Winner
Javier Fortuna KO's Miguel Zamudio
While there may have been more meaningful knockouts in 2013 none were as ferocious as Javier Fortuna's 1st round knockout of Miguel Zamudio. From the opening bell it was clear that Fortuna, who is know as "El Abejon" or in English, "The Bumblebee" was looking for an early knockout and he got it. Fortuna dropped Zamudio very early in the 1st round and surprisingly Zamudio was able to get on his feet but it was clear he wouldn't remain on them much longer. Fortuna worked Zamudio into the corner and when Zamudio threw a weak right hand Fortuna slipped it and landed a lightning fast left hand to the chin that put Zamudio to sleep. The punch landed perfectly on the chin of Zamudio and happened so fast that if you blinked you would have missed it, it was like Zamudio had been struck down by the hand of God. The knockout was so devastating that the moments following it were very tense and scarey with Zamudio laying on the canvas out cold. You know a knockout was for real when the fighter on the losing end of it has to be carried out on a stretcher. Luckily for everyone involved, Zamudio was okay and fans were able to really appreciate what an amazing knockout they had just seen.
Runner-Up
Curtis Stevens KO's Saul Roman
This fight against Saul Roman was supposed to be a good test for Curtis Stevens but instead turned into a showcase. Stevens who is a short, powerful fighter showed the world that he can be a very dangerous puncher. Stevens started the fight off quickly and never relented. Roman was game and even though he was taking a lot of punishment he never stopped throwing punches. Roman tried to land a combination to the body of Stevens and got caught with a sledgehammer of a left hand upstairs that dropped him and put him to sleep. What made this knockout so impressive was the fact that Roman was known as a tough fighter who was always ready for a brutal brawl and was supposed to test Stevens. Instead Stevens should fans why he can be one of the most exciting middleweights in the world, mainly because of his one punch knockout power. When a fighter gets dropped like he just got shot by a sniper, you know it's one helluva knockout.
Honorable Mention
Adonis Stevenson KO's Chad Dawson
This knockout was without a doubt the most meaningful knockout of 2013. It not only announced the arrival of Adonis Stevenson but it also saw him claim the thrown of the lineal light heavyweight champion of the world. The favorite coming into this fight was Chad Dawson and most people thought Dawson would be able to outbox Stevenson who was known as just a big puncher. However sometimes all you need is one big punch. This fight didn't make it out of the first round as Stevenson landed a good left hand around the ear that dropped Dawson. Dawson did get to his feet but all but told the referee he did not want to continue. Clearly Dawson had no interest in feeling the power of Stevenson again. This knockout may have earned the number one slot had it been a cleaner puncher and had Dawson stayed on the canvas. The punch of was somewhat glancing but it certainly was the most important knockout of 2013.
In The Running
Mikey Garcia KO's Juan Manuel Lopez
This knockout may have been ranked in the top three had Mikey Garcia turned his punch over. It was still a great knockout but the punch before it did most of the damage and the actual knockout punch was just the straw that broke the camels back. The punch came against Juan Manuel Lopez in the 4th round of their fight. Garcia caught Lopez with a strong right hand around the ear that hurt Lopez. Garcia followed that punch up with a wide left hand that caught Lopez flush on the chin and sent him to the canvas with arms spread at his sides. It was a great knockout in a great year for Garcia.
Artur Szpilka KO's Mike Mollo
Like the winner in this category, this fight was also on ESPN2's Friday Night Fights. It may not have had a lot of buzz surrounding it but it was a heavyweight fight and that always brings the intrigue of a big knockout and Artur Szpilka delivered one. It was the 5th round in a fight against Mike Mollo and it had been a tough back and forth fight to this point when Szpilka landed a short left hand to the chin of Mollo that sent him timbering to the canvas like a giant redwood to the forest floor. It was a very good punch and it makes the list because who doesn't love a good heavyweight knockout.
Gennady Golovkin KO's Nobuhiro Ishida & Matthew Macklin
It shouldn't surprise anyone that Gennady Golovkin finds himself on a list of the years best knockouts. This year was very good to Golovkin and he showed off his punching ability numerous times. His two best knockouts of 2013 came against Nobuhiro Ishida and Matthew Macklin. The first against Ishida came in the 3rd round of their fight when Golovkin caught him with a cinder block of a right hand to the head. That punch sent Ishida crashing through the ropes and unable to get up. As exciting as that knockout was the more devastating one may have been against Macklin. That knockout also came in the 3rd round but this time Golovkin went to the body. Golovkin caught Macklin with a left hand that landed perfectly to the liver and caused Macklin to assume the fetal position. The best part about body shot knockouts is the slight delay it takes the fighters brain to realize how hurt he is. Body don't get as much fanfare as head shots but they are a thing of beauty. The fighter who gets dropped always thinks he can get up but his body just won't allow him and that is exactly what happened to Macklin.
