Sports

Fury Is 5 Live Boxing’s Fighter Of The Year

Tyson Fury landed BBC Radio 5 Live Boxing’s British fighter of the year prize after two successful defences of his WBC heavyweight title in 2022.

Steve Bunce cast the deciding vote between Carl Froch and Barry Jones – who had picked light-middleweight champion Natasha Jonas.  Unbeaten light-welterweight Adam Azim was named breakout star of the year.

WBA light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol got the international boxer of the year nod after the Russian, 32, became the first opponent in nine years to beat Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, before a comprehensive points victory over Gilberto Ramirez.

While the choice of Azim and Bivol were unanimous, there was disagreement about who should win British boxer of the year award.  “I think overall you have to give British boxer of the year to Natasha Jonas,” said Jones. “Coming out of her weight class against naturally bigger women and adapting her style to be successful.”  Four-time world champion Froch said

heavyweight Fury, still unbeaten after 34 contests, deserved the nod.  “I think it’s easy to overlook Tyson Fury because it’s Tyson Fury,” he added.  “He’s such a big name.

He fills stadiums every time he fights even if the opponent has no chance.  “They’ll still turn up to watch watch him. I think because of that and his dominance in the division, I think I’ve got to give it to Tyson Fury.”

International boxer of the year  Winner: Dmitry Bivol (light-heavyweight)

Nominees: Naoya Inoue (bantamweight), Claressa Shields (middleweight), Devin Haney (lightweight)

British boxer of the year  Winner: Tyson Fury (heavyweight)

Nominees: Sunny Edwards (flyweight), Natasha Jonas (light-middleweight), Chantelle Cameron (light-welterweight)

Fight of the year  Winner: Katie Taylor v Amanda Serrano – Madison Square Garden,

New York Nominees: Joshua Buatsi v Craig Richards (O2 Arena, London), Mikaela Mayer v Alycia Baumgardner (O2 Arena, London), Leigh Wood v Michael Conlan (Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham)

Knockout of the year  Winner: Joe Cordina’s second-round KO of Kenichi Ogawa

Nominees: Leigh Wood’s 12th-round knockout of Michael Conlan, Tyson Fury’s sixth-round effort against Dillian Whyte, Deontay Wilder in the first round against Robert Helenius

Breakthrough boxer of the year  Winner: Adam Azim

Nominees: Fabio Wardley (heavyweight), Johnny Fisher (heavyweight) , Ellie Scotney (super-bantamweight)

Event of the year  Winner: Claressa Shields v Savannah Marshall – O2 Arena, London

Nominees: Tyson Fury v Dillian Whyte (Wembley Stadium, London), Kell Brook v Amir Khan (Manchester Arena, Manchester), Katie Taylor v Amanda Serrano (Madison Square Garden, New York)

Non-fight moment of the yearWinner: Anthony Joshua’s monologue in the ring after his defeat to Oleksandr Usyk

Nominees: Carl Froch being inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, Conor Benn’s failed drug test days before his fight against Chris Eubank Jr, Tyson Fury announcing he was fighting Derek Chisora after terms couldn’t be agreed with Anthony Joshua.

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