Unlike the TRS boxing ratings, these are done completely by me, so if the reader is unhappy- it is all my fault.
Fighter of the Year: Teofimo Lopez
In a year that has been stained by the Covid-19 pandemic, our two top choices each fought only on one occasion.
While Tyson Fury's conclusive win over Deontay Wilder was important, it's hard to not select Teofimo Lopez, who did what most thought unthinkable- he outboxed Vasyl Lomachenko, who was thought by many to be the best boxer in the world.
Rough Lomachenko up and maybe slide by as Orlando Salido did? Perhaps, but never outbox him.
Lopez did and in a year short of big fights, that's enough for me.
Silver: Tyson Fury. A win over one of the top three heavyweights and winning his title is enough for second.
Bronze: Joe Smith. A solid split decision win over Jesse Hart (The card for Hart was one of the worst scorecards I've seen) and a highlight reel KO of former WBO champion Eleider Alvarez gives Smith a solid case under the top two.
Fight of the Year: Jose Zepeda KO 5 Ivan Baranchyk.
Eight knockdowns, with a ninth called a slip by the referee, multiple swings in momentum, and a final round that saw both fighters on the floor with an ending that was a serious contender for KO of the year.
If you don't like this one, boxing is not for you!
Silver: Juan Francisco Estrada KO 11 Carlos Cuadras
Fast paced action, and the favored champion knocked down in the third before Estrada rallied to score two knockdowns and pounding Cuadras until the fight was forced to end.
Bronze: Masayoshi Nakatani KO 9 Felix Verdejo
Nakatani takes and takes for most of the first seven rounds and then lands a right that hurts Verdejo to the point that the fight is a race to ten- If Verdejo makes it through, he wins.- He doesn't.
Knockout of the Year: Alexander Povetkin KO 5 Dillian Whyte
Any one of the three contestants could have won this category, but I'll give a hairline edge to the compact left uppercut that Povetkin knocked Whtye cold in the fifth that scrambled the heavyweight division's title contenders after Whyte knocked Povetkin twice down in the fourth.
Silver: Gervonta Davis KO 6 Leo Santa Cruz
Davis's own uppercut that wiped out Santa Cruz was just as impressive as Povetkin's, but I gave a small edge to Povetkin coming from behind for the difference.
Bronze: Jose Zepeda KO 5 Ivan Baranchyk.
Zepeda's right hand counter followed by a left hook that folded Baranchyk's leg under him to end the fight seconds after Zepeda was on the floor, might have this awards in many years.
Upset of the Year
Teofimo Lopez-Vasyl Lomachenko
As talented as Lopez is, any time that the perceived top fighter in the world is defeated a case can be made that fight could be the upset of the year.
Silver: Jeison Rosario KO 5 Julian Williams
Williams lost two junior middleweight titles in this shocker that cost him a unification match with Jermell Charlo.
Bronze: Robert Helenius KO 4 Adam Kownacki
Kownacki controlled the first three rounds before Helenius upset Kownacki's apple cart with a stunning knockout.
Kownacki was in line for a title shot with a win.
Round of the Year
Jose Zepeda-Ivan Baranchyk Round Five
Both fighters on the canvas and a conclusive knockout in the fight of the year.
Silver: Jose Zepeda-Ivan Baranchyk Round Two
Both fighters on the canvas and three minutes of punching in the fight of the year, only missing the KO.
Bronze: Juan Francisco Estrada-Carlos Cuadrad Round Five
Estrada began to turn the tide after Cuadras won the early rounds of their fight.
Prospect of the Year- It's sometimes hard to divide where a prospect ends and a contender to be begins.
Bektemir Melikuziev
The former Olympic Silver Medalist is going to be a force at either 168 or 175.
Silver: Edgar Berlanga
Sixteen fights, sixteen first round knockouts. What happens when the middle rounds arrive?
Bronze: Tie- Charles Conwell/Elvis Rodriguez
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