GBN New Year's Awards - A fighting finish to a difficult 2020

GBN take a look at 2020's action and hand out the awards for the year of boxing action

In a tough year for the sport, boxing has still seen some incredible action with the likes of Tyson Fury and Teofimo Lopez recording historic victories, and some incredible kncokouts including Alexander Povetkin and Gervonta Davis.

GBN hand out this year's awards for achievement and success during a tough calendar year for all fighters:

 

Fight of the Year:

Jose Zepeda vs Ivan Baranchyk

Despite not being the most anticipated contest of the year, this super lightweight contest had it all and was the thriller of the year with eight knockdowns in total in a back and forth slugfest.

Top Rank had a serious fight on their hands with from the opening bell Zepeda was needed to drag himself up from the canvas twice, feeling the power of Baranchyk twice with a flush left hook.

However the fight switched where a slip was not given as a knockdown in his favour, before he smashed Baranchyk to the floor after concerted pressure in the second round. Baranchyk responded with a wobbly counter right that sent Zepeda down for the third time in the contest and stopped his aggression.

Baranchyk went down once again in the third and fourth rounds as he began to struggle to keep up with the pace of Zepeda, but then he responded to floor Zepeda once again before the fight ended in the fifth after an explosive eight knockdowns, with Zepeda hitting hardest to knock Baranchyk out and gain the WBC silver interim status.

As you can tell, the fight was incredible and required the utmost from both fighters to make it into a 50/50 explosion in the ring, and certainly deserved fight of the year for 2020.

 

Editor's Choice Fight Performance of the Year:

Teofimo Lopez

Teofimo Lopez has really staked his claim as one of the sport's leading athletes this year, dethroning Vasyl Lomachenko to become unified lightweight champion and taking apart a seasoed competitor in superb style.

With a comprehensive boxing display in Las Vegas, 'The Takeover' backed up his talk with a dominant performance over Loma who did not look himself in the ring, but nothing should be taken away from the powerful technique and aggression that he showed executing his plan to perfection and becoming unified lightweight champion and will we see him fight Devin Haney for the final lightweight belt in 2021?

 

Knockout of the Year

Gervonta Davis vs Leo Santa Cruz

Floyd Mayweather's young apprentice made the most sensational statement of the year during his fight with Leo Santa Cruz to succesfully defend his WBA super featherweight and lightweight titles.

He landed a sensational left uppercut when appearingly struggling to get momentum in the fight, which sent Santa Cruz sprawling to the canvas, out cold.

It was explosive with an incredible amount of power from such a short shot, and solidifed his status as a real young talent in the lightweight division.

 

Ones to Watch for 2021 Award:
 

Fabio Wardley

The young British heavyweight managed by Dillian Whyte could have a big 2021 ahead of him, after a tremendous year for the Ipswich-born heavyweight who dispatched of Simon Valily at Fight Camp in August followed by another superb stoppage of heavyweight veteran Richard Lartey in November.

With a real natural power and technique, Wardley will have his eyes on bigger things in the new year with a perfect record and a good deal with Matchroom Boxing that could bring some exciting fights for the 26-year-old.

 

Our Male Fighter of the Year 2020 was announced as 'The Gypsy King' Tyson Fury after his incredible performance against Deontay Wilder.

Our Female Fighter of the Year 2020 was handed to Terri Harper who had a superb year gaining a WBC belt and taking part in a tremendous well-fought contest against Tasha Jonas.

 

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