It hasn’t been all sweetness and sunshine for everyone over the past 12 months, with BoxingScene writers naming the people boxing will be glad to see beyond 2024.
Who wants 2024 to end the most?
Kieran Mulvaney: Boots Ennis and Virgil Ortiz a few years ago. The two men seemed to have the world at their fingertips. But Ennis didn’t fight enough. A rematch was completely unnecessary. and was dragged for refusing the opportunity to face Ortiz. who has done a very good job of recovering from the anxiety of being sick But it survived thanks to the controversial gift of Serhiy Bohachuk. Both men are looking forward to a more positive 2025.
Lucas Keitel: Devin Haney. His loss to Garcia right now is not a contest. But he never returned to action in 2024. Haney went from a pound-for-pound fighter to one who now has major questions about At the very least, 2025 gives Haney a chance to recover.
Owen Lewis: Tim Sue. A favorite fighter of hardcore boxing fans in late 2023, Tszyu spent 2024 ripping his skull off with a errant Sebastian Fundora elbow and running headfirst into Bakhram Murtazaliev’s worst offense. In the loss of true concussion stopping. I would understand if Tszyu completely lost his enthusiasm for the sport after a year like this. I hope he can rest and recover and enjoy a much less chaotic 2025.
Matt Christie: Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder Oleksandr Usyk’s years will surely remind both of them of what they missed by failing to fight each other while at the top.
Declan Warrington: Tim Tszyu who may never recover. I remain confident he will beat Keith Thurman, who he was scheduled to fight in April until Thurman got injured. I still believe he will beat out Sebastian Fundora, who replaced him at late notice. If he hadn’t been cut off like he was. Or if he had been preparing to fight an opponent with a different style all along? The aftermath of that night resulted in his loss to Bakhram Murtazaliev, which was even more damaging in October. Tszyu is well on his way to a career. Instead, he found himself having to rebuild in the most dangerous parts.
Jason Langendorf: Oscar De La Hoya. The only boxing superstar still on Golden Boy’s roster is Ryan Garcia, a fighter who is awaiting a ban from competition. Because he failed a drug test. and has publicly clashed with company boss De La Hoya. Canelo is gone (and still feuding with DLH). Jaime Munguia, for better or worse, is also out. To make matters worse, Golden Boy struggles to fill venues and market its best remaining fighters. Can anyone explain why the promotion isn’t working day and night to make Gabriela Fundora an icon? At least De La Hoya can shamelessly plug the women’s flyweight champion into his proprietary magazine… Oh, that’s right, that’s gone too.
Lance Pukmire: Jeron “Boots” Ennis has a mismatch remaining. Ennis looked worse and risked beating Karen. Chukadzian in November And after saying he felt more comfortable at 154 pounds, he quickly moved away from Virgil Ortiz while also making the switch from a two-division defenseman. Champion Teofimo López is unforgivable.
Tris Dixon: Some good answers above, but I’m going to go to Ben Whittaker. Liam Cameron’s collapse was a real stain on a career that seemed ready for a fresh start. But now a new starting point is needed.
Eric Ruskin: I’ll join the others who say that nothing has gone his way for Tim Tszyu this year. He needs a long rest and a fresh start.
Elliott Worsell: Tim Sue. Everything that could go wrong for him went wrong. But that doesn’t mean he can’t come back stronger.
