WBC-WBA-WBO heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk was the star of the annual awards gala of the prestigious boxing magazine The Ring, which took place in London, as he took three of the awards. Usyk was named Fighter of the Year 2024 after winning the four heavyweight belts in May, defeating Tyson Fury by split decision, and retaining his crowns in December, this time winning by unanimous decision over Fury.
He also picked up the Round of the Year award for the ninth round of his first fight with Fury, which also won the Event of the Year award. Usyk said: “For me, this year was great, for me, for my team, for my country. It is very important if you want to help people, if you want to give a smile, give good education, behaviour, be happy. Thank you very much.”
This year has been great, for me, for my team, for my country
Oleksander Usyk, boxeador
The Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College was packed with great boxers from the past and current world champions, including Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield, Roberto Duran, Artur Beterbiev, Canelo Alvarez and Oscar De La Hoya, for the prestigious annual boxing awards ceremony.
Gabriela Fundora won the Boxer of the Year award after winning the four flyweight belts in November by technical knockout against Argentina’s Gabriela Celeste Alaniz, and having previously made two successful defenses of her IBF title earlier in the year.
Meanwhile, Daniel Dubois won the KO of the Year award for his fifth-round knockout of Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium in September, while legendary veteran promoter Don King received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The full list of winners is as follows:
Boxer of the Year: Oleksandr Usyk
Female Boxer of the Year: Gabriela Fundora.
Fight of the Year: Raymond Ford vs. Otabek Kholmatov
Event of the Year: Usyk vs. Fury I
KO of the Year: Daniel Dubois (over Anthony Joshua)
Lifetime Achievement Award: Don King
Trainer of the Year: Robert Garcia
Promise of the Year: Moses Itauma