1 Dmitry Bivol
Not content material with beating only one Mexican star in 2022, Russia’s Dmitry Bivol managed to observe up a breakout efficiency towards Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in Could with an equally convincing thrashing of Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez in November. Certainly, regardless of what among the scorecards might have stated, Bivol misplaced only a few of the 24 rounds he spent within the firm of each Alvarez or Ramirez and basically taught two fighters fuelled by lengthy unbeaten runs a boxing lesson. He additionally hit the brakes on the progress of not solely the game’s present primary Mexican famous person but additionally a person who was being tipped to hold that mantle sooner or later.
2 Jesse Rodriguez
Nowhere close to an inventory like this in 2021, this 12 months occurred to be the 12 months Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez transitioned from sizzling prospect to champion in a single large leap, taking a combat at quick discover in an unnatural weight class to bang down the door and let his voice be heard. This method paid off in spades again in February, when he stepped as much as super-flyweight to dethrone Carlos Cuadras, and he was then simply as spectacular when stopping Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in eight rounds in June. He completed the 12 months with a 12-round choice win towards Israel Gonzalez, when, on the tender age of twenty-two, Rodriguez performed the chief help position to Canelo Alvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin III in Las Vegas.
3 Shakur Stevenson
After first making a splash as a featherweight, 2022 was the 12 months Shakur Stevenson really introduced himself at super-featherweight, constructing on a 2021 win towards Jamel Herring to extensively outpoint main rivals Oscar Valdez and Robson Conceicao. Each these opponents appeared well-matched with Stevenson on paper, but the American has, at simply 25, already developed a knack for making the supposedly troublesome look simple.
4 Jack Catterall
As unusual as it could appear to function on this listing a fighter who didn’t formally “win” a combat in 2022, such was the standard of Jack Catterall’s efficiency in a February super-lightweight title combat towards Josh Taylor, and so heinous have been the eventual scorecards, he greater than deserves his place. From spherical one to 12 that night time in Glasgow, Catterall boxed fairly fantastically, even dropping Taylor, the champion, within the eighth spherical, and would have, in another sport, been rewarded for his brilliance with a well-deserved, career-defining victory. However, alas, that is boxing.
5 Oleksandr Usyk
Though on the face of it Usyk’s 2022 seems no totally different than his 2021, it’s essential to remember the context and duress below which he carried out, and to additionally emphasise the significance of eradicating all doubt by beating Anthony Joshua a second time in August. To take action within the 12 months during which Ukraine, his house nation, went to battle with Russia is a testomony to not solely Usyk’s psychological fortitude however his willingness to step up, again himself, and ignore any and all potential excuses.
6 Devin Haney
Few will probably be eager to rewatch the 2 fights anytime quickly, but Haney’s back-to-back victories over George Kambosos in Australia this 12 months deserve recognition and respect. Pitching a one-sided boxing lesson in each (one in June, the opposite in October), he tamed a person in Kambosos who not solely had the backing of house help however had simply overwhelmed Teofimo Lopez in a career-best efficiency.
7 Jai Opetaia
Australian southpaw Opetaia was unproven and comparatively unknown earlier than his title problem towards cruiserweight champion Mairis Briedis in July. Nevertheless, after 12 scintillating rounds on the Gold Coast, the 27-year-old had effectively and really confirmed himself as each a warrior and the brand new primary at 200 kilos.
8 Jermell Charlo
After the frustration of a break up draw with Brian Castano in 2021, Charlo was adamant he would make the gulf between them a lot clearer in 2022. And this he did, too, taking part in his half in top-of-the-line fights of the 12 months earlier than, in spherical 10, knocking Castano out to verify as soon as and for all his supremacy at super-welterweight.
9 Naoya Inoue
“Monster” Inoue ended the 12 months with a routine and considerably disappointing eleventh spherical stoppage of an overmatched Paul Butler, but started the 12 months with a much more thrilling and significant second-round dismissal of previous rival Nonito Donaire. That was a combat many assumed could be aggressive, primarily based on their titanic first combat in 2019, however Inoue had different concepts, exploiting his opponent’s advancing age with the quickest and scariest of begins.
10 Kenshiro Teraji
WBA and WBC super-flyweight belt-holder Teraji rebounded from a troublesome 2021, a 12 months during which he suffered his first professional loss, to each actual revenge on his conqueror and in addition win a “Battle of the Yr” contender in 2022. He began the 12 months by stopping Masamichi Yabuki in three rounds in March, avenging his 2021 loss to Yabuki, after which waged an exciting battle with Hiroto Kyoguchi, ultimately prevailing within the seventh-round of a mini basic.
British Fighter of the Yr
1 Jack Catterall
2 Tyson Fury
3 Joe Joyce
4 Leigh Wooden
5 Joe Cordina
6 Chris Billam-Smith
7 Sunny Edwards
8 John Ryder
9 Dan Azeez
10 Maxi Hughes
