YEAR IN REVIEW: Boxing bounces back in 2022

Boxing around the globe made an amazing recovery after the downturn and limited number of fights and tournaments, with a virtual close down at times because of the Coronavirus.

OUTSTANDING INTERNATIONAL TITLE FIGHTS

Dmitry Bivol W PTS 12 Canelo Alvarez - WBA “super” light heavyweight title

Going into this fight boxing pundits gave Bivol very little chance of upsetting Alvarez who was considered the best boxer in the world “pound for pound”.

Jermall Charlo W KO 10 Brian Castano - WBC middleweight title

Even though he was stopped in the tenth Castano once again extended Charlo as he had done in their first fight and it was against the odds that he was knocked out in the tenth round.

Errol Spence Jr. W TKO 10 Yordenis Ugas - IBF/WBA/WBC welterweight titles

Ugas had come off a win over boxing legend Manny Pacquiao before this fight but Spence, who the boxing pundits consider as one of the best fighters in the world, was in command all the way even though Ugas put up a game performance.

Jesse Rodriguez W TKO 8 Srisaket Sor Runvisai - WBC junior bantamweight title

The more experienced Runvisai (50-5-1) going into the fight was expected to extend Rodriguez, but the skilled and classy Rodriguez proved the better of the two in an outstanding performance.

Devin Haney W PTS 12 George Kambosa Jr. - IBF/WBA super, WBC, WBO lightweight titles

The unbeaten and classy Haney proved too much for Kambosa, who was unbeaten going into their first fight, and in the return match Haney once again proved to be the better fighter.

SA BOXING REVIVAL

With the Corona virus under control South African boxing picked up and the number of tournaments around the country increased, leading to a better year for South African boxing and the fighters.

At the end of the year South Africa had two new world champions, with the outstanding achievement being the 23-year-old Sivenathi Nontshinga (11-0; 9), who travelled to Hermisillo, Mexico and beat the homeboy Hector Flores Calixto on a split decision to win the vacant IBF light flyweight title.

Another outstanding performance by a South African fighter was by Hekkie Budler who, having only his second fight since 2018 and at the age of 34, beat Mexico’s Elwin Soto 19-2 in a final eliminator for the WBC light flyweight title. Budler (34-4; 10) now qualifies to meet Japan’s Kenshiro Teraji for the WBC light flyweight title

Another fighter who upset the odds was Thato Bonokoane, who won the vacant World Boxing Federation junior featherweight title with an outstanding 12 round points victory over Diego Alberto Ruiz.

AWARDS

Boxer of the Year: Sivenathi Nontshinga, who travelled to Mexico and beat hometown boy Hector Flores Calixto to win the vacant IBF light flyweight belt.

Fight of the Year: Roarke Knapp won on points over 12 rounds against Brandon Thysse for African Boxing Union junior middleweight title.

Prospect of the Year: Flyweight Phumelela Cafu who fought to a majority 12 draw for the South African flyweight title against the vastly more experienced champion Jackson Chauke on 27 March in East London.