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 this article, 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.
Fighter of the year (FOTY) – Naoya Inoue
An extremely tight call this with plenty of other fighters more than worthy to be my 'Fighter of the Year' but I've decided to go with Naoya Inoue.
Boxing fans were obviously aware as to who Inoue was and his world class talents prior but 2023 truly was the year the "Monster" broke out into the mainstream and, for me, stamped down his authority as boxing's pound for pound king.
Despite possessing all the footwork, speed and ring IQ boxing fans and fighters crave, Inoue has cemented himself as one the sport's biggest punchers with 23 of his 26 wins coming by way of stoppage.
A clip even went viral earlier in the year of Inoue wobbling a sparring partner with a straight right (in big gloves) despite his counterpart wearing a headguard.
The question that will always remain with these big hitters is how far up the weight classes can they go with their power?
The Zama-born fighter had already proven before 2023 that his power was more than effective after he left the Light Flyweight division (108lbs) getting 15 KOs in 17 world title fights at Super Flyweight (115lbs) and Bantamweight (118lbs) where he became undisputed.
But could he go up in weight yet again and become a four-weight world champion?
In 2023 Naoya Inoue did just that and in style stopping the WBC and WBO Super Bantamweight champion "Cool Boy" Stephen Fulton and then unifying the 122lbs division against the Philippines'' Marlon Tapales on Boxing Day via KO in the 10th round.
These undisputed fights in boxing have proven to be difficult to pull off so for Inoue to reach that status in just the short space of five months is nothing short of amazing.
Also, to do it beating the likes of Fulton who was undefeated coming into the bout (21-0) and Tapales who had not long dethroned highly regarded Murodjon Akhmadaliev, only increased Inoue's stake to be one of the greatest boxers of this era.
Can Inoue go one further in 2024 and move up to Featherweight?
We'll have to see wait and see what lies ahead for Japan's Boxing "Monster".
Honourable Mentions
• Jonathan Haggerty – Became ONE Featherweight Muay Thai and Kickboxing world champion.
• Tom Aspinall – Knocked out top 10 contender Marcin Tybura and No.2 ranked Sergei Pavlovich to become the UFC Interim Heavyweight world title a year after his knee injury.
• Leon Edwards – Beat Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington to remain UFC welterweight champion, who are regarded as two of the greatest welterweights of all time.
• Ian Garry – Finished Kenan Song, Daniel Rodriguez and dominantly beat Neil Magny, with the latter two being top 15 fighters in the UFC.
• Devin Haney – Beat Vasily Lomachenko to remain undisputed at Lightweight and Regis Prograis to become WBC Super-Lightweight champion and two-weight world champion.
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