Winner
Andy Lee KO's John Jackson
There were many brutal knockouts in 2014 but none were is pretty as Andy Lee's counter right hook against John Jackson which earned him the award for Big Time Boxing's 2014 Knockout of the Year. From the opening bell Jackson controlled the action and it looked like Lee would be in for a long night that would add another loss to his record. For four and a half rounds Jackson was pouring it on Lee who seemed to have no answer for the younger fighter. Then in the 5th round Jackson had Lee in some serious trouble against the ropes. Jackson caught Lee with a few flushed punches that almost sent Lee through the ropes. Sensing that his man was in trouble Jackson really put the pressure on and went in for the kill. That is when Lee unleashed one of the most beautiful counter punches in recent memory. Lee caught Jackson with a short, powerful counter right hook that Jackson never saw coming and that was it. Jackson was out and the referee was waiving the fight off as Lee raised his hands in victory.
Runner-Up
Amir Mansour KO's Fred Kassi
The runner-up for 2014 Knockout of the Year may have been the most frightening. In fact the knockout was so brutal that the television network airing the fight didn't even show a replay of the punch until they were sure that Fred Kassi who had been knocked out was alright. Kassi was knocked out by Amir Mansour in the 7th round of their fight and the referee didn't even need to start a ten count, he immediately waved the fight off. Mansour had Kassi against the ropes and was swinging for the fences. He caught Kassi with a glancing overhand left that didn't do much of anything but he followed that punch up with a brutal right hook that sent Kassi crashing to the canvas face first. Mansour knocked Kassi out cold and he remained unconscious for a few minutes. The moments following the knockout were tense but once fans realized Kassi was fine they began to buzz about what a devastating knockout they had just seen.
Honorable Mention
Wladimir Klitschko KO's Kubrat Pulev
2014 was a very good year for Wladimir Klitschko. Not only did he continue his impressive title reign but he also scored an honorable mention for Knockout of the Year. Klitschko was taking on Kubrat Pulev who showed from the first round that he came to win. Pulev was applying the pressure on Kitschko but had been dropped a few times because of it. In the 5th round Pulev sensed he would need the knockout for the win and attacked the weak chin of Klitschko. He caught Klitschko with a few nice punches and even backed the heavyweight champion up. That didn't last long however because Klitschko caught Pulev with a perfect short right hook that sent Pulev falling flat on his back. It was just a powerful knockout but also a reminder to boxing fans just how dangerous Klitschko can be.
In The Running
Danny Garcia KO's Rod Salka
This punch was so sick that it could have won the award for Knockout of the Year. The only reason it landed outside of the top three is because the fight between Danny Garcia and Rod Salka was such a disgusting mismatch that everyone expected Salka to get knocked out. Still the punch was a thing of beauty and there is no denying that. Garcia caught Salka with a few punches in the 2nd round and had him badly hurt. Instead of playing it safe Salka showed some big cajones and waved Garcia in. Unfortunately for Salka, Garcia decided to listen and came in behind a wild left hook that landed flush and dropped Salka so fast it looked like he had just been shot. The referee didn't even give a count he just waived the fight off because he knew there was no getting up for Salka.
Viktor Postol KO's Selcuk Aydin
The names Viktor Postol and Selcuk Aydin may not ring many bells for U.S. boxing fans but both are quality fighters and they produces a wonderful moment in 2014. It was the 11th round of their May fight when things got interesting. The action was back and forth in the center of the ring when Postol took control. Postol landed a right hand that hurt Aydin and then caught him with a right hand uppercut that landed like a jackhammer. The punch sent Aydin falling backwards and he folded over his own legs like a lawn chair. That punch won Postol the fight and also won him many new fans.
Carl Froch KO's George Groves
The rematch between Carl Froch and George Groves was supposed to be a redemption fight for Groves. In their first fight Groves had dropped Froch and hurt him a few times but was ultimately stopped in the 9th round when the referee waived off the fight in highly controversial fashion. This time around the younger Groves was supposed to put a hurting on Froch but he ended up getting hurt himself. It was an exciting back and forth fight until the 8th round when Froch caught Groves with a monster right hand that sent Groves to the canvas bent like a pretzel. That punch not only ended the fight but also any hope Groves had at getting his redemption.
Rogelio Medina KO's J'Leon Love
Coming into this fight J'Leon Love was an undefeated fighter and was the favorite against Rogelio Medina who already had six losses on his record. The fight and Love's undefeated record didn't last very long once he entered the ring. Medina was able to trap Love in the corner and instead of clinching to get out of danger Love decided to fight his way out. Love went to throw a left hook with his back against the ropes but Medina's trigger was quicker and he caught Love with a left hook of his own. The punch sent Love sliding down the ropes and although he tried to get to his feet he as in bad shape and unable to beat the count.
Adonis Stevenson KO's Dmitry Sukhotsky
Another punch that could have been in the top three was one that Adonis Stevenson landed on Dmitry Sukhotsky. Like the Garcia fight the reason it didn't crack the top three is because it was an embarrassing mismatch. Still the punch was undeniable in its beauty. Sukhotsky never really had a chance in this fight and it was all Stevenson from the opening bell. The in the 5th round Stevenson had Sukhotsky in trouble against the ropes and showed off his boxing skills by feinting a right hook and then catching Sukhotsky with a piston like straight left hand that ended the fight right here.
Amir Imam KO's Jared Robinson
While the punch that Amir Imam landed on Jared Robinson didn't look that brutal the aftermath certainly was. Both fighters came into the bout undefeated and looking to stay that way. The action was good to start but things really picked up in the 4th round. Imam doubled up his jab but neither punch did much damage. However he then caught Robinson with a right hand that sent him stumbling out of the ring. Robinson eventually climbed his way back into the ring but the referee took one look at him and waved the fight off.
