The Five Best Boxing Fights of 2019

Whenever I explain why I love boxing, as someone privileged enough to write and cover it regularly, I always tell people there's nothing like being in the building for a big fight. The energy, the breathtaking action of hearing punches fly through the air followed a microsecond later by the sound of it landing, the larger-than-life personalities, the bravado, the consequences...boxing is dramatic in ways so many other sports will never be. Yeah, it's fucked up for a lot of reasons and I'll repeat the line that it's often its own worst enemy. But for my money, nothing compares to witnessing a compelling championship fight between two guys putting their life on the line with the difference between winning and losing legitimately life-changing.

I've been lucky enough to cover awesome fights over the years—Keith Thurman vs. Shawn Porter, Canelo vs. GGG II, Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury—and, like the best kind of drug, when you witness an event as riveting as those fights you're hopelessly addicted. Predictably, 2019 didn't disappoint with its fair share of gripping matches, including the incredibly entertaining Errol Spence vs. Shawn Porter fight. Many will tell you that was the fight of the year. But, spoiler alert, we watched ours from the comforts of home since it took place across the Pacific. Boxing on a screen just ain't the same as in-person, but you can still appreciate the action and acknowledge a classic when you see it. And there were a bunch of classic fights in 2019 that we'll be talking about for years. Your top five will probably differ and for all of boxing's brutality and bullshit, part of its beauty lies in fun, gloriously subjective debates we can have about it like this.

Honorable mentions: Jose Ramirez vs. Maurice Hooker, Artur Beterbiev vs. Oleksandr Gvozdyk, Andy Ruiz vs. Anthony Joshua I

When: May 11

For: IBF, IBO, & WBA Super Welterweight titles

A low-key great fight that was overlooked on a lot of other fight of the year lists. We loved this one because Hurd hit the canvas for the first time in his career and Williams pulled off a dramatic upset in enemy territory. The slugfest that felt like it was held in a telephone booth went down in Fairfax, Virginia close to Hurd’s hometown of Accokeek, Maryland—and it was a pro-Hurd crowd. After coming into the ring rocking a Redskins robe, Hurd relinquished his belts following 12 rounds of bruising boxing via an unanimous decision for Williams (116-111 and 115-112 x 2). A 5-1 underdog entering the fight, Williams could barely compose himself after the fight trying to describe how far he had come. We were supposed to get a rematch, but it got shelved. We still want to see them go at it again.

When: October 26

For: IBF, WBC Diamond, & WBA Super Lightweight titles

Two undefeated and underrated southpaws put on such a show in the World Boxing Super Series super lightweight final that Terence Crawford told us it was his fight of the year. We respectfully disagre with the welterweight champ, but if you saw this bout you were treated to awesome back-and-forth exchanges in close quarters and a 12th round where both fighters were swinging for the fences—even after the final bell. Ultimately, it was Taylor who prevailed via majority decision (117-112, 115-113, 114-114) while Prograis showed off an impressive chin in enemy territory since the Louisiana native traveled to Taylor’s UK for the fight. Despite looking worse than Prograis with his right eye practically swollen shut, Taylor collapsed to his knees, overcome with emotion when he was declared the winner.

When: October 5

For: IBF & IBO Middleweight titles

No one expected the largely unknown Derevyanchenko to rough up GGG in their Madison Square Garden showdown since the talk heading into this one still largely revolved around Golovkin eventually meeting Canleo Alvarez for a third time. But Derevyanchenko, a sizeable underdog, roughed up Golovkin like we’ve never seen before as the two traded devastating blows across 12 incredibly close and difficult rounds to judge. In the end, Golovkin earned the unanimous decision (115-112 x 2, 114-113) that wasn’t exactly well-received by the New York crowd. The 37-year-old GGG, who has often resembled a machine in the ring, looked old for the first time absorbing more punches, including some hard body shots, from the 33-year-old Brooklyn-based Derevyanchenko than any of his previous 42 professional fights. In what turned out to be an old-school slugfest, Golovkin landed 43 percent of his power punches while Derevyanchenko connected on 39 percent of his, including a whopping 47 more power punches than GGG, according to CompuBox. It was bloody, it was courageous, it was compelling. If you weren’t entertained by this one, you’re a lost cause.

When: September 28

For: IBF & WBC Welterweight titles

The Athletic named this its Fight of the Year and it’s a worthy selection. Arguably the best boxer in the sport’s best division, this one was highly anticipated because Spence was facing his sterniest test to date at welterweight thanks to Porter’s championship pedigree and penchant to make life hell for his opponents in the ring. Porter, thanks to his smaller frame, loves to maul his opponents and fight unconventionally at times and that’s precisely what he did, making Spence look beatable for the first time. The action peaked in the scintilating 11th round. For the first two minutes, both fighters traded heavy blows until Spence clocked Porter with a left that wobbled him and caused him to put his glove down for the match’s only knockdown. After 12 rounds, Staples Center was on its feet applauding the awesome effort. A couple of minutes later when the scorecards were revealed, the LA crowd’s mood had changed when Spence was announced as the victor via a split decision (116-111 x 2, 115-112 for Porter). It was a close enough fight that you easily could’ve justified Porter as the winner. No matter who you scored it for it was undeniably one of 2019’s most memorable.

When: November 11

For: IBF & WBA Super Bantamweight titles

We agree with ESPN—this was the Fight of the Year. Since it went down on a Thursday in Japan you had to be a true die-hard to catch it live or even on replay. But if you made the time you were richly rewarded with a bout that was so captivating we couldn’t sit down while watching. If you don’t know who Inoue is, get familiar. Because The Monster is one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world and is going to start fighting in the US in 2019. His showdown with Donaire, a future Hall of Famer, was his most high-profile bout to date since it came in the World Boxing Super Series bantamweight final and, wow, was he tested. Despite a massive age difference—Inoue is 26 while Donaire turned 37 nine days after the bout—the two proved to be awesome dance partners since they gave boxing fans 12 bloody, brutal, and captivating rounds. They rocked each other at various points and, just like Spence-Porter, the 11th round turned out to be something special. The penultimate frame was punctuated by a precise left-hand body blow from Inoue that dropped Donaire to his knee, only to rise a fraction of a second before he was counted out. The rapidly rising Inoue earned the unanimous decision (117-109, 116-111, 114-113), an additional belt, and new promotional deal with Top Rank. Meanwhile, Donaire cemented his status as a legend and fight fans at-large were buzzing after this one. What more could you ask for?