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

2020 Co-Fighters of the Year: Teofimo Lopez and Jessica McCaskill

To be the best, you have to beat the best, and that’s what Teofimo Lopez and Jessica McCaskill accomplished in 2020. They were underdogs headed into their separate title fights, but they prevailed to become their divisions’ rulers.

McCaskill (9-2, 3 KOs) was a respected champion headed into her August matchup with undefeated boxing great Cecilia Braekhus (36-1, 9 KOs), but not many thought she could hand Braekhus her first loss. McCaskill proved her doubters wrong.

McCaskill held the WBA and WBC super lightweight titles but moved up a division to welterweight to challenge Braekhus, who possessed all the welterweight belts. They went back and forth in a spirited contest, but McCaskill pulled out a majority decision to deliver Braekhus her first loss. She also prevented Braekhus from breaking Joe Louis’s title defense record. They’re expected to fight again in 2021, but McCaskill is the undisputed champ, and she earned the win.

Like McCaskill, Lopez (16-0, 12 KOs) also entered his big 2020 bout in the challenger’s role. Even though he had the IBF lightweight title, his foe Vasiliy Lomachenko (14-2, 10 KOs) had the three other primary titles.

Many considered Lomachenko as one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world, but Lopez beat him with his boxing skills and not just his brawn. Lopez is known as a knockout puncher, but he out-thought Lomachenko to win their October unification bout by unanimous decision.

McCaskill and Lopez only fought once in 2020, but they defied the odds to become undisputed champions. Very few in boxing have the honor of that title, which is why McCaskill and Lopez are our 2020 Co-Fighters of the Year. Congratulations to all of our award winners!