By Adam McMeeking
The year 2020 has been an oddity. COVID 19 has created chaos across the world, wreaking havoc on healthcare systems, and shaking up businesses, causing many to collapse. The quantity of boxing matches taking place has been severely restricted, but there been numerous memorable clashes nonetheless.
Out of the muddle, with thanks in particular to Eddie Hearn, boxing in the UK has sparkled. Matchroom’s Fight Camp series caught the public’s attention and fighters such as Katie Taylor, Terri Harper and Natasha Jonas seized the moment. In America, Claressa Shields may have been side-lined since January, but Jessica McCaskill caused a shock on the streets of Downtown Tulsa, and Mikaela Mayer fought twice, picking up her first title. Yulihan Luna Avila boxed immaculately in Cancun, Mexico, to dethrone long reigning banatamweight titlist, Mariana Juarez, and the best KO of the year took place in Tokyo.
In 2019 we had our inaugural end of year awards. Here are the results from 2020.
Panelists who voted and contributed to this year’s awards: David Avila, Anthony Cocks, Daniel Yanofsky, Ireneusz Fryszkowski, Julian Haramoure, Yuriko Miyata, GM Ross, Adam McMeeking, Blanca Gutierrez, Inaky Arzate.
Thanks also to Jenny Alvarez, for kindly permitting us to use her photographs.
Fighter of the Year 2020: Jessica McCaskill. Photo Credit: Jenny Alvarez.
FIGHTER OF THE YEAR
Jessica McCaskill
Only one woman this year defeated a P4P top 4 fighter. With only 10 fights on her resume, moving up a weight class, and as per usual, training while also working as a full time investment banker, “CasKILLA” toppled the undefeated Cecilia Braekhus, arguably the greatest welterweight of all time. Our fighter of the year: Jessica McCaskill.
In 2017 McCaskill was competing at lightweight, then, between 2018-2019, she stamped her mark on the 140lbs weight class, defeating Erica Farias in October 2019, in what was a “#1 Vs #2” match-up to crown a true divisional Lineal Champion. A mightily impressive run, difficult to top, but in August 2020, she went one better, going up in weight for the second time in her career, and surprising fight fans by outpointing “undisputed” titlist Cecilia Braekhus, in Tulsa Oklahoma. The official verdict was a majority decision for the American, with one judge scoring it a draw. McCaskill was giving up size and nearly 2 inches in height to the vastly experienced, unbeaten Norwegian, but she negated this with relentless pressure and close quarter attacks throughout the bout. Under normal circumstances having only one fight in a year would be very detrimental to a boxer’s chances of being named “fighter of the year,” but it’s worth recalling that due to the pandemic, the majority of the fighters in our divisional rankings did not box at all - so this was taken into consideration. Was McCaskill’s win close? Yes, but for an 8-2 fighter who was at a significant size disadvantage, to defeat some experts’ P4P #1 (as per Boxing Monthly) is incredible, and highlights why she is our fighter of the year.
No date is set, but the rematch has been agreed to take place in the first half of 2021. Recently, McCaskill made it clear to Lineal Boxing Champion that she has not yet relinquished her crown at 140lbs (her ABC belts have gone but she has not decided if she is remaining at welterweight), meaning that if she beats Braekhus again - in what is now viewed as a “#1 Vs #2” match-up at 147lbs - she will become boxing’s first female, two-weight Lineal Champion.
Katie Taylor heads to the ring for her fight with Miriam Gutierez. Photo Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom.
Honourable mention:
Katie Taylor.
On August 22nd, Taylor satisfactorily shut the book on her rivalry with Delfine Persoon, convincingly outpointing her at Matchroom Fight Camp, in Brentwood, England. It had originally been planned that Amanda Serrano would be in the opposite corner, but negotiations failed, and Persoon stepped up. Taylor had been deemed fortunate, by many, to have been awarded the decision when they first fought, however, with this year’s close, but clear win, she was able to move on. Katie found time to time to utterly dominate top 5 lightweight, Miriam Gutierrez, before the year was up.
Also receiving votes:
Terri Harper, Yulihan Luna Avila.
KO OF THE YEAR
Etsuko Tada KO-9 Ayaka Miyao. December 3rd.
This all-Japanese rematch didn’t seem to get the publicity it deserved, despite the pair being two of the top 5 strawweights in the world, and the vacant WBO belt being on the line. Several weeks before the fight (on November 15th), The Ring Magazine announced, in an online article, that Tina Rupprecht Vs Yokasta Valle (now scheduled for January 16th, 2021) would be for the vacant Ring belt at 105lbs - Tada’s clash with Miyao wasn’t mentioned in the article at all, despite both fighters being in The Ring strawweight top 5, meaning the outcome of the fight in Tokyo could potentially alter the divisional ratings, affecting the significance of Rupprecht/Valle. If Etsuko Tada was being overlooked by the boxing world, she reclaimed the stage in chillingly brutal fashion. In the opening seconds of round 9 at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Tada caught Miyao with a perfectly timed counter left hand, leaving her concussed opponent slumped prone on the canvas, triggering memories of Marquez-Pacquiao 4. Her message was clear: nobody can be named the true champion at strawweight without beating her.
Honourable mention:
Seniesa Estrada KO1 Miranda Adkins. July 24th.
Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada lived up to her ring moniker, annihilating her inexperienced 43 year old opponent in seven seconds, in what is the quickest KO in women’s boxing history.
