Official: NSB 2018 Fighter of the Year

[pittapatta66]

Yeah Usyk had a good year, first that comes to mind

[Scopedog]

Yeah, you can't really look past Usyk. The WBSS is great because it truly reveals who the best fighters at a weight class are. Usyk beat Breidis and Gassiev this year, both of whom are very good, and Gassiev was seen as a killer - he himself was unbeaten having won his last fight against another very good opponent by brutal knockout, and was a unified champion as he went into his fight with Usyk. Usyk went to his backyard and didn't just beat him but utterly outclassed and humiliated him to become an undisputed champion - basically the boxing equivalent of a unicorn in this era. The big KO over Bellew - again, on the road - was just icing on the cake on what was already a FOTY-worthy 2018 campaign.

I think Warrington is the clearest runner-up, both Selby and Frampton are world class fighters, and he wasn't given much of a chance against either of them, but he beat them both decisively to really announce his arrival as a player.

I also thought Crawford has had a pretty good year. He utterly dismantled and destroyed Jeff Horn, and against Benavidez he was tested against a much taller undefeated fighter but showed why he was a complete fighter. Still, I think he's a somewhat distant runner up behind the previous two that I mentioned.

[Pigeons]

Why aren’t you asking anyone else that didn’t have usyk as foty?

I have higher expectations for you. Usyk beat three quality fighters. I don't know much about Terry Flanagan but Alex Saucedo has some of the worst defense in the sport. Watching his fight vs. Lenny Z. The fact that Hooker got dropped by such a crude brawler is a bad look.

[The Big Dunn]

I have higher expectations for you. Usyk beat three quality fighters. I don't know much about Terry Flanagan but Alex Saucedo has some of the worst defense in the sport. Watching his fight vs. Lenny Z. The fact that Hooker got dropped by such a crude brawler is a bad look.

Foty isn’t suggesting hooker is on the same level as usyk as a fighter. It’s just saying his year, relative to his level and the level of his opposition, should be celebrated. Same as usyk should be celebrated.

I obviously think usyk had a great year.

[jas]

1. Tyson fury- no-one will ever come back from an alcohol and coke binge like he did to compete vs a top 2 fighter

2. Warrington- clearly beat selby and frampton

3. Usyk- became undisputed.

[Pigeons]

Foty isn’t suggesting hooker is on the same level as usyk as a fighter. It’s just saying his year, relative to his level and the level of his opposition, should be celebrated. Same as usual should be celebrated.

I obviously think usyk had a great year.

He had a great year. I'd term him Breakout Fighter of the Year. But I do rate Usyk's comp on a significantly higher level.

[abracada]

1. Tyson fury- no-one will ever come back from an alcohol and coke binge like he did to compete vs a top 2 fighter

2. Warrington- clearly beat selby and frampton

3. Usyk- became undisputed.

No Canelo after he beat the boogeyman GGG?

[Citizen Koba]

Foty isn’t suggesting hooker is on the same level as usyk as a fighter. It’s just saying his year, relative to his level and the level of his opposition, should be celebrated. Same as usual should be celebrated.

I obviously think usyk had a great year.

It's a legitimate way of looking at FOTY... like most on here I'm seeing Usyk but if he hadn't have got the hell beat out of him I was thinking Dogboe for performing so far beyond expectations and you can make a similar claim for Warrington too. Hooker's one of my favourite dudes right now and you can make a similar case for him but I think he's held back a little by only having 2 fights and Saucedo not really being rated. I also got lil Ken Shiro too - assuming he wins on the 31st, hell Budler has a claim too if he gets his year end fight.

[The Big Dunn]

He had a great year. I'd term him Breakout Fighter of the Year. But I do rate Usyk's comp on a significantly higher level.

I actually like this differentiation.

[Shrap]

Usyk. Not even up for debate.