NEW YORK -- Boxing dignitaries and fight fans filled the Edison Ballroom in Manhattan for the 100th Boxing Writers Association of America Awards dinner last night.

Unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk and undisputed flyweight champion Gabriela Fundora were both on hand to collect their Fighter of the Year awards, and Usyk also picked up the Fight of the Year gong for his first win over Tyson Fury.

The popular Ukrainian was presented the award for the Fury fight by Hollywood star Liev Schreiber (“Ray Donovan,” “Spotlight”), a friend who was ringside that night and delivered a stirring speech before Usyk made his way to the stage.

Schreiber hailed what trainer Teddy Atlas described as a test of “character,” while also noting the political meaning of fighting for his war-torn countrymen in Ukraine.

“A big question on many of our minds that night was, which Tyson Fury would show up? That question would be answered within the first few rounds, when it became abundantly clear Fury was in the best form we had seen him in years,” Schrieber said. “His terrific timing, precision and power were on display as he flicked his powerful jab and landed thudding body shots that could be heard and felt at ringside. And then, of course, the uppercut, which may have harmed [Usyk’s] dental work.

“What followed that uppercut … were flashes, images frozen in time. His eyes raised to heaven, as if to seek his father’s guidance. His cornermen passing a Crucifix between the ropes for him to kiss, and then, of course, the ninth round, when his incredible determination, commitment and courage lifted us all out of our seats and reminded us what a miracle it is to be a human. That, no matter what the odds were, no matter how confusing, contentious or violent the world becomes, if we can just reflect our powers, if we can just hold on to the respect and gratitude that defines our shared existence, there is nothing in this world we can’t accomplish.” 

In the crowd were several stars, including Nonito Donaire, Junior Jones, Juan Diaz, Bernard Hopkins, and Michael Spinks.

The ceremony was kicked off when Thomas Gerbasi, one of the finest boxing writers of the generation – with scores of bylines at BoxingScene, The Ring, Boxing News, and one of online boxing writing’s founding-fathers – was awarded the Nat Fleischer Award for his career in journalism. 

Gerbasi thanked the Fleischer committee, Thomas Hauser, the BWAA committee, his boss at the UFC, Dana White, and added his thanks to the fighters he has covered. 

“Without you guys, we are nothing,” he said.

He also thanked his family, his editors past and present including Rick Reeno, Dougie Fischer, Matt Christie, Mark Butcher (and yours truly), and dedicated the award to his father.

Gleason’s Gym owner Bruce Silverglade picked up the Marvin Kohn Good Guy award and said: “Every day of my life is more and more fun. It’s a great sport with the greatest people.”

Owing to Naoya Inoue fight week taking place in Las Vegas, Top Rank matchmaker Brad Goodman was unable to collect the Barney Nagler award for long and meritorious service to boxing, but coach Robert Garcia picked up the Eddie Futch Trainer of the Year award.

Garcia said he was appreciative of his fighters and his team, thanked the promoters he works with and gave shoutouts to several of his 2024 standouts, including Jesse Rodriguez, Vergil Ortiz, and “Rayo’ Valenzuela.

On his table, he was joined by Donaire, who was one of the reasons Garcia claimed the same award in 2012.

Manager Egis Klimas won the Cus D’Amato manager of the year award for a fourth time, having earned it previously in 2016, 2017, and 2018.

He said he was grateful of his fighters, “whether they were champions or not” and added: “To become a champion you have to be very dedicated and I was so lucky to get in the place where I am now… 2024 was a very good year for me. I was so blessed.”

As well as Usyk, he had a big year with Vasiliy Lomachenko and Bakhram Murtazaliev.

Marv Albert, as well as one of boxing’s great announcers, was the voice of the NBA and the New York Knicks for 37 years. He has formed formidable commentary teams with Teddy Atlas and the late fight doctor Ferdie Pacheco, covering Larry Holmes, Marvin Hagler, Ray Mancini, and scores of other greats, analysing the sport in South Africa, Italy, France, Australia, Ireland, and in the UK, to name a few.

Albert collected the Sam Taub Award for excellence in broadcast journalism, and was awarded the trophy by his brother, Steve, who was the host for the night and a previous winner of the same award in 2006. Their other brother, Al, claimed the award in 1995. 

Having been introduced by his brother to get his award, Marv joked: “Those were the nicest things he’s ever said to me.”

Fundora was presented her award – the Christy Martin award – by promoter Oscar De La Hoya. 

The 23-year-old, who carries the monicker “Sweet Poison”, was labelled by De La Hoya, “the next face of women’s boxing. 

“Gabriela, we are incredibly proud of you, every accolade is a result of your hard work and passion,” said the “Golden Boy.”

Speaking of previously winning the BWAA Fighter of the Year award, De La Hoya added: “Boxing brings together amazing people and I’m really grateful to be up here.

“I believe in you guys [the BWAA] 1,000 per cent and I will always support you 1,000 per cent.” 

Fundora thanked her parents, Golden Boy, Sampson Boxing, and others, and said of her mother and father: “They taught me to be disciplined and righteous… You guys [her promoters] have the same vision and believe in me.” 

Just two nights away from fighting Arnold Barboza in Times Square, Teofimo Lopez presented Usyk with his Fighter of the Year award. Usyk also won it in 2018.

“Usyk is great, it’s an honor to present this to you,” said Teofimo. “Usyk, thank you for inspiring me to know I could aspire to the titles you claimed.” 

Usyk, upon collecting his second award of the night, looked to the heavens and thanked his late father.

He told a story of how he played soccer and enjoyed it, but his father insisted, “try boxing, please.”

“Okay,” Usyk replied. 

So he went to the gym, got his face bloodied, and he went back home.

“How are you?” asked his dad.

“Bad,” Usyk replied.

“Why?”

“Because my face is in pain and my nose has blood. It’s a problem.”

 “If you train,” said his dad, “you’ll be a champion. I listened. I listened to my father and we did this. Thank you.”

The awards also represented a good night for BoxingScene.com, claiming first place in three of the six writing categories.

Tris Dixon covered his first amateur boxing fight in 1996. The former editor of Boxing News, he has written for a number of international publications and newspapers, including GQ and Men’s Health, and is a board member for the Ringside Charitable Trust and the Ring of Brotherhood. He has been a broadcaster for TNT Sports and hosts the popular “Boxing Life Stories” podcast. Dixon is a British Boxing Hall of Famer, an International Boxing Hall of Fame elector, is on The Ring ratings panel and is the author of five boxing books, including “Damage: The Untold Story of Brain Trauma in Boxing” (shortlisted for the William Hill Sportsbook of the Year), “Warrior: A Champion’s Search for His Identity” (shortlisted for the Sunday Times International Sportsbook of the Year) and “The Road to Nowhere: A Journey Through Boxing’s Wastelands.” You can reach him @trisdixon on X and Instagram.