Javier Fortuna KO's Miguel Zamudio
While there may have been more meaningful knockouts in 2013 none were as ferocious as Javier Fortuna's 1st round knockout of Miguel Zamudio. From the opening bell it was clear that Fortuna, who is know as "El Abejon" or in English, "The Bumblebee" was looking for an early knockout and he got it. Fortuna dropped Zamudio very early in the 1st round and surprisingly Zamudio was able to get on his feet but it was clear he wouldn't remain on them much longer. Fortuna worked Zamudio into the corner and when Zamudio threw a weak right hand Fortuna slipped it and landed a lightning fast left hand to the chin that put Zamudio to sleep. The punch landed perfectly on the chin of Zamudio and happened so fast that if you blinked you would have missed it, it was like Zamudio had been struck down by the hand of God. The knockout was so devastating that the moments following it were very tense and scarey with Zamudio laying on the canvas out cold. You know a knockout was for real when the fighter on the losing end of it has to be carried out on a stretcher. Luckily for everyone involved, Zamudio was okay and fans were able to really appreciate what an amazing knockout they had just seen.
Runner-Up
Curtis Stevens KO's Saul Roman
This fight against Saul Roman was supposed to be a good test for Curtis Stevens but instead turned into a showcase. Stevens who is a short, powerful fighter showed the world that he can be a very dangerous puncher. Stevens started the fight off quickly and never relented. Roman was game and even though he was taking a lot of punishment he never stopped throwing punches. Roman tried to land a combination to the body of Stevens and got caught with a sledgehammer of a left hand upstairs that dropped him and put him to sleep. What made this knockout so impressive was the fact that Roman was known as a tough fighter who was always ready for a brutal brawl and was supposed to test Stevens. Instead Stevens should fans why he can be one of the most exciting middleweights in the world, mainly because of his one punch knockout power. When a fighter gets dropped like he just got shot by a sniper, you know it's one helluva knockout.
Honorable Mention
Adonis Stevenson KO's Chad Dawson
This knockout was without a doubt the most meaningful knockout of 2013. It not only announced the arrival of Adonis Stevenson but it also saw him claim the thrown of the lineal light heavyweight champion of the world. The favorite coming into this fight was Chad Dawson and most people thought Dawson would be able to outbox Stevenson who was known as just a big puncher. However sometimes all you need is one big punch. This fight didn't make it out of the first round as Stevenson landed a good left hand around the ear that dropped Dawson. Dawson did get to his feet but all but told the referee he did not want to continue. Clearly Dawson had no interest in feeling the power of Stevenson again. This knockout may have earned the number one slot had it been a cleaner puncher and had Dawson stayed on the canvas. The punch of was somewhat glancing but it certainly was the most important knockout of 2013.
In The Running
Mikey Garcia KO's Juan Manuel Lopez
This knockout may have been ranked in the top three had Mikey Garcia turned his punch over. It was still a great knockout but the punch before it did most of the damage and the actual knockout punch was just the straw that broke the camels back. The punch came against Juan Manuel Lopez in the 4th round of their fight. Garcia caught Lopez with a strong right hand around the ear that hurt Lopez. Garcia followed that punch up with a wide left hand that caught Lopez flush on the chin and sent him to the canvas with arms spread at his sides. It was a great knockout in a great year for Garcia.
Artur Szpilka KO's Mike Mollo
Like the winner in this category, this fight was also on ESPN2's Friday Night Fights. It may not have had a lot of buzz surrounding it but it was a heavyweight fight and that always brings the intrigue of a big knockout and Artur Szpilka delivered one. It was the 5th round in a fight against Mike Mollo and it had been a tough back and forth fight to this point when Szpilka landed a short left hand to the chin of Mollo that sent him timbering to the canvas like a giant redwood to the forest floor. It was a very good punch and it makes the list because who doesn't love a good heavyweight knockout.
Gennady Golovkin KO's Nobuhiro Ishida & Matthew Macklin
It shouldn't surprise anyone that Gennady Golovkin finds himself on a list of the years best knockouts. This year was very good to Golovkin and he showed off his punching ability numerous times. His two best knockouts of 2013 came against Nobuhiro Ishida and Matthew Macklin. The first against Ishida came in the 3rd round of their fight when Golovkin caught him with a cinder block of a right hand to the head. That punch sent Ishida crashing through the ropes and unable to get up. As exciting as that knockout was the more devastating one may have been against Macklin. That knockout also came in the 3rd round but this time Golovkin went to the body. Golovkin caught Macklin with a left hand that landed perfectly to the liver and caused Macklin to assume the fetal position. The best part about body shot knockouts is the slight delay it takes the fighters brain to realize how hurt he is. Body don't get as much fanfare as head shots but they are a thing of beauty. The fighter who gets dropped always thinks he can get up but his body just won't allow him and that is exactly what happened to Macklin.
Comments
Post a Comment