Lovers of boxing were served with some of the biggest fights in the sport with amazing bouts in 2024.
Some of the noteworthy moments include undisputed bouts in both the heavyweight and light-heavyweight categories, an exhibition fight between an MMA star and a two-time heavyweight champion, as well as an all-British affair at Wembley.
With an array of impeccable fights on display this year, Afrosport takes a look at some of the biggest pound-for-pound action of 2024.
Anthony Joshua shows Francis Ngannou who’s boss in Saudi Arabia
Nigerian-British boxer Anthony Joshua overpowered Cameroonian martial artist Francis Ngannou with a vicious knockout win in a sold-out heavyweight bout in Saudi Arabia in March.
Ngannou had wowed the crowd with a top-class performance against Tyson Fury in 2023, which sparked the possibility of an upset against former two-time heavyweight champion Joshua.
Joshua, however, put any thoughts of an upset to bed early on as he ended the fight with a right hook in the second round, temporarily ending the former UFC heavyweight champion’s boxing career.
Oleksandr Usyk’s split decision win against Tyson Fury in heavyweight thriller
The 18 May bout at Kingdom Arena shook the boxing heavyweight division when Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Usyk beat Fury by split decision to become the undisputed heavyweight champion, adding the Brit’s WBC title to his already-owned WBO, WBA, and IBF belts.
The Ukrainian became the first undisputed heavyweight champion in the four-belt era and the first since Lennox Lewis in 1999, setting the tone for a rematch later in the year.
China’s Zhang drops former heavyweight champion Wilder in fifth round
Deontay Wilder’s storied career was on the line when he came up against Zhilei Zhang in Riyadh on 1 June in the headline bout of the Queensberry vs. Matchroom card in Riyadh.
The American had just lost to New Zealander Joseph Parker six months prior and needed to bounce back against Zhang.
The fight in Riyadh, however, didn’t go as planned for the former WBC heavyweight champion, as Zhang rocked Wilder in the fifth round, flooring the American before the referee called off the fight.
Victorious Dubois outshines Joshua in all-British bout
Two of Britain’s biggest heavyweight boxers, a packed Wembley Stadium, and the IBF heavyweight title earmarked one of the year’s biggest fights.
The September bout tested Daniel Dubois’ resolve with his IBF heavyweight belt on the line against two-time champion Joshua.
Dubois was out for blood, and the 27-year-old knocked out Joshua multiple times before finishing off his countryman with a right hook in the fifth round.
The victory sent shock waves round the boxing world, announcing Dubois as a force to be reckoned with in the sport.
Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol out for blood in undisputed title fight
The Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, once again played host to another thriller as Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol locked horns for the light heavyweight undefeated title.
Beterbiev (20-0) and Bivol (22-0) both entered the arena undefeated, with the latter edging the fight, which went the whole yard of 12 rounds.
Beterbiev’s win crowned him the undisputed light heavyweight world champion by majority decision, but both fighters will match up in a rematch on 22 February 2025, headlining the “The Last Crescendo” fight card.
And Still… Usyk defeat Fury to retain heavyweight titles
Fury eyed revenge in his second meeting against Usyk in Riyadh, but the undisputed heavyweight title was no longer on the line as the Ukrainian was forced to vacate the IBF belt to Dubois.
However, the WBO, WBC and WBA titles were on the line again along with were the legacies of both fighters, who have shone in the division other the years.
The two fighters gave their all, taking each other to the brink, but Usyk won again on points to retain his titles by unanimous decision after all three judges scored the fight 116-112.
