FanSided’s 2021 boxing awards and greatest performances

2021 Knockout of the Year: Oscar Valdez KOs Miguel Berchelt in round 10

Just as there were a high number of upsets, 2021 was also filled with picturesque knockouts. Recently, Jake Paul laid out Tyron Woodley, which resonated with a number of our panelists. There was also Gabriel Rosado’s surprising one-punch drubbing of Bektemir Melikuziev.

As good as those performances were, Oscar Valdez’s February left hook from hell that put Miguel Berchelt to sleep was FanSided’s 2021 Knockout of the Year.

Valdez has always been a knockout puncher, but his KO of Berchelt was his finest moment.

Berchelt only had one loss on his record coming into the fight, which came early in his career. He stood toe-to-toe with Valdez, which proved to be a monumental mistake. Valdez dropped Berchelt three times throughout the fight, but the last one ended his night.

As soon as Valdez’s left glove landed on Berchelt’s face in round 10, Berchelt was out on his feet as his body crumpled to the canvas. It was brutal, violent, and beautiful.

Valdez added to his highlight reel and left an indelible imprint on boxing fans’ minds that would last the whole year to win Knockout of the Year honors. Rosado, Paul, Brandun Lee, David Morrell, and Nonito Donaire all had amazing KOs in 2021, but Valdez’s was the best of them all.

“Miguel Berchelt is a high-quality opponent,” said CompuBox’s Dan Canobbio. “The knockout came in a unification bout from a guy who is not exactly known as a big puncher.”

“One punch, straight to sleep, of a fighter on a nice run who hadn’t been defeated in seven years,” said boxing historian and author Patrick Connor. “Brutal stuff.”