Fansided

Boxing’s Best of 2017: A year-end review of the world of boxing

By Jeremy Herriges

LAS VEGAS, NV - AUGUST 26: (R-L) Floyd Mayweather Jr. throws a punch at Conor McGregor during their super welterweight boxing match on August 26, 2017 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - AUGUST 26: (R-L) Floyd Mayweather Jr. throws a punch at Conor McGregor during their super welterweight boxing match on August 26, 2017 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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Joshua v. Klitschko
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 29: Anthony Joshua (White Shorts) catches Wladimir Klitschko (Grey Shorts) with a right hand upper cut in the 11th round of their IBF, WBA and IBO Heavyweight World Title bout at Wembley Stadium on April 29, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /

Fight of the year: Anthony Joshua vs. Wladimir Klitschko

When Anthony Joshua fought Wladimir Klitschko in March, many assumed that Klitschko had very little to offer against the young lion Joshua. Klitschko proved his doubters wrong.

Klitschko dominated the heavyweight division for over 10 years, but his reign at the top ended in 2015 when he lost in an ugly fight against Tyson Fury. To be fair, neither boxer did much in the fight, but Klitschko was clearly the loser.

He slowly plodded after Fury for 12 rounds. He was unable to cut off the ring and he looked like he was sleepwalking throughout the fight. Klitschko was very inactive. When he did throw a punch, he threw them one at a time. He was unable to put combinations together and his hand-speed looked very deteriorated. Klitschko never had a rematch with Fury because of Fury’s personal problems which took him away from the sport.

In the meantime, Joshua went on a tear in 2016, knocking out all three of his opponents and collecting the IBF heavyweight title in the process.

Joshua was a heavy betting favorite going into his bout with Klitschko, and he looked the part in the early going. Joshua dominated Klitschko through the first five rounds and looked like he was going to stop Klitschko before the midpoint of the fight. He cut Klitschko early in round five and then hurt him with a powerful left-hook that forced Klitschko to collapse to the canvas to avoid taking further punishment. This fight was turning into a slaughter.

Miraculously, Klitschko survived the round and hurt Joshua at the end of it. Joshua expended a lot of energy working for a knockout and he looked spent. In the middle of round six, the tables turned. Klitschko landed a straight right that sent Joshua crashing to the canvas. This was the first time in Joshua’s professional career that he was knocked down. He was seriously hurt but stayed on his feet for the remainder of the round.

In the end, Joshua’s youth proved to be too much for Klitschko to handle. In round eleven, Klitschko tasted the canvas two more times. The referee stepped in and saved Klitschko from taking any more abuse. Joshua was victorious, but Klitschko gave him all he could handle.

This fight had the back-and-forth action of a Rocky movie. Both boxers were hurt and were knocked down. More importantly, both boxers demonstrated skill and heart in the process. There’s no doubt that this was the fight of the year.

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