by Paul R. Jones: With awards season in full swing and 2024 in the rearview, I'm counting down the top 5 boxing shows of 2024 and handing out hardware to honor the fighters who got us here.
(⚠️Warning: This article contains graphic images that some readers may find disturbing. Viewer caution is advised.)
No. 5. The most daring performance
Photo © DAZN on X
Candidate: Bektmir Melikozyev
• Date: April 20, 2024
• Location: Barclays Center (Brooklyn, New York)
ranked competitor, Bektmir MelikozyevAn unbeatable competitor, Pierre Hubert DIBOMBE, squared in April on Haney v. Garcia The undercard of the WBA Inter-Continental Super Middleweight Championship. What followed was a bloody mess, partly due to Melikozev and Depombe sustaining deep lacerations to their eyes, caused by accidental headbutts and exchanges of elbows in close quarters. Although Depombe took a manageable cut in the opening round, Melikuzev's horrific cut in the fifth stanza, caused by a nasty head collision with Depombe, was much worse, leaving the self-proclaimed “bully” bleeding profusely from his eyelid for the rest of the time. Fighting. Fortunately for Melikozyev, he had enough of the early rounds and was comfortably ahead on the cards when the fight was stopped in the eighth round by the ringside doctor due to an accidental headbutt. It came as no surprise when Melikozev earned a unanimous technical decision win over Depombe when the final scorecards were read.
No. 4. The most daring performance
Photo © World Boxing Association/@wbaboxingofficial
Candidate: Juno Carroll
• Date: July 24, 2024
• Location: IBA Colosseum (Serpukhov, Russia)
In an entertaining battle pitting the heavy underdog, JOno Carolagainst a former Olympic gold medalist, Albert Batyrgazievfor the WBA (interim) super featherweight title, CARROLL started strong during the first quarter of the fight, even badly bothering Batyrgaziev in the third round. However, during the remainder of the fight, Batyrgaziev methodically battered Carroll, striking Carroll in the head and body, eventually ending the Irishman's night in the ninth round with brutal body shots.
In the aftermath of the fight, Carroll joked: “I'm going to have to put my modeling career on hold for a while.” That's an understatement considering the boxing transformation Batyrgaziev gave Carroll. Due to CARROLL's courage, and his ability to persevere despite almost having his eyes closed – something not seen since GUERRERO vs. BERTO IN 2012 – CARROLL took fourth place on our list.
Photo © Jay C. Hong/AP
No. 3. The most daring performance
Image © Netflix
🥉Third place: Amanda Serrano
• Date: November 24, 2024
• Location: AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
We got third place, Amanda Serranopushed him to the extreme Taylor v. Serrano – 2nd (Consensus Women’s Boxing of the Year), Fighting Katie Taylor With a bad cut over her right eye in the last three rounds. Although Serrano fought Taylor throughout her 10 rounds, it was Serrano's ability to elevate her game in the clutch that stood out — with the Boricua legend landing 285 of 734 punches thrown (39%, per COMPUBOX) after taking a headbutt from Taylor in the round. Eight. With 4 world titles on the line, and despite competing with blood constantly running through her eyes during the tournament rounds, Serrano here proved her mettle once again in a controversial decision loss to Taylor (Scorecards: 95-94 (three times)) – Battle Many believe Serrano is the winner.
no. 2. The most daring performance
Photo © Esther Lin/PBC
🥈Runner-up: Sebastian Fundora
• Date: March 30, 2024
• Location: T-Mobile Arena (Las Vegas, NV)
Checking in at number 2 in our countdown is a delay in filling in data, Sebastian Fundorawho defeated the former World Boxing Organization world champion, Tim Tszyu, By split decision in March, which marked the bloodiest half of the fight of 2024, Tsiu vs. Fundora.
Photo © Esther Lin/PBC
Despite sustaining severe injuries and bleeding that covered his face and body, blurring his vision at times, and including Fundora's nose and mouth leaking like a faucet – “The Towering Inferno” managed to land over 700 of the total 1,100 punches exchanged in this bout. . Equally important, FUNDORA's history-making win, in which he defeated TSZYU by split decision to become the unified WBC/WBO lightweight champion, helped produce an instant FIGHT OF THE YEAR candidate who was richly deserving of the No. 2 spot. Finishing place. A match that left fans clamoring for a rematch of this “bloody good” affair.
no. 1. The most daring performance
Photo © @MIKAELALAUREN76/Instagram
🏆Winner: Michaela Lauren
• Date: November 30, 2024
• Location: InterContinental Hotel (Vienna, Australia)
Finally, the most audacious performance of 2024 came from the former world champion, Michaela Laurenfrom Sweden. In the championship game in November versus the titlist, Michael KotaskovLauren, 48, proved she is indeed a 'warrior', fighting until the final bell despite suffering horrific facial swelling. Lauren's swelling was reportedly caused by a crack in her skull, which was caused by a combination of accidental headbutts delivered early in the first round.
To make matters worse, the younger Kotaskova pummeled Loren with the cumulative effects of Kotaskova's punches and inadvertent head collisions, leaving Loren's face almost unrecognizable after the bout, resembling a character from the film's central cast, the Elephant Man.
Although Lauren quipped after the fight that she “looks like a freak show”, her bravery is undeniable, having faced off against an undefeated, world-ranked opponent 13 years her junior, at an age where more people are worried about her. Their 401Ks have more to do with the leather trade. For these reasons, in addition to the great physical toll that Michaela Loren suffered, she tops the list with The most daring performance of the year!
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About the author:
Paul R. Jones! He is a longtime boxing writer and in-ring photographer for Boxing News 24. A scientist by day and writer by night, he covers the humorous, offbeat and silly aspects of the sport of boxing. His articles, photos, and commentary have appeared in numerous online outlets (such as Boxing News 24/7, Round by Round Boxing, Boxing Insider, and Medium.com), as well as in print and scholarly magazines.
Email him or send him a tip at prjones1@hotmail.com.
