As we watch one other annum fall to the quadrennial 366-count, allow us to all greet the brand new boxing yr with optimism by celebrating 2024’s Struggle of the Yr of the Week of the Yr.
In the event you’re a Unhealthy Left Hook common, you’re seemingly accustomed to the idea of a Struggle of the Yr of the Week, and have eagerly awaited the latest version of what we gave you in 2022 and 2023. However, in the event you’re a relative newcomer to the positioning or the game? Right here’s a fast rationalization of what that is all about.
A Struggle of the Yr of the Week is one which delivers enjoyable and pleasure, minus one or two of the standard parts present in an precise Struggle of the Yr contender. It raises the amount and the blood strain of the saying crew, quickens the heartbeat of the viewer, however lacks just a little one thing that might really put it in consideration for the Struggle of the Yr.
If no person received up from a knockdown? If the motion was sizzling however the swings in momentum had been restricted? If the space was just a little too quick for the drama to completely blossom? If two dozen individuals had been within the constructing as a result of it occurred on the deep prelims for a mediocre principal occasion? That’s a Struggle of the Yr of the Week. All of the in-the-moment warmth of a Struggle of the Yr, however with out all the ultimate components to qualify for the last word honor.
And, regardless of what the identify implies, there might be a number of FotYotWs in a single week, or none in any respect for months at a time. It’s an assignation of affection for the women and men who shine shiny below a small highlight. The fights that give that uncommon magic, the particular transcendence that rewards a correct degenerate boxing fanatic for his or her time and a spotlight to extra than simply social media hucksters beating up the aged, or the 2-3 different main boxing showcases we get every year.
As every year concludes, we VERY SCIENTIFICALLY filter, type, and rank the best of the FotYotW choices via my reminiscence and private style, and award one with the nice honor of Struggle of the Yr of the Week… of the Yr.
Foremost occasions from main promoters usually are not eligible. Neither are undercard fights for high degree belts. Both could be a Struggle of the Yr of the Week, however neither can win Struggle of the Yr of the Week of the Yr.
Who earns the glory this yr? Learn on to seek out out!
HONORABLE MENTION: Vladimir Hernandez vs Raul Garcia
Foremost Occasion: Lester Martinez vs Joeshon James, September eleventh
The place can I (legally) watch it proper now?: The embedded video above, or immediately via the ProBox YouTube web page right here.
Admittedly, this can be a little bit of a cheat — Initially scheduled as an undercard struggle in assist of Lester Martinez vs Joeshon James, this one received a shock promotion to principal occasion on struggle day when Martinez withdrew unexpectedly. Hernandez and Garcia delivered huge in aid, giving us a thumping battle of attrition that noticed each males rise again up from violent knockdowns.
Be warned: The customarily questionable refereeing of Michael DeJesus will be the solely cause this struggle lasted lengthy sufficient to earn FotYotWotY consideration fairly than ending up explosively within the third spherical. However, if there’s a silver lining to be discovered for everybody however the fighter denied an affordable try at a knockout, we did get seven extra rounds and a number of knockdowns to take pleasure in.
HONORABLE HONORABLE MENTION: ProBox gave us one other nice one with their Could eighth principal occasion between Robbie Davies Jr and Sergey Lipinets. Probably not applicable to think about right here on condition that it led the present, however positively value your time to look at Davies get his nostril pulped so badly that it turned his white trunks pink.
2nd RUNNER UP: Lewis Crocker vs Conah Walker
Foremost Occasion: Tyler Denny vs Felix Money, June twenty second
The place can I (legally) watch it proper now?: DAZN (struggle begins at about 2:39:30).
Arguably the very best boxing match amongst this highlight assortment of fights, however that’s to not say that Crocker and Walker didn’t provide loads of fireworks of their very own. Sturdy stuff all through, with the very best coming within the closing three rounds.
Walker gave us a battle towards Cyrus Pattinson in August of 2023, and one other on this one towards Crocker simply 10 months later. He’s booked to struggle Harry Scarff in assist on a Matchroom present on January twenty fifth… May be value making a notice in your calendar for it.
RUNNER UP: David Stevens vs Sergio Lopez
Foremost Occasion: Oscar Collazo vs Gerardo Zapata, June seventh
The place can I (legally) watch it proper now?: The embedded video from Golden Boy’s YouTube web page above, or via DAZN (struggle begins at in regards to the 47:00 mark).
Simply earlier than the bell rang, play-by-play man Beto Duran mentioned: “I don’t know what we’re gonna get on this one.” Lower than 30 seconds later, one man was disconnected from his senses, and one of many wildest one spherical fights of current reminiscence was already bringing thrills. You solely get 2:15 of motion right here, so I’m reluctant to spoil any of it. Simply watch.
The commentary crew of Beto Duran and Gabriel Rosado referred to as final yr’s FotYotWotY, and so they delivered huge as soon as once more on the horribly overmodulated and poorly combined DAZN microphones for this yr’s runner up. Their work collectively doesn’t actually need any further salesmanship to earn your consideration, however preserve that monitor document in thoughts every time they associate up in 2025 anyway.
THE 2024 FIGHT OF THE YEAR OF THE WEEK OF THE YEAR: Stephen McKenna vs Joe Legal guidelines
Foremost Occasion: Zak Chelli vs Callum Simpson, August third
The place can I (legally) watch it proper now?: The embedded video above, or by way of Peacock right here within the USA. Peacock’s interface for locating outdated boxing reveals is a hellish nightmare, although, so good luck with that!
We joke lots about UK commentary’s frequent use of the adjective “spiteful,” however spite was oozing from the display earlier than Joe Legal guidelines took a single step of his ringwalk. Legal guidelines tore off a sombrero and luchador masks, then spent a full minute hyping or taunting the group (possibly each concurrently?) to the backing of what gave the impression of Maroon 5’s “Me and My Damaged Coronary heart” as carried out by a toddler’s programmable Casio keyboard, combined with air raid sirens and Mauro Ranallo’s favourite Gladiator quote, earlier than making a single step of progress in the direction of the ring. Then, he broke out right into a dash to the backing of “Take Me Dwelling Nation Roads” within the vocal model of some generic UK soundalike of The Chipmunks.
In distinction, McKenna spent his complete ringwalk staring a gap via Legal guidelines whereas slow-walking his manner in to a Johnny Money tune. When referee Victor Laughlin referred to as for the lads to the touch gloves, they ignored him, then they ignored him once more when he demanded “You contact them NOW!” And when a fed-up Laughlin lastly yanked their gloves collectively, the lads needed to be pulled again aside by their attendants.
The fuse for this one was quick, lit, and quick burning. Legal guidelines actually sprinted out on the bell to start out winging haymaker hooks at McKenna, and it solely took 18 seconds for the primary man to hit the canvas for the primary time. Each single punch of this struggle was thrown with murderous intent, and it’s borderline miraculous both man had the power to throw punches or the chin to remain vertical all the way in which to the third and closing spherical.
I don’t know what occurred to make these males hate one another sufficient that they might placed on this kind of struggle… It needs to be one thing that may, in one other time and place, have led to the form of generational feud that discovered their great-grandchildren at odds with one another 80 years later. Simply do your self a favor and watch it as quickly as you have got 20 minutes to spare.
And, you should definitely take a look at the feedback part under, the place the very best, sharpest, handsomest, and throughout most pleasant readership within the boxing world will little question very gently and politely share some other write-in nominees they could really feel had been ignored right here.
