict would have been rendered.
Honourable Mention: Luis Nery KO11 Azat Hovhannisyan. Joe Cordina SD12 Shavkat Rakhimov; Haney UD12 Lomachenko.
WOMENS FIGHT OF THE YEAR: KATIE TAYLOR VS. CHANTELLE CAMERON II
Katie Taylor and Chantelle Cameron is one which could be played out countless times, each giving fight fans their monies worth in blood, sweat and a few tears.
Earlier in the year Cameron had sent Irish fight fans back to their beds with a grumble in upsetting the odds to score a majority decision in Taylor’s beloved Dublin, Ireland.
Katie accepted the reality that Cameron was the better fighter on the night but wasted little time in taking up the rematch clause in the contract.
So Take two, the date was set for November 25, Irish fans once more cramming into the 3Arena in Dublin with expectation of a successful home win for their beloved superstar.
The queen of the lightweight division went on the front foot from the start, seemingly gaining a knockdown of Taylor which was ruled a slip from referee Roberto Ramirez Jr.
It acted to stir a sense of urgency from Taylor who put rounds in the bank with her hand speed and mobility. Down the stretch, Cameron came on the stronger of the two but Taylor was adjudged to have done enough to reverse the verdict of a majority decision in an instant classic which again promoted the beauty of women’s boxing.
Honourable Mention: Amanda Serrano UD10 Erika Cruz, Yesica Nery Plata UD10 Kim Clavel.
KNOCKOUT OT THE YEAR – JUNTO NAKATANI VS. ANDREW MOLONEY
This one was difficult to pick but even more so watching it from afar due to our fondness of Andrew Moloney, putting aside that sentiment there was non more electrifying than the right hand of the Japanese superstar Junto Nakatani.
The fight showcased the fast rising Nakatani utilising all his god given talents under the bright lights of the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Moloney’s courage got him to the twelfth round having already found himself on the canvas in the fourth but Nakatani pushed for the showstopper which came courtesy of a right hand down the pipe.
Seeing is believing (check the video below)
Honourable Mention: David Morrell KO1 Yamaguchi Falcao; Mark Magsayo KO3 Isaac Avelar.
UPSET OF THE YEAR: DEONTAY WILDER VS. JOSEPH PARKER
Deontay Wilder entered the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh with the swagger of a man oozing with his usual confidence in the knowledge that a victory over Joseph Parker would lead to a career’s best payday with a matchup with Anthony Joshua lingering attractively in the background.
All that was needed was to get by Parker. Sure, it was thought Parker was a stubborn assignment for the big hitting Wilder but his record reflected the fact that when stepped up in opposition he lost, many believing the same here would play out.
Wilder himself gave himself a four round knockout predicition but come fight night he looked gun shy and simply unable to land anything substantial, left bewildered by the rejuvenated Parker who outboxed the Alabama native on route to a twelve round decision.
Honorable Mention: Rafeal Espinoza MD Robeisy Ramirez, Brian Mendoza KO7 Sebastian Fundora.
PROSPECT OF THE YEAR – DIEGO PACHECO
Pacheco had a stellar 2023 with three wins all of which came before the entirety of the contest. Wins over Jack Cullen, Manuel Gallegos and Marcelo Coceres were enough for the 22-year old to be crowned our Prospect of the year. Matchroom will now look to match Pacheco with former world champions as he embarks on titles in the not too distant future.
Honourable Mention: Bruce Carrington, Andy Ruiz
TRAINER THE YEAR – BRYAN ‘Bomac’ MCINTYRE
What a year for McIntyre, first he led Crawford to victory over Spence Jr then he jumped on a plane to Manchester to oversee Chris Eubank Jr avenge his earlier loss to Liam Smith before continuing the asention of one of his prized pupils in Keyshawn Davis.
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