Welcome to The Queensberry Rules’ annual year-end boxing awards, which run over a week. Here’s how we do it around these parts:
The main categories are Knockout of the Year, Fight of the Year and Fighter of the Year. For each category, we provide five finalists, with video and / or relevant information, as well as honorable mention candidates. On the second day after a category is launched, we will give you the winner and explain why.
Now: Knockout of the Year nominees. On the deck: Fight of the Year nominees and Knockout of the Year winner.
RESULTS OF THE YEAR NOMINEES (IN CHRONOLOGICAL SEQUENCE)
Oscar Valdez vs Miguel Berchelt
Compelling performance. Dramatic arc. Perfect finishing shot.
Gabriel Rosado vs Bektemir Melikuziev
It’s always nice when you can combine several “X of the Year” candidates into one, and it was both a Disturbance of the Year candidate and of course KO of the Year candidate. That it comes from a guy who is not known for his power also adds something.
Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder 3
After 10 laps of somehow still standing on his feet, it’s going to take something special to end Wilder’s evening early. This is what Fury delivered.
Anthony Dirrell vs Marcos Hernandez
Few peaks in human history have landed as this. It was just cartoonish.
Kiko Martinez vs Kid Galahad
It’s been a great year for thought-to-run-claimants-who-turned-punishment-soaking-gate-keepers-to-get-shockingly-upset-cum-Knock-out-of-the-Year candidates, wasn ‘t it?
RESULTS OF THE YEAR HONEST ENTRIES (IN NO SPECIFIC SEQUENCE)
Brandun Lee vs Samuel Teah
Efe Ajaba vs Brian Howard
Callum Smith vs Lenin Castillo
Canelo Alvaez vs Caleb Plant
Troy Williamson vs Ted Cheeseman
Ryan Garcia vs Luke Campbell
Connor Benn vs Chris Algieri
Mauricio Lara vs Josh Warrington
For a summary of some other amazing KOs from 2021 …
