Fansided

FanSided’s 2021 boxing awards and greatest performances

By Jeremy Herriges

Canelo Alvarez of Mexico (R) lands a punch on Caleb Plant of the United States (L) during their super-middleweight unification boxing match at MGM Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 6, 2021. (Photo by Patrick T. FALLON / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
Canelo Alvarez of Mexico (R) lands a punch on Caleb Plant of the United States (L) during their super-middleweight unification boxing match at MGM Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 6, 2021. (Photo by Patrick T. FALLON / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images) /
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2021 Round of the Year: Tyson Fury vs. Deontay Wilder 3, round 4

Tyson Fury vs. Deontay Wilder 3
Oct 9, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Deontay Wilder (red/black trunks) and Tyson Fury (black/gold trunks) box during their WBC/Lineal heavyweight championship boxing match at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

There were two frontrunners for the 2021 Round of the Year: Tyson Fury vs. Deontay Wilder round 4, and Juan Francisco Estrada vs. Chocolatito Gonzalez, round 10. Only one featured a knockdown, which is one reason why Fury vs. Wilder 3, round 4 is FanSided’s 2021 Round of the Year.

Fury and Wilder fought to a dramatic draw in 2018, but Fury obliterated Wilder via TKO in round 7 in 2020. The 2021 trilogy bout continued the fantastic saga between these two bitter foes.

Fury almost ended the evening early by dropping Wilder in round 3. Entering round 4, Wilder was on unsteady legs, and Fury looked to close the show. However, Wilder’s fearsome power got the better of Fury.

Wilder caught Fury with a straight right hand, which dropped the 6-foot-9 WBC champion. Wilder put Fury down again moments later. A crazy swing in momentum demonstrated why Fury and Wilder combine for epic fights. Fury survived the knockdown, put Wilder down in round 10, and then finished him with a KO in round 11.

Round 4 thought stole the show because of how the tide suddenly changed in Wilder’s favor.

“Because power and heart, the two most exciting ingredients fighters can have, were what that round was all about,” said Tim Curry of YouTube’s ‘The Shadow’s Project Limited.‘ “Furthermore, Wilder made believers out of all the people who had doubted him beforehand. It was beautiful.”

“Nothing matches the excitement of a great championship heavyweight fight,” said writer Roberto Jose Andrade Franco. “Round 4 of Fury v. Wilder 3 epitomized their trilogy. Fury outboxed Wilder until the latter’s power erased that. In round 4, a round after Fury knocked down Wilder and it seemed like he was on the verge of winning, Wilder knocked down Fury twice. Fury was arguably saved by the bell in what was the best round of the year.”

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