Estrada did her job and did it sensationally, but the organiser’s decision to put the frightfully underqualified Adkins in with the seasoned Estrada in the first place, received a flood of criticism. After the fight, Russ Abner, of Boxing Social, reported: “Yes, she (Adkins) was a last minute replacement, but that’s no excuse. It left me feeling sick. Adkins had no clue what was going on or what to do.”
TRAINER OF THE YEAR
Rick Ramos.
Chicago based Ramos, owner of Body Shot Boxing, wins our Trainer of the Year award for the second consecutive year.
At the end of 2017, McCaskill was coming off a loss to Katie Taylor, and had a 5-2 record. Fast forward to the end of 2020, and she has won the Lineal Championship at 140lbs and all of the belts at 147lbs. McCaskill had just one fight in 2020, but what a formidable challenge it was - going up 7lbs to battle the 36-0, Braekhus. While many fighters remained inactive in the year of the pandemic, Ramos and McCaskill not only secured the biggest fight possible, but implemented the perfect tactics to force Cecilia into a dogfight, suffocating her in the early rounds with intense pressure and wicked hooks, ultimately tarnishing her unbeaten record. What a turnaround. Credit to McCaskill. Credit to Ramos too. “No Days Off,” on YouTube, offers a glimpse into the creative, hard graft that goes on at the Body Shot Boxing gym.
Trainer of the Year 2020: Rick Ramos. Photo Credit: Jenny Alvarez.
Honourable mention:
Stefy Bull.
Speaking in 2019, as per World Boxing News, Stefy Bull said: “I strongly believe I’ve discovered someone very unique, someone very exciting and someone who could be a big player, not just in women’s boxing, but in boxing overall.”
Well, Bull was right.
Under his guidance, training in Denaby Main, South Yorkshire, Harper has become a key figure in boxing’s hottest division, junior lightweight. She finished 2019 strongly with a victory over Viviane Obenauf, and kept the momentum rolling at full speed in 2020. She outpointed IBF titlist Eva Wahlstrom in February, and then stole the show in Matchroom’s August Fight Camp, against Natasha Jonas, in a fight of the year candidate, that ended in a draw. The Jonas fight was thrilling, but Harper had appeared vulnerable, getting hurt on at least two occasions, yet she dug deep in what became a gruelling fight, to retain her belt. Next up was a defence against Katharina Thanderz. Yes, Harper was expected to win but her opponent was respectable and had inflicted the first loss of Rachel Ball’s career back in 2018. Harper utilised a powerful jab and elusive footwork to control the action from the opening bell. Despite breaking her right hand midway through the fight, she still managed to grind the Norwegian down, stopping her in the 9th round. Harper’s last 12 month’s appear to have been ideal preparation for the potential titlists that lie ahead: Maiva Hamadouche, Hyun Choi, and Mikaela Mayer.
Also receiving votes:
Julio Luna (former boxer, and father/trainer of Yulihan Luna Avila). Ross Enamait (Katie Taylor’s trainer).
FIGHT OF THE YEAR
Katie Taylor UD-10 Delfine Persoon (96/94, 96/94, 98/93).
A grudge match between two of the P4P best fighters in the sport. Katie won their first clash in 2019, and unified all of the belts, but it was the loser, Delfine, who walked away with her reputation enhanced in the eyes of many fans and analysts, as there was a feeling that the Belgian had been unfairly treated on the scorecards. A bitter sweet pill for Taylor to swallow, after what should have been her greatest achievement.
This summer, Taylor was booked to fight the hard punching Puerto Rican, Amanda Serrano. When the fight fell through, it would have been excusable for Katie to have hammered a late minute substitute, but she didn’t settle for that. Instead, Taylor agreed to a rematch with her dangerous Belgian rival, who had given her hell in the first encounter, and who seemed to be a stylistic nightmare for the Irish icon.
Persoon attacked just as fiercely as before, but this time Taylor was as close to perfect as can be when facing the relentless storm that came her way. Delfine had her moments, and did catch Taylor at times, but the sharper, cleaner punching came from Taylor. Persoon’s nose was bloodied and there was significant swelling beneath the right eye as early as the second round - courtesy of Taylor’s pin point left hooks and stinging jabs. Taylor moved intelligently, leaving her opponent unable to land any damaging, fight altering punches. Persoon dug in, perhaps having her best round in the 8th, but even then, Taylor was unfazed. The final minute finished with both women swinging as if their lives depended on it. The scorecards read: 98/93, 96/94, 96/94. An excellent fight, and one that silenced Taylor’s critics.
Honourable mention:
Terri Harper Draw-SD-10 Natasha Jonas. August 7th (96/94, 95/96, 95/95).
Harper entered the fight as the favourite. Jonas, a former Olympian, trained by Joe Gallagher, was not expected to be a pushover, however, in her one step up fight as a professional, she had been stopped by Viviane Obenauf, and Harper was coming off a terrific win over Eva Whalstrom, so few anticipated Jonas was the woman to cause an upset. As the drama unfolded, Jonas’ quick combinations appeared to surprise her rival in the second round, but Harper responded strongly, and it was Jonas who finished the round with blood trickling from a cut above her right eye. By the half way point, Harper was breathing hard, and in round 8 the Liverpudlian buckled Terri's knees with a lightning left hand, followed by a short right hook. In the face of adversity, Harper proved she was made of stern stuff, demonstrating a champion’s will to win, fighting furiously in the 10th and final round. Ultimately, Jonas’ fewer but more precise blows were matched by Harper’s higher output. The result was a draw, which seemed a fair decision. The fans witnessed an unexpected classic. When the rematch inevitably happens, the world will be watching.
@LinealBoxChamp
A message from Rick Ramos, the Trainer of the Year, 2020.