Battered and bruised: Boxing delivers knockout success in 2021

From pound-for-pound kings, to YouTubers getting in on the action, and then some… let’s take a look back at the year of 2021 in boxing.

THE GREATEST HEAVYWEIGHT OF OUR ERA

The year began with more than just talk around a Fury-Joshua super-fight, with both parties agreeing on a potential bout. Promoter Eddie Hearn was confident that the two fighters would finally get the chance to square up on UK soil in 2021.

Alas, Deontay Wilder had other plans… after exercising his rematch clause, Tyson Fury was left with no choice but to lace up his gloves for the trilogy fight.

Meanwhile, Anthony Joshua was ordered by the WBO to defend his titles against the top contender, Oleksandr Usyk.

Usyk stunned the world by beating Joshua, taking his belts and effectively taking away the opportunity of a super-fight against Fury. Now experiencing his second loss of his career in recent time, the hype and aura of Joshua as a dangerous heavyweight who could more than just match Tyson Fury, was diminished.

Oleksandr Usyk decisions Anthony Joshua to become a new unified heavyweight champion of the World #JoshuaUsyk

??? @DAZNBoxing | Highlights: https://t.co/LSj85m9UJUpic.twitter.com/uzKzKwb9SJ

— FIGHTMAG (@fightmag) September 25, 2021

Fury and Wilder stepped into the ring once again for their third fight in four years, and for Wilder, his chance to right all the wrongs from the previous fights, was afoot.

Both fighters went toe-to-toe, knocking each other down after landing significant blows, however, Fury showed he is a class above the rest, knocking out his long-time adversary, putting to bed any doubt and closing the chapter as the best heavyweight of our era.

#boxing #Fury #wilderfury3 respect to both warriors tremendous heart shown by both lovely shot here from Fury pic.twitter.com/r4UNE9acD9

— TEAM BATMANBOXING (@teambatman4) October 10, 2021

Joshua licking his wounds is keen on regaining his belts in a rematch with Usyk, however, other ideas are being put on the table.

.@Tyson_Fury makes a case for Joshua to step aside and let him face Usyk in an undisputed title fight ?? pic.twitter.com/OrrJdRTcic

— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) November 27, 2021

KING CANELO

Canelo Alvarez has had a busy year, from defending his belts to winning new ones. The Mexican made history in 2021, unifying all four major belts within 12 months, to become the first undisputed world super-middleweight champion.

After coming to blows with Caleb Plant at a media faceoff, both fighters embraced at the end of the fight and shared a beautiful moment.

I've Been Watching This Beautiful Sport For 14 Years... This To Me? Is Easily In Top 5 Most Wholesome Moments In Boxing, Really This Whole Exchange Is Beautiful. #CaneloPlant #AllAccess ???? pic.twitter.com/xIo65LmH3n

— Ying Hulian. (@YingHulian) November 27, 2021

Canelo’s record now stands at 57-1-2 (57 wins – 1 loss – 2 draws) with 39 coming by knockout. His only loss coming against Floyd Mayweather.

SHOW ME THE MONEY!

Floyd Mayweather was back in the ring, only this time against a YouTuber, in Logan Paul.

Mayweather broke the bank, raking in upwards of $50 million in sponsorships and pay-per-view sales.

Floyd Mayweather called his fight against Logan Paul a heist ??

"When it comes to legalized bank robbery, I'm the best" ??
pic.twitter.com/gVTHJMD0RU

— Sports ReUp (@SportsReUp) June 7, 2021

The fight was not absent from controversy, with Logan Paul’s younger brother Jake, crashing a media event stealing Mayweather’s hat off his head.

“Got your hat” ?? Jake Paul took Floyd Mayweather’s hat off his head. Mayhem!pic.twitter.com/HrIkdqEZgY

— BroBible (@BroBible) May 6, 2021

Jake Paul also had an eventful year putting two of MMA’s old-timers to the sword. He knocked out former UFC fighter Ben Askren within seconds of the first round with many claiming that Askren was paid to throw the fight.

Enter Tyron Woodley, a close friend of Ben Askren’s, who’d been involved in multipleconfrontations with “The Problem Child” and his team, signed up to fight Paul. The YouTuber came out on top with the MMA community heavily criticizing Woodley’s performance.

Here’s the fracas between Team Paul and Team Woodley. This could have gone much worse. Thankfully not but it was pretty damn tense for a minute there pic.twitter.com/EnKXkI8abg

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) August 26, 2021

From press conference bust-ups, to extraordinary bets, this fight had it all. As fate would have it, Woodley had to get an “I love Jake Paul” tattoo for losing the bout.

Tyron Woodley got the "I Love Jake Paul" tattoo ?? (via @TWooodley) pic.twitter.com/i0r1j8E512

— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) September 27, 2021

Woodley and Jake Paul reportedly earned $2 million each from that fight, with the latter vocally opening up a debate with the UFC’s president Dana White about the pay-gap between boxing and MMA.

.@jakepaul tells SN's @AndreasHale that Dana White will eventually have to let his UFC fighters fight him in a boxing match.#PaulFury pic.twitter.com/MdreIoPhsr

— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) November 6, 2021

Jake Paul was scheduled to fight Tyson Fury’s younger brother, Tommy Fury, on December 18, 2021. Tyron Woodley stepped in as the replacement, but we can only wonder what the Paul-Fury fight would have delivered.

Paul went on to beat Woodley with a vicious right overhand, leaving the former UFC champion flat on his face.

This ringside angle of Jake Paul knocking out Tyron Woodley is wild! ?? #PaulWoodleypic.twitter.com/XVvQDgFBC2

— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) December 19, 2021

PAC-MAN TO PRESIDENT’S MAN

Manny Pacquiao returned to action earlier this year after 2 years on the sidelines. A headline fight with Errol-Spence Jr. was set to take place in August, however, an eye injury suffered by Spence ruled him out of the fight.

"He fought everybody. You can put him up there with anybody, any of the greats, you have to mention Manny Pacquiao."@ShannonSharpe shares his thoughts on @MannyPacquiao's retirement announcement. @undisputed pic.twitter.com/NlKlPGkoXR

— FOX Sports: PBC (@PBConFOX) September 29, 2021

Taking his place was WBO welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas, who defeated Pacquiao with relative ease. The Filipino legend had admitted that age had finally caught up with him, and that he was to retire from boxing altogether.

Pacquaio had since announced that he would be focusing on his political career. Pac-man,one of the greatest boxers to ever grace the ring, would now be running for presidency in his native Phillipines.

Manny Pacquiao has announced his retirement from boxing.

?? Only boxer to hold world titles in four different decades
?? Only boxer to win a title in eight different weight classes
?? 25-7-2 (11 KOs) against former or current world champions

What a career ?? pic.twitter.com/2n8YcP2Qbx

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 29, 2021