By David Martinez / dmboxing.com
I annually assemble the top best awards in boxing … here are my personal picks for the year 2022, in five major categories . I sincerely respect and always welcome the opinions of others – thank you!
FIGHTER OF THE YEAR
Dmitry Bivol (21-0 / 11 by KO)
WBA Light Heavyweight Champion
vs . Canelo Alvarez (5-7-22) UD-12
vs. Gilberto Ramirez (11-5-22) UD-12
Runner Up’s:
Naoya Inoue (23-0 / 20 by KO)
Devin Haney (29-0 / 15 by KO)
Jesse Rodriguez (17-0 / 11 by KO)
Shakur Stevenson (19-0 / 9 by KO)
FIGHT OF THE YEAR
Jermell Charlo vs . Brian Castano II (5-14-22) KO-10
Runner Up’s
Leigh Wood vs. Michael Colan (3-12-22) KO-12
Juan Francisco Estrada vs. Roman Gonzalez III (12-3-22) MD-12
Lindolfo Delgado vs . Omar Aguilar (8-20-22) UD-8
Joe Joyce vs. Joseph Parker (9-24-22) KO-11
KNOCKOUT OF THE YEAR
Leigh Wood vs . Michael Colan (3-12-22) KO-12
Runner Up’s:
Naoya Inoue vs. Nonito Donaire II (6-7-22) KO-2
Caleb Plant vs. Anthony Dirrell (10-15-22) KO-9
Terence Crawford vs. David Avanesyan (12-10-22) KO-6
Deontay Wilder vs. Robert Helenius (10-15-22) KO-1
UPSET OF THE YEAR
Dmitry Bivol vs. Canelo Alvarez (5-7-22) UD-12
Runner Up’s:
Hector Luis Garcia vs. Chris Colbert (2-26-22) UD-12
Dante Jardon vs. Artem Oganesyan (6-23-22) UD-10
Leigh Wood vs. Michael Colan (3-12-22) KO-12
Mark Magsayo vs. Gary Allen Russell Jr. (1-22-22) MD-12
PROSPECT OF THE YEAR
Keyshawn Davis (7-0 / 5 by KO)
Runner Up’s:
Xander Zayas (15-0 / 10 by KO)
Fernando Vargas Jr. (7-0 / 7 by KO)
Adam Azim (7-0 / 6 by KO)
Nick Ball (17-0 / 10 by KO)