FanSided’s 2020 boxing awards and greatest moments of the year

2020 Fight of the Year: Juan Francisco Estrada vs. Carlos Cuadras 2

There are three fights that stood out for the Fight of the Year category: Zepeda vs. Baranchyk, Masayoshi Nakatani vs. Felix Verdejo, and the winner Estrada vs. Cuadras 2.

As sensational as the five rounds were between Zepeda and Baranchyk, it lacked the longevity and the nuance to make it a fight of the year. Brawl of the year, yes.

Nakatani vs. Verdejo was a close second. Verdejo was starting to live up to the promise that was so high early in his career. He knocked Nakatani down twice and was winning the bout on the judges’ scorecards across the board going into round 9, but Nakatani connected with an unspectacular left jab that knocked down and hurt Verdejo.

Verdejo tried to fight on, but a Nakatani right cross ended the fight. It was a great comeback for Nakatani, but the fight lacked the fireworks of Estrada vs. Cuadras 2.

The super flyweight bout that took place in Mexico on Oct. 23 was action-packed, and both boxers were willing to trade. Estrada (41-3, 28 KOs) won their first meeting in 2017, but it was a paper-thin unanimous decision. A knockdown in round 10 cost Cuadras the win as he lost by three scores of 114-113 for Estrada.

Cuadras (39-4-1, 27 KOs) almost had Estrada out in the rematch in round 3. He dropped Estrada with an uppercut and left hook combo. Estrada got up and valiantly fought on.

Cuadras ran out of gas in round 11 and couldn’t stay on his feet as he went down twice before the fight was stopped. Estrada’s left hook made the difference and started Cuadras’s troubles. Estrada barely kept his WBC title in a grueling fight he almost lost. The competitiveness and action made this the best fight of the year.