Trainer of the Year
Thomas Madsen (trainer of Dina Thorslund).
Dina Thorslund currently sits atop the bantamweight division, after a brilliant, dominating 10-round unanimous decision over Yulihan Luna Avila at Graakjaer Arena in Denmark, on September 1. Heading into the bout, Lineal Boxing Champion had Avila ranked number one at 118lb, with Thorslund at number two; the victory made Thorslund not just the unified champion, but the true divisional queen. Thorslund winning was not a shock, but the emphatic nature of the win was largely unexpected, as Avila is an experienced fighter and has several world class wins on her resume, including her 2020 near-shutout battering of Mariana Juarez. Against Avila. Thorslund put in a career-best performance; she made beating the talented Mexican “look” easy.
Her coach, Thomas Madsen, has been by her side, helping her reach the pinnacle. Neither Madsen or Thorslund grab many headlines for outside-of-the-ring activities, but it is their work ethic and Thorslund’s results inside the ropes that have earned them worldwide respect. Dina has now won thirteen scheduled 10-round (championship distance) fights, and overall has a flawless 20-0 record.
Speaking in 2018 ahead of a career-toughest clash with veteran Alicia Ashley, Madsen said:
“Dina must put pressure on Ashley from the outset. She must also avoid chasing Ashley and instead focus on cutting off the ring.”
“I don’t see this fight as a forgone conclusion, but I am pretty sure Dina’s physicality will prove too fierce for Ashley.”
Thorslund won, and has continued to do so for a further six years. Superb conditioning and having a coach who does not underestimate the opposition and gives sound tactical advice, meant that when the time came in September 2023 to fight for bantamweight supremacy against Luna Avila, Thorslund was more than ready.
Honourable mentions
Tito Bermudez: Trainer of Evelin Bermudez.
Gloria “Coach G” Alvarado: Trainer of Yokasta Valle.
KO of the Year
Julissa Guzman KO-8 Ramla Ali
(June 17, 2023)
At an Eddie Hearn event (Prograis/Zorrilla) in New Orleans, Louisiana, on June 17, Ramla Ali was looking to win her 9th straight fight. On paper, Julissa Guzman (12-2-2) was a step up in quality, but she was an opponent that the Brit was expected to beat on her ascent to a world title shot. Ali boxed well in patches, but it soon became apparent Guzman had the heavier hands. At the end of round five - a round in which Ali had been successfully using her length and light footwork - Guzman managed to thud a hard right hand into Ali’s chin, sending her crashing to the seat of her pants; she beat the count, but appeared groggy. To her credit, Ali recovered well and in round eight she was on the attack, firing jabs and right crosses at her Mexican adversary in an attempt to grab control of the bout, when Guzman sent a perfect left hook past Ali’s low right hand, hitting her flush on the chin. Ali was out, flat on her her back, and although she bravely attempted to get to her feet, she was unable to do so by the count of ten.
Honourable mention
Gabriela Fundora KO-5 Arely Mucino. A terrific stoppage from Fundora and a demonstration of her formidable punching power against an elite opponent. The fight featured two knockdowns, but in the end it was Mucino’s corner that stopped the contest when their fighter was getting pummelled against the ropes.
(October 21, 2023)
Fight of the Year
Katie Taylor MD-10 Chantelle Cameron
(November 25, 2023)
A tremendous battle between two of the world’s P4P-top-five fighters. Cameron had inflicted Taylor’s first professional loss, by majority decision in Dublin, in May. At the age of the 36 and having already achieved everything in the sport, Taylor could easily have sailed off into retirement with her legendary career intact, but instead, she met Cameron in an immediate rematch six months later, now age 37. A solid jab from Cameron in the opening round combined with Taylor’s foot appearing to trip on Cameron’s, had Katie briefly on the canvas; this was more of an interesting post-fight talking point, and wasn’t scored as an official knockdown. Aside from this, neither fighter touched the canvas, but the pace was furious though-out. In the end it was Cameron’s face that was bruised and swollen; Taylor had narrowly landed the greater volume of punches and had edged control of most of the rounds, to have her arm raised in victory, winning by majority decision, and evening the tally between the two.
Honourable mentions
Amanda Serrano UD-10 Erika Cruz
Chantelle Cameron MD-10 Katie Taylor
Fighter of the Year
Amanda Serrano
In 2023, Amanda Serrano fought three times, winning all three. On February 4th, in what was a clash between the two best fighters at 126lb, Serrano emerged victorious by a blood-soaked 10-round unanimous decision at Madison Square Garden Theater, a fight in which both women threw a combined 1912 punches! The fight filled the Lineal Championship vacancy at featherweight and Serrano added the WBA strap to her WBC/IBF/WBO titles, becoming the undisputed champion.
In August, Serrano trounced Heather Hardy in a rematch of their 2019 fight, and in October she comfortably outpointed top-five-ranked, Danila Ramos. Serrano/Ramos was historic as it was the first occasion a reigning Lineal Champion (who was also an undisputed champion), had defended her crown in a 12 x 3-minute-round fight.
Honourable mentions:
Dina Thorslund: after defeating Vanesa Taborda by TKO in March, Thorslund widely outpointed Luna Avila on September 1, in Holstebro, Denmark, for bantamweight supremacy, adding the Mexican’s WBC belt to the WBO strap she already owned.
Katie Taylor: the Irishwoman lost to P4P-top-10-ranked Chantelle Cameron in March, but in an immediate rematch, she won a 10-round majority decision to take the Lineal Championship and undisputed title in her second weight class.
Yesica Nery Plata: defeated Kim Clavel in Canada on January 13th, in what was a battle between the best two women at junior flyweight and unification of the WBA/WBC belts to fill the 108lb Lineal Championship vacancy. Plata, an under appreciated road warrior, then took her crown to Germany on December 16th, defeating 17-0, Sarah Bormann by 10-round split decision.
Previous FOTY winners:
2019: Katie Taylor
2020: Jessica McCaskill
2021: Amanda Serrano
2022: Claressa Shields
… …
Thank you to all our ratings panel members for their contributions in 2023 and for those that voted in our End of Year Awards.
@LinealBoxChamp