A star-studded annual Ring Magazine Boxing Awards saw the Ukrainian champ collect three accolades after a fantastic year in the ring.
After a top 2024 in the boxing world with the biggest fight of the millennium, 11 awards were handed out to the top performers the weekend before last.
With some of the hottest prospects being appreciated and the integral work of Turki Alalshikh, boxing certainly looks to be shaping up wonderfully.
MALE FIGHTER OF THE YEAR: Oleksandr Usyk
Being a part of one of the greatest heavyweight bouts the ring has seen, Usyk takes the Fighter of the Year award after two huge victories over Tyson Fury.
The May of ’24 saw the two belt-holders face one another in Riyadh.
Trailing after the first five rounds, Usyk switched the momentum and took all the belts after the sound of the final bell – round nine being one to remember.
Oleksandr became the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
December was the month of the rematch, with Fury attempting to make it right.
Although claiming the decision was wrong, ‘the Gypsy King’ did not snatch the belts back as Usyk remained in charge.
FEMALE FIGHTER OF THE YEAR: Gabriela Fundora
The 5’9″ southpaw took home the top prize in the women’s game after a spectacular year aged just 22.
‘Sweet Poison’ is the current holder of the IBF, WBC, and WBO world flyweight titles.
Fundora secured the IBF belt in a final round TKO triumph over Christina Cruz early last year in Phoenix.
Daniela Asenjo challenged the young star in August but couldn’t take the title away from her.
Round seven of the third fight of the year saw the American secure the other two belts.
Gabriela Celeste Alaniz stood in her way on this night, but could not make the distance against the brilliant Fundora.
FIGHT OF THE YEAR: Ray Ford vs Otabek Kholmatov
The WBA featherweight title stood on the line in the best bout of 2024, with Kholmatov being the challenger.
With one round remaining, two of the three scorecards stood in the Uzbekistani’s favor.
Drama came in the final round as Ford put his opponent down and out to mark Kholmatov’s first loss in 15.
Ray Ford dug deep to keep the crown, winning the award for the best outing of the year.
EVENT OF THE YEAR: Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury I
The greatest night of Usyk’s life came in May, being crowned the undisputed heavyweight champion of the year.
In a fight that had it all, Ukraine took the glory as Usyk was victorious via split decision.
The scorecards were 115-112 and 114-113 to the champ, and one judge scored it 114-113 to Fury.
This marked the ‘Gypsy King’s’ first loss – a fight which nearly saw him knocked out for the first time in the all-important round nine.
Oleksandr Usyk took to his knees at the sound of his name and cried whilst praying to God – a moment in history that truly cemented himself among the greats.
TRAINER OF THE YEAR: Robert Garcia
Former Filipino boxing champion Robert ‘the Hitman’ Garcia has been involved in the rise of Amir Khan, Andre Ward, and Andre Berto, all of whom hold world titles.
His 2024 success mainly came from the unbelievable year of Jesse Rodriguez.
‘Bam’ became the victor of The Ring and WBC junior bantamweight championship.
This was part of many massive wins from the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy.
Jose ‘Rayo’ Valenzuela brought another major title with the WBA junior welterweight champ during USA’s Riyadh Season launch.
Raymond Muratalla also advanced from prospect to contender with three wins in the year and the return of Vergil Ortiz Jr to the stable.
After an empty 2023, ’24 was a fantastic year, during which he won by two round-one knockouts and was involved in a fight-of-the-year contender.
PROSPECT OF THE YEAR: Moses Itauma
With a record of 11-0-0, Moses Itauma has put himself in the public eye at the age of 19.
2024 saw the young Slovakian-born man win four bouts by knockout.
His most recognisable fight so far was his round-one TKO victory on the Usyk vs. Fury II undercard.
Demsey McKean couldn’t withstand the pressure, and an overhand left in round one put Itauma’s opponent down and out.
ROUND OF THE YEAR: Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury I – Round 9
It cannot be put into words the sheer drama that came from the ninth round of the first fight.
With Usyk switching the momentum in the few rounds before, the Ukrainian put his foot on the gas in this one.
Oleksandr Usyk secured himself as the undisputed champ as a hammer shot put Fury against the ropes.
The Gypsy King did come back as the clock went on, but this was the proven round to show who was in charge on the night.
UPSET OF THE YEAR: Jaime Munguia vs Bruno Surace
One of the final weekends of last year saw the big upset as a powerful right from Surace in the sixth round was a knockout.
Jaime Munguia went into the bout heavily as the favourite – his opponent, however, was a write-off in many of the fan’s eyes.
Surace stepped into Mexico in Munguia’s hometown and shocked the world with a one-punch KO.
To put it into perspective, the only other time the Mexican had hit the canvas was against the widely respected and top fighter Canelo Álvarez.
COMEBACK OF THE YEAR: Billy Dib
“Cancer couldn’t defeat me, and boxing couldn’t either.”
Billy Dib returned to the ring in ’24 after being out since March 2022.
The Aussie boxer was told after being diagnosed with stomach cancer that he only had six months to live.
A discovery that the Sydney man could be saved came the following October.
Dib stepped through the ropes one last time in December and won via unanimous decision, making his final record 49-6-0.
KNOCKOUT OF THE YEAR: Daniel Dubois vs Anthony Joshua
In a packed-out Wembley Stadium, Daniel Dubois was the one to make history on September 21st.
After knocking AJ to the ground in the first, third, and fourth rounds, the fifth bell was the last sound.
With 59 seconds to go, referee Marcus McDonnell had no choice but to stop the fight.
This secured Dubois as the IBF World Heavyweight Champion.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: Don King
Don King is recognised for being a fantastic promoter due to his work in the 20th century.
King was involved in some of the biggest fights of the 1970s, including the “Thriller in Manilla” fight between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali.
His work has created some of the most memorable moments in boxing history and also created some Hall of Fame fighters.
