Fighter of the Year: Canelo Alvarez
This year was an incredible year in boxing. 2019 saw a plethora of world class fighters with signature fights, but on Jan 1, few would have ever predicted Canelo Alvarez would move up to light heavyweight to take a belt from the once elite Sergey Kovalev. Canelo started his year with a clear win over Daniel Jacobs, taking his belt in what many saw as an incredibly difficult fight. Then the questions began. Would Canelo allow GGG his shot at third fight that DAZN so badly wants? On September 19, the rumours that were originally dismissed were confirmed. Canelo would move up two weight classes and challenge Kovalev for his WBO title. The Canelo haters chimed in with the derivative “Kovalev is past his prime”, “Kovalev is washed”, but let’s be real, Canelo is not a light heavyweight and the move, though calculated, was a bold one regardless. We all know how it went down, how Kovalev went down, and how Canelo rose up, to P4P #1 in many eyes, and sealed his place as fighter of the year.
Fight of the Year: Inoue v Donaire
Again, a spoiled year for boxing fans, as can be seen by the level of discourse over what fight was fight of the year. When there are five or six legitimate nominations, all with a fair argument, you know it’s been a banger. Inoue v Donaire was a cut above tho. A true prodigy in Naoye Inoue, who had never been tested and had steamrolled his previous opposition, facing a wily veteran and former multi-weight champion Nonito Donaire gave viewers a spectacle worthy of the Ali Trophy. Hurt in the second, with what turned out to be a broken orbital bone, Inoue battled through a war which saw both fighters hurt, and dug deep to show the world what he was truly made of. He came out with the decision that solidified him in the top 3 P4P fighters in the world but also gained experience that can’t be learned in the gym or fighting cans. Credit to Donaire as well, in what may have been his send-off, in forcing Inoue to summon every ounce of his iron will to secure the victory.
Knockout of the Year: Wilder v Brazeale
Wilder was going to win knockout of the year no matter what. The only question was what knockout would win? While his stunning stoppage of Luis Ortiz certainly bears consideration, the fact that Brazeale only lasted 2 minutes and 5 seconds, this fight really started the avalanche of what would become the “Wilder is the hardest puncher in the history of boxing” conversation. The right hand of doom will look to set the record straight with Tyson Fury on Feb 22. Honourable mentions: Wilder v Ortiz, Canelo v Kovalev, Haney v Moran
Trainer of the Year: Eddie Reynoso
The trainer of the year trains the fighter of the year. This is not always the case, but in 2019, Reynoso continued to ride a wave of success. Also notable is the fact that he trains Ryan Garcia who made big leaps in his career, with a first round knockout of Romero Duno on the Canelo-Kovalev undercard. Honourable mention: Robert McCracken, who took a whole heap of shit after Joshua-Ruiz 1, but remained steadfast and helped Joshua deliver a masterclass in the rematch.
Biggest Robbery: Smith v Ryder
Prior to the fight, Callum Smith was riding a full-on hype train, with a few pundits claiming he would be the man to defeat Canelo at Super-Middle. Enter John Ryder, who battered Smith for 12 hard rounds, leaving the bigger man with no answers for Ryder’s attack on the inside. Ryder won the fight in many eyes, and the wide cards in favour of Smith put even more salt in the wound.
Promoter: Eddie Hearn
Hearn has a lot of haters out there, but there is no denying the man has a flair for showbiz. With free reign of all that DAZN money, Hearn has consistently put out some of the best shows of the year. Many criticized the Saudi Arabia location for Joshua-Ruiz 2, but Hearn was able to pull it off and make it the spectacle it deserved. A look at the Matchroom stable also leaves no doubt that Hearn has signed the highest percentage of talent in boxing. An easy choice for Promoter of the Year.
Upset of the Year: Joshua v Ruiz 1
If this isn’t on your list as upset of the year, I don’t know what sport you are watching. There has been millions of words written on the fight, so I won’t elaborate, but we were all stunned as the portly Mexican shocked the world and defeated the seemingly invincible Joshua in 7 rounds.
Prospect of the Year: Vergil Ortiz Jr.
Another category with a runaway winner. Vergil Ortiz Jr is a mean looking man, and only 21, he looks to just become bigger and meaner. Fifteen fights, fifteen KOs. In his last three fights, Ortiz stopped three fighters who had never been stopped. The Texan will have many belts in his future.