Image via Complex Original
You just got done with Christmas, or Hanukkah, or whatever, and you're probably finalizing your New Years plans. But you may have forgotten that there's more holidays to "Happy Holidays" than those big three. No, we're not talking about Kwanzaa (though that does happen to start today as well). We're talking about Boxing Day.
Yep today is Boxing Day, and even though it has absolutely nothing to do with boxing the sport, we've seen weaker justifications for timely internet content (barely). In honor of this tenuous connection, here's a bunch of GIFs of people getting severely pulverized. While you might feel odd about deriving any sort of enjoyment out of watching people fight to the point of brain damage, you can at least feel slightly better knowing that it's organized, and there's nobody holding a cell phone camera shouting "World Star!" as it happens.
Instead these men have held out, doing their best to continue a sport that has decreased in popularity with each successive generation. In honor of their dedication to a dying pastime, we bring you this gallery of incredibly painful punches because of..... wait, what was the reason again? *Re-reads first paragraph* Oh right, "Boxing Day." In honor of this foreign celebration, here's a bunch of guys knocking the piss out of each other. It's The Best Boxing Knockouts of 2014.
And, of course, before you scroll down be sure to cue the soundtrack.
Send all complaints, compliments, and tips to [email protected]"
Obligatory Warning
Fighters: Danny Garcia KOs Rod Salka
Date: August 9
Fun fact of the day: Unlike cells elsewhere in the body, brain cells "generally can't repair themselves," meaning that neuron damage in your brain is permanent. Translation: Try to avoid fights, projectiles or whacks from two-by-fours, and sure as shit don't box. If that doesn't convince you to ditch the gloves for something safer (say: big game knife hunting) then maybe this second round knockout of Rod Salka by Danny Garcia will. Honestly, many who saw the fight are surprised it lasted that long.
Time For a Mid-90s Throwback
"You're gonna eat lightning and you're gonna crap thunder!"
Fighters: Jose Zepeda KOs Victor Manuel Cayo
Date: August 11
Oh no wait, never mind. This bout lasted all of a minute and 18 seconds and represented Cayo's third loss in four fights over the past two years. At this point, even Mickey Goldmill would toss in the towel.
He's Not Dead
Fighters: Amir Mansour KOs Fred Kassi
Date: November 8
Though you'd be forgiven for thinking he was. Here's another bonus fun fact for you casual fans out there: Amir Monsour (the winner in this GIF) spent almost nine years in prison for cocaine trafficking. How frequently he did this while locked up is unknown.
The most vicious punch in this string?
Fighters: Orlando Salido KOs Terdsak Kokietgym
Date: September 20
Is undoubtedly the celebratory haymaker thrown by Orlando Salido after knocking out Terdsak Kokietgym. With the KO, Salido bested an experienced fighter who has been in dozens of fights in his official career, and (with a name like 'Terdsak') probably hundreds of others growing up.
Literal One-Two Punch
Fighters: Terrell Gausha KOs Cesar Vila
Date: December 11
Like getting fisted by DeMaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, except (possibly) even less pleasant. Actually, upon watching again, that's more like a four-punch combo (so add Wes Welker and Peyton Manning to the aforementioned scenario) which gave Cleveland native Terrell Gausha a 13-0 start to his career.
The Champ Reigns On
Fighters: Wladimir Klitschko KOs Kubrat Pulev
Date: November 15
To be the man, you got to beat the man. At least, that's what we hear. And unfortunately in mid-November Kubrat Pulev couldn't take down Wladimir Klitschko, making him the 21st consecutive opponent to lose to Mr. Hayden Panettiere. It was the 17th straight title defense by Klitschko (now just three short of tying Larry Holmes for second all-time). He still hasn't lost since 2004. And that's why he's one of about three household names left in boxing.
When it comes to their toll on the brain...
Fighters: Alexander Povetkin KOs Manuel Charr
Date: May 30
...this five-punch barrage equals Emmitt Smith's entire career. With this succession of shock waves to the head of challenger Manuel Charr, Alexander Povetkin retained his WBC International Heavyweight Title.
Oh, and also probably shortened Charr's life by four-to-six years.
This knockout came in defense of the WBO lightweight belt.
Fighters: Terence Crawford KOs Yuriorkis Gamboa
Date: June 28
And the fact that many of you us didn't know that is pretty much confirmation that the sport is on life support.
Not unlike most of the guys on this list about ten years down the road.
Wow, Freakin' Movie Punch
Fighters: Carl Froch KOs George Groves
Date: May 31
"Float like a butterfly, sting like a 200 lb. man trained to do as much damage as possible with his fists." What else is there to say? If you could swing like this, you could say whatever you want to whoever you want. After the match Froch (the punch thrower) said about Groves (the punch throw-ee):
"How do you define a good punch? By what it means. And what that (punch) meant was the whole George Groves saga, the way people will look back at it in the years to come, that was the right hand that finished the job. So yeah that probably was the best punch I've thrown in my life."
We'll do him one better and say that was the best punch we saw all year.