Gennady Golovkin KO's Daniel Geale
It just seems sacrilegious that any list of the best knockouts of the year wouldn't include Gennady Golovkin, so here he is, and for good reason. In July Golovkin faced off against Daniel Geale who had never been stopped as a professional and was supposed to give Golovkin a tough time. Instead Golovkin ran through Geale like he does everyone else. In the 3rd round of that fight Geale got in some trouble but decided he would fight his way out of it. Geale caught Golovkin with a flush right hand but it didn't deter Golovkin. At the same time Golovkin threw a right hand of his own that landed clean and dropped Geale. While Geale was able to get back on his feet he wanted to more of Golovkin's power and when the referee asked if he was okay Geale shook his head no and the fight was over.
Andy Lee KO's John Jackson
Runner-Up
Amir Mansour KO's Fred Kassi
Honorable Mention
Wladimir Klitschko KO's Kubrat Pulev
2014 was a very good year for Wladimir Klitschko. Not only did he continue his impressive title reign but he also scored an honorable mention for Knockout of the Year. Klitschko was taking on Kubrat Pulev who showed from the first round that he came to win. Pulev was applying the pressure on Kitschko but had been dropped a few times because of it. In the 5th round Pulev sensed he would need the knockout for the win and attacked the weak chin of Klitschko. He caught Klitschko with a few nice punches and even backed the heavyweight champion up. That didn't last long however because Klitschko caught Pulev with a perfect short right hook that sent Pulev falling flat on his back. It was just a powerful knockout but also a reminder to boxing fans just how dangerous Klitschko can be.
In The Running
Danny Garcia KO's Rod Salka
This punch was so sick that it could have won the award for Knockout of the Year. The only reason it landed outside of the top three is because the fight between Danny Garcia and Rod Salka was such a disgusting mismatch that everyone expected Salka to get knocked out. Still the punch was a thing of beauty and there is no denying that. Garcia caught Salka with a few punches in the 2nd round and had him badly hurt. Instead of playing it safe Salka showed some big cajones and waved Garcia in. Unfortunately for Salka, Garcia decided to listen and came in behind a wild left hook that landed flush and dropped Salka so fast it looked like he had just been shot. The referee didn't even give a count he just waived the fight off because he knew there was no getting up for Salka.
Viktor Postol KO's Selcuk Aydin
The names Viktor Postol and Selcuk Aydin may not ring many bells for U.S. boxing fans but both are quality fighters and they produces a wonderful moment in 2014. It was the 11th round of their May fight when things got interesting. The action was back and forth in the center of the ring when Postol took control. Postol landed a right hand that hurt Aydin and then caught him with a right hand uppercut that landed like a jackhammer. The punch sent Aydin falling backwards and he folded over his own legs like a lawn chair. That punch won Postol the fight and also won him many new fans.
Carl Froch KO's George Groves
The rematch between Carl Froch and George Groves was supposed to be a redemption fight for Groves. In their first fight Groves had dropped Froch and hurt him a few times but was ultimately stopped in the 9th round when the referee waived off the fight in highly controversial fashion. This time around the younger Groves was supposed to put a hurting on Froch but he ended up getting hurt himself. It was an exciting back and forth fight until the 8th round when Froch caught Groves with a monster right hand that sent Groves to the canvas bent like a pretzel. That punch not only ended the fight but also any hope Groves had at getting his redemption.
Rogelio Medina KO's J'Leon Love
Coming into this fight J'Leon Love was an undefeated fighter and was the favorite against Rogelio Medina who already had six losses on his record. The fight and Love's undefeated record didn't last very long once he entered the ring. Medina was able to trap Love in the corner and instead of clinching to get out of danger Love decided to fight his way out. Love went to throw a left hook with his back against the ropes but Medina's trigger was quicker and he caught Love with a left hook of his own. The punch sent Love sliding down the ropes and although he tried to get to his feet he as in bad shape and unable to beat the count.
Adonis Stevenson KO's Dmitry Sukhotsky
Another punch that could have been in the top three was one that Adonis Stevenson landed on Dmitry Sukhotsky. Like the Garcia fight the reason it didn't crack the top three is because it was an embarrassing mismatch. Still the punch was undeniable in its beauty. Sukhotsky never really had a chance in this fight and it was all Stevenson from the opening bell. The in the 5th round Stevenson had Sukhotsky in trouble against the ropes and showed off his boxing skills by feinting a right hook and then catching Sukhotsky with a piston like straight left hand that ended the fight right here.
Amir Imam KO's Jared Robinson
While the punch that Amir Imam landed on Jared Robinson didn't look that brutal the aftermath certainly was. Both fighters came into the bout undefeated and looking to stay that way. The action was good to start but things really picked up in the 4th round. Imam doubled up his jab but neither punch did much damage. However he then caught Robinson with a right hand that sent him stumbling out of the ring. Robinson eventually climbed his way back into the ring but the referee took one look at him and waved the fight off.
Gennady Golovkin KO's Daniel Geale
It just seems sacrilegious that any list of the best knockouts of the year wouldn't include Gennady Golovkin, so here he is, and for good reason. In July Golovkin faced off against Daniel Geale who had never been stopped as a professional and was supposed to give Golovkin a tough time. Instead Golovkin ran through Geale like he does everyone else. In the 3rd round of that fight Geale got in some trouble but decided he would fight his way out of it. Geale caught Golovkin with a flush right hand but it didn't deter Golovkin. At the same time Golovkin threw a right hand of his own that landed clean and dropped Geale. While Geale was able to get back on his feet he wanted to more of Golovkin's power and when the referee asked if he was okay Geale shook his head no and the fight was over.
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