2023 has been arguably the best year for combat sports since I started watching. In recent years, the UFC has dominated prize fighting with consistent matchmaking, pay-per-view events, and above all else, entertainment.
Although, the UFC is not slowing down by any means particularly with UFC 300 around the corner, its main competitor, boxing has undergone a bit of a resurgence this past year.
Aside from the heavyweight division, elite, high-level title, and non-title fights were made including Spence Jr. vs Crawford, Davis vs Garcia, Inoue vs Fulton just to name a few.
It was action boxing as a sport desperately needed particularly in a time where 'crossover boxing' was really beginning to overtake in terms of numbers.
In a series of articles, I'll be putting forward my performance of the year, fighter of the year, KO of the year and a few others after a brilliant year in the UFC, boxing, and the rest of prize fighting.
Performance of the year (POTY) – Francis Ngannou (vs Tyson Fury)
Is there any real argument to this? No, it wasn't for a world title and no Ngannou didn't "win" but 'le Prédateur' proved once again to the millions of MMA and Boxing fans, including myself, that he is no ordinary human being.
Ngannou's backstory has been touted as a potential storyline for a Hollywood movie one day which was apt for this fight because "Battle of the Baddest" turned out to be the second coming of "Rocky".
For one major sports betting company, Brit Fury was the -1400 favourite heading into the opener for Riyadh Season with Cameroonian Ngannou the +760 underdog.
Those stark odds were the build-up to this fight, with Fury coming under fire for choosing to fight a boxing novice rather than an actual pro boxer from the WBC top 10.
This was just meant to be a light warm up for Fury to get back into rhythm before the first undisputed heavyweight title fight in 24 years against Oleksandr Usyk.
Batié born Ngannou however had other ideas on that fateful night in Saudi Arabia and that now iconic image of Fury on the canvas after the third-round knockdown will live forever.
It wasn't just the knockdown that was impressive however, it was Ngannou's footwork, his effective stance switching, not biting on any of Fury's feints, outmuscling the Gypsy King.
It is an old cliché, but it really was a jaw-dropping performance by Ngannou considering the circumstances and opponent.
Beating up the BOXING lineal heavyweight champion of the world on your BOXING debut I think more than deserves Performance of the Year.
Honourable Mentions
• Terence Crawford (vs Errol Spence Jr.) – Undisputed Welterweight Championship
• Sean Strickland (vs Israel Adesunya) – Undisputed UFC Middleweight Championship
• Jon Jones (vs Ciryl Gane) – Vacant UFC Heavyweight Championship
• Merab Dvilashvili (vs Petr Yan)
• David Benavidez (vs Demetrius Andrade) – WBC Interim Super Middleweight Championship
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