Ah, another year has passed in the world of the sweet science, and boxing is peaking in a way we haven’t seen since Floyd Mayweather Jr was the heel everyone tuned in to hate. With the extremely heavy handed influence of Saudi Arabia, and his excellency Turki, champions rose, heroes fell, and legends were cemented. So, without further ado, let us dive into the definitive, infallible, best best of list of the year, the One-Two Boxing Awards.
Fighter of the Year: Oleksandr Usyk
What can you say about a man who dances like a Ukranian prima ballerina at the Kyiv National ballet, punches like a sledgehammer and has a smile like the Joker? Usyk, the Ukrainian maestro, put on a clinic of skill and determination this year. His continued dominance at heavyweight reaffirmed what we’ve long suspected: he’s not just a fighter, he’s a generational talent. Look at his latest run in heavyweight: Joshua, Joshua, Dubois, Fury, Fury. All this from a fighter who had already claimed Undisputed at Cruiserweight, at a time when the cruiserweight division was packed with KILLERS. Usyk’s performances have been nothing short of symphonic—composed, deliberate, and devastating, and even if he retired now, he’d be in conversation for an all time great, not just at heavyweight or cruiserweight, but all time.
Fight of the Year: Haney vs. Garcia
There are fights, and then there are fights. Haney vs. Garcia was the latter—a barnburner that reminded us all why we love this sport. A match that had you standing and screaming from around 30 seconds into the first round, when that left hook we all knew was coming connected far earlier than we thought and sent Barclay’s Arena into a frenzy, setting the stage for the drama to follow. Although marred in the aftermath from positive steroid tests, it only added to the myth. Ryan Garcia, although highly problematic, has become MUST WATCH boxing. His erratic behaviour in the lead up to the fight was unlike anything boxing fans had ever seen. From missing weight, to partying late into the night on fight week, to chugging a beer at the weigh in, it was a pure circus show, a spectacle that reminds you why boxing is special. Imagine any other athlete in any sport behaving that way? A NFL player? Sure, he can beat his wife, but drinking a beer during a superbowl press conference? Suspended. An NBA player? Kyrie only stated the earth was flat and he missed half a season. Prior to fight week, I had a conversation with Henry Garcia, his father, and even he was concerned the fight was happening and a large majority of spectators questioned whether Ryan Garcia would even make it to the ring. All that led to people writing off Garcia and assuming an easy night for Haney. We all know how it turned out, the complete opposite, as Garcia’s ostarine infused body battered Haney. From the first round, when that signature hook rocked Haney, fans were on their feet, and for the most part, never left them. It might not have been the most technical fight, but it had fans screaming throughout the entire match. Although the fallout is still being dealt with, lawsuits, bans, etc… it’s hard to pick a fight that left more of an impact this year, and impossible to imagine an upcoming fight that would dwarf this potential rematch.
Female Fight of the Year: Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 2
Some sequels disappoint. This one did not. Taylor and Serrano, two gladiators of the ring, gave us another war for the ages. Trading leather with the kind of ferocity that would make Dempsey nod in approval, their second showdown cemented both women’s legacies as icons of the sport. Taylor’s resilience and Serrano’s relentless pursuit made this a fight etched in the annals of history. Add in the drama of an all-time cut, and the gruesome image of blood pouring down Serrano’s face for the entire second half of the fight, and you come up with one of the greatest rivalries in boxing, where even though Taylor got the nod on the cards, people will remember the fights, not the result.
Female Fighter of the Year: Katie Taylor
Katie Taylor’s 2024 campaign was a masterclass in perseverance and excellence. After avenging her previous loss to Chantelle Cameron and then claiming another victory over Serrano in their epic rematch, Taylor proved once again why she is the face of women’s boxing. Her skill, grit, and undeniable heart have made her a living legend. She is the definition of a “winner”, the kind of athlete who has that rare, innate quality of greatness, where they can get the job done no matter the circumstances.
Knockout of the Year: Lucas Bahdi vs. Ashton Sylve
Goodnight, Irene! Lucas Bahdi, a veritable nobody from Niagara Falls Canada, getting outboxed in a shutout on all three cards, delivered a knockout so thunderous it could have been heard over the roar of the Falls. Facing the highly touted MVP promotions prospect, the speedy and slippery Ashton Sylve, Bahdi unleashed a perfectly timed counter that sent Sylve to the canvas like a sleeping statue. It was the kind of punch that reminds us boxing isn’t just a sport—it’s theater, and that night, Bahdi was the Canadian Shakespeare.
Upset of the Year: Jaime Munguia vs. Surace
Boxing thrives on unpredictability, and this year’s biggest shocker came when Jaime Munguia faced the unheralded Bruno Surace. The French underdog, was a +1200 favourite, and unbelievably had only FOUR KNOCKOUTS in his previous 25 fights. Munguia seemed likely to finish off the Frenchman early, with a hard knockdown in the second, but t’was not to be. This was a classic tale of David slaying Goliath, proving once again that in boxing, the script is written in blood, sweat, and guts.
Event of the Year: Queensberry vs Matchroom 5v5
In a sensational showdown in Riyadh, Queensberry Promotions swept the 5v5 card, toppling Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom team in dominant fashion. The headline bout saw Zhilei Zhang deliver a stunning fifth-round knockout of Deontay Wilder, with Zhang controlling the fight from start to finish. Wilder, once a feared force, seemed a shadow of his former self as he was stopped at 1:51 of round five.
The night was all Queensberry, as Daniel Dubois stopped Filip Hrgovic in the eighth, Dmitry Bivol dispatched Malik Zinad in the sixth, and Hamzah Sheeraz wore down Austin Williams in the eleventh. Nick Ball won a close split decision over Raymond Ford, while Willy Hutchinson outpointed Craig Richards with a unanimous decision.
Frank Warren’s stable of fighters earned a cool $3 million, proving their dominance and securing bragging rights in this thrilling cross-promotional clash.
Boxing Person of the Year: Turki Alashikh
Boxing’s global ambassador, his excellency, Turki Alashikh, took the sport to new heights in 2024. His vision, passion, and financial investment in boxing revitalized the sport in regions where it had long been dormant. From staging blockbuster events in Saudi Arabia to funding grassroots programs worldwide, reviving the legendary Ring Magazine, and the purchase of Michael Benson’s twitter account, Alashikh’s influence has been transformative. Love him or hate him, his impact is undeniable.
Prospect of the Year: Abdullah Mason
Mason, hailed as the next great American hope in boxing, is a southpaw sensation with all the tools to become a legend—athleticism, speed, power, and a polished boxer-puncher style that’s as sharp as a tailor’s needle. Over the course of the year, the young dynamo steamrolled through five fights, leaving a trail of battered opponents who rarely saw the fifth round. Yet, in his final outing of the year, the cracks in the armour appeared.
Facing journeyman Yohan Vasquez on a Friday night, Mason’s invincibility took a hit—literally. Dropped twice in the first round, the top prospect showed his mettle by storming back and dispatching Vasquez in the second round. It was a thrilling reminder that boxing is as much about overcoming adversity as it is about showcasing talent.
While Mason’s potential for greatness remains intact, the bout highlighted the need for better competition in 2025. After a year of feasting on soft opposition, his skills—and chin—deserve the litmus test of stiffer challenges. With the stacked lightweight division beckoning and whispers of multi-division dominance in his future, Mason has the raw materials to carve out a career for the ages—if he can survive the fire.
Here’s to another year of knockouts, upsets, glory and insane cards from Saudi Arabia. Until next time, keep your hands up, and your chin down.