Fansided

FanSided’s 2018 boxing awards and review of boxing’s best moments

By Jeremy Herriges

Tony Bellew (left) in action against Oleksandr Usyk during their WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO & Ring Magazine Cruiserweight World Championship bout at Manchester Arena. (Photo by Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images)
Tony Bellew (left) in action against Oleksandr Usyk during their WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO & Ring Magazine Cruiserweight World Championship bout at Manchester Arena. (Photo by Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images) /
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Teofimo Lopez KO of Mason Menard
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 08: Teofimo Lopez knocks out Mason Menard in the first round during their lightweight fight at The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden on December 08, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

2018 Knockout of the Year: Teófimo López KO of Mason Menard

On Dec. 8, Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Jose Pedraza was the main event of ESPN’s fight card, but Teófimo López (11-0, 9 KOs) stole the show with the most picturesque knockout of 2018. There were many impressive KOs to choose from, but none of them can compare to López’s display on this night.

López is a rising star in the lightweight division. He’s only 21 years old, but he’s quickly becoming a fan favorite because of his penchant for producing KOs on a regular basis. He knocked out three opponents in 2018, but his final performance against Mason Menard was a spectacle to behold.

Menard is a tough veteran, but López made him look like an amateur. It only took him 42 seconds to stop Menard, but that’s not the most impressive part of his KO. It’s the imagery of the stoppage that makes this the Knockout of the Year.

López hit Menard early and often with overhand rights, but the last one to connect made Menard freeze and then faceplant to the canvas. Menard’s foot wiggled while on the ground, and he tried to raise his head, but he didn’t know what hit him. The referee didn’t bother with the count. It was obvious that Menard couldn’t continue.

López is currently rated as the 80th best lightweight by Boxrec.com, but if he can keep knocking opponents out, then he will swiftly move up the rankings. He has more KO performances in him, but it will be hard to replicate the optics of his destruction of Menard.

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