Top 5 Boxing Moments of 2024 so far

5. Naoya Inoue knocked down for the first time in his career

Inoue has been seen as arguably one of the greatest to ever do it in the Flyweight and Bantamweight divisions of Boxing. The Monster has been one of Japan's shining stars in Boxing, undefeated with 27 professional bouts with 24 ending by KO/TKO.

The Champion's most recent bout would be his toughest to date when he faced Luis Nery at the Tokyo Dome on May 6th. The former WBC World Super Bantamweight title holder was looking to end Inoue's reign as the undisputed champion.

In shocking fashion, Nery would land a solid left-hook just as the Zama-born fighter was looking to throw a punch, which would send Inoue crashing down to the ground in the first round, with many of the Japanese crowd feeling very doubtful for the rest of the fight.

Of course, there is a reason why Inoue is undefeated in Boxing as he came back with vengeance.

The undisputed Bantamweight Champion would earn a knockdown in rounds two and three before adding one final blow in round six which would leave the referee no choice but to stop the fight. Inoue would make his first successful undisputed title defence in spectacular style.

The result of the fight would not be surprising for many, but the knockdown that Inoue suffered in the opening round would be visually shocking for a lot of Boxing fans.

4. Zhilei Zhang sends deontay wilder into possible retirement

Both Zhang and Wilder have been knockout artists in their Boxing career, arguably having the most power in the Heavyweight division. But, both men were in desperate need of redemption when they both lost to Joseph Parker by decision in their previous fight.

The Bronze Bomber was the former WBC World Heavyweight Champion, successfully defending the title nine times before suffering the wrath of Tyson Fury. With a total of 43 victories, 42 of those had ended by KO/TKO.
Big Bang was the former WBO Interim World Heavyweight Champion after his two stoppage wins over Joy Joyce., The Chinese boxer had 26 wins with 21 ending by KO/TKO.

On June 1st, Zhang would stun Wilder with a right-hook before knocking him flat on his back with the same punch in the fifth round. The Alabama boxer would just manage to get back on his feet, but would wobble towards the referee and just like that, the fight would be stopped.

Wilder indicated that before the fight, if he were to lose, he would consider retirement after only winning one fight in his last four bouts. 

While Zhang earned the biggest win of his Boxing career, it may have just been the Bronze Bomber's last dance in a Boxing ring.

3. Ryan Garcia knocks down and defeats devin haney

A fight which had a lot of anticipation and a heated rivalry, Haney was prepared to make his first title defence with the WBC World Super Lightweight title against Garcia at the Barclays Center. 

Garcia had only had one world title fight in his career which was against Gervonta Davis where he would lose by knockout in the seventh round. Meanwhile, The Dream had won multiple world title fights in his career, making it more impressive that he was undefeated with 31 victories.

The 12-round Boxing bout would be set as a non-title fight when King Garcia missed the weight limit by 3.2lbs.

Despite being stunned early on in the fight, Haney would not have any problems with the Californian until a vicious left-hook and a follow up punch would knockdown the unbeaten boxer in the seventh round. Haney would suffer two more knockdowns which happened in rounds 10 and 11, completely changing the course of the fight.

After a crazy 12-round war, Garcia would have his hand raised at the end of the bout, winning by majority decision and becoming the first man to defeat the San Francisco-born boxer. 

However, on June 20th, the result had changed to a no contest as Garcia had tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug, Ostarine, which would result in a fine and a suspension of one year.

2. Anthony Joshua knocks out francis ngannou

There is always a lot of excitement when a crossover Boxing match happens, especially when one of the best in MMA takes on one of the best in Boxing. This would be the case when Anthony Joshua fought against former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Francis Ngannou, in Riyadh.

Ngannou had already made his Boxing debut when he faced Tyson Fury for 10 rounds in late October, losing by split decision despite knocking the Gypsy King down in the third round.

After his title defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, AJ was looking to rise back up in 2023 as he would be victorious against the likes of Jermaine Franklin Jr, Robert Helenius and Otto Wallin. 

Many fighting fans believed that it would be a close fight to call as The Predator had almost become the first man to defeat Fury, while Joshua had fought boxers who were not at a high level or similar to himself.

People would soon realise that experience would be the main factor in this 10-round bout as Joshua would knockdown Ngannou late in the first round and during the second, before a ferocious right hand would lay out the Cameroonian for good.

Many of the Boxing community may believe that the victory wasn't that impressive but Ngannou had never been knocked out in MMA or Boxing, so Joshua had to be the first man to change that which he did in remarkable fashion.

Oleksandr usyk becomes the undisputed heavyweight champion

A long-awaited undisputed fight had been set between Fury and Usyk on May 18th, making it the first time we would see an undisputed Heavyweight Champion in 24 years when Lennox Lewis defeated Evander Holyfield to become the greatest Heavyweight.

Usyk had previously been an undisputed champion at Cruiserweight when he defeated Murat Gassiev in Moscow back in July 2018. Th Ukrainian knew he would be close to an undisputed title when he defeated Anthony Joshua for the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO World Heavyweight titles.

Fury deserved an opportunity to become undisputed after defending the WBC World Heavyweight title three times, stopping Deontay Wilder, Dillian Whyte and Derek Chisora in his path.

The Kingdon Arena would not be disappointed as Usyk and the Gypsy King would go the distance in a 12-round war. The ninth round would be the most eye-catching one as after a wicked left hand from the Ukrainian, Fury would stumble back to the ropes numerous times before the referee would rule it as a knockdown.

In a very tense moment as the scorecards were read aloud, Uysk would be glorious after winning by split decision and became the new undisputed Heavyweight Champion. 

A moment of history would be made, but the war may not be over just yet as a rematch is set between the two Boxing stars on the 21st December, which could see Fury redeem and avenge his only Boxing loss or Usyk keeping his undisputed title glory.