Maxboxing 2021 Fighter of the Year: Oleksandr Usyk

The easy pick would be Canelo Alvarez - who fought three times in 2021.

Alvarez destroyed Avni Yildirim with ease in February, barely breaking a sweat.

He broke down Billy Joe Saunders, winning the fight by stoppage. Alvarez looked good, stalking and countering the crafty Saunders with hooks and effective bodywork.

Then in November, he took on confident Caleb Plant in a bid to become undisputed super middleweight champion. Plant jabbed and moved scoring points but unable to deter the relentless Alvarez. The champion fired hooks downstairs to slow Plant down – then moved his attack later on. A big uppercut floored Plant in round 11, rendering him weakened and vulnerable. Alvarez ended things soon after, clubbing Plant to the canvas.

Impressive and expected, but not enough in my opinion to win Fighter of the Year.

The winner is Oleksandr Usyk.

Though he fought only once in 2021, what he accomplished was cracking. He’s the ultimate road warrior.

Usyk captured his first world title in 2016. He traveled to Gdańsk, Poland, his undefeated opponent’s home country, and impressed. Less than two years later, he unified the cruiserweight division by edging Mairis Briedis in the semifinal of the World Boxing Super Series tournament.

In the final, he faced Russian Murat Gassiev, (in Moscow) a fighter who had starched 10 of his last 12 opponents. Usyk, a native of Ukraine, boxed beautifully, playing olay- en route to winning all 12 rounds. Next up was former champion Tony Bellew – who has issued a challenge. Usyk accepted.

The bout was in London, where thousands of Bellew’s fans came out to support their man. The early rounds were competitive. Usyk, like a scientist studying a bug under a hot light, began to slowly take over. In round eight, Usyk stunned Bellew with a right and put him to sleep with a beautiful left to the jaw.

Moving up to heavyweight, Usyk struggled with tough guy Derek Chisora. Many thought a better heavyweight would roll over him.

When the WBO informed heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua that he must defend his belt against Usyk, Joshua and his promoter Eddie Hearn didn’t like it.

Usyk got his chance against Joshua last September.

The opening round told the story. Call it a foreshadowing of things to come. Usyk was bobbing, feinting, and weaving. Three-to one favorite Joshua, who 19 of 21 writers said would defeat Usyk, took it all in. He fired jabs at his mobile opponent. Usyk, fighting out of a southpaw stance, nailed Joshua with straight left hands to the chin and body.

Usyk easily won the early rounds - staggering Joshua in round three.

Joshua did better in rounds five and six, but Usyk, busier and more accurate, dominated round seven.

Joshua battled, but Usyk cemented his victory in the 12th and final round, hurting Joshua with combinations.

The fight was his – as is the Maxboxing 2021 Fighter of the Year.