By Gerardo Granados: As the year comes to an end, I am sure that we fight fans can agree that this was a good year for prize fighting as things finally start to come back to normal.
For some business owners, things won’t go back to normal anymore, as many shops closed as a direct consequence of the same policies applied over two and a half years. As for pro boxing, it was great to see more and more boxing events taking place not only at the major main events but also at many small towns across the world.
I´ll try to summarize the 2022 boxing year in a few lines. This year a couple of unfortunate accidents took place inside the ring, and I must say that one of those could have been prevented if the boxing local commission would not authorize a novice boxer to fight a veteran fighter. As the reader must already know, referee Mills Lane died early this month, and with him, a part of the boxing old school left.
Also, this year, we saw how the WBC kept on getting distracted from his duties and kept getting involved in things not related to pro boxing. The Ring Magazine also got into propagandistic efforts on his cover, instead of only covering boxing-related news or articles.
This year women’s boxing got fight fans interested, and I must say that they keep on finding new ways not only to put up entertaining fights to please fight fans but also to draw attention outside the ring. For sure, by now, you know who Ebanie Bridges is.
For some, it was upsetting to see Canelo Alvarez lose to WBA light heavyweight titlist Dimitri Bivol, but the Russian fighter took Alvarez to school because he is not a past prime hand-picked boxer. Canelo asked for the direct rematch but ended up defending his titles against an old past prime Gennady Golovkin at super middleweight instead.
At the heavyweight division, Joe Joyce looks to be the most promising contender, and perhaps next year, he will become the man to beat.
Ladies and gentlemen, to the boxing purists and all the savage, bloodthirsty fight fans, I present to you the 2022 Boxingnews24 Awards:
I´ll leave it to the reader to pick the Diva of the year.
The mismatch of the year goes to the Jaime Munguia vs. Gonzalo Coria fight; if you missed it, then you better don’t search for it.
Robbery of the year goes to the Ryan Rozicki SD 10 against Yamil Alberto Peralta. I scored it 100-90 (99-90 as a result of a ludicrous point deduction). Peralta fought not only against Rozicki but also against the referee Hubert Earle. Special mention to the Teofimo Lopez robbery against Sandor Martin.
The worst fight aired on television goes to the Michel Rivera vs. Joseph Adorno fiasco.
Upset of the year goes to journeyman Luis Alberto “Venado” Lopez for defeating IBF feather titlist Josh Warrington.
The revelation of the year goes to Jessie Bam Rodriguez, who jumped from flyweight to super flyweight on short notice to beat, first experienced former titlist Carlos Cuadras to win the WBC flyweight title, then upset former titlist Srisaket Sor Rungvisai stopping him in eight rounds to defend his title, and beat Israel Gonzalez for his second successful defense in this year.
Trainer of the year goes to Derrick James. In case the reader doesn’t know him, well, you can see him in the corner of undisputed WBC – WBA – IBF – WBO super welter Champion Jermell Charlo and also with unified welter WBC – WBA – IBF Champion Errol Spence Jr.
The female fight of the year goes to Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano. If you didn’t see it, you can search for it and enjoy it.
For the female fighter of the year, the award goes to Natasha Jonas, who this year moved up from lightweight to super welter and beat Chris Namus to win the WBO strap, Patricia Berghult for the WBC title, and Marie Eve Dicaire for the IBF.
The knockout of the year goes to the vicious knockout and even more pleasant undertaker celebration of Caleb Plant against Anthony Dirrell.
The fight of the year award goes to Leigh Wood vs. Michael Conlan. This one had it all. It truly is a fight to remember.
The fighter of the year award goes to the undefeated, undisputed WBC – WBA – IBF – WBO bantamweight Champion of the World, ‘Monster’ Naoya Inoue. He became the undisputed bantamweight king, beating Nonito Donaire to win the WBC strap and then battering Paul Butler to win the WBO title, and Naoya made it look easy.
I want to thank all the anonymous fighters who kept pro boxing honest delivering great fights to watch and enjoy in all the corners of the world. To all of them, to the award winners, and especially to the readers, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.