My Fights Of The Year So Far In 2021

Boxing has a way of putting fights on that easily make you want to shake your head in disgust. If you are reading this, I’m here to present what I feel are “Fight of the Year” candidates.  It’s excellent because the fights so far midway thru this year not only show that the pandemic can’t keep great battles away but have also set the bar high for the second half of the year.

So without further delay, here are what I have going for Fights of the Year in 2020.

 1.Estrada vs. Chocolatito 2

The build-up to this rematch to their 2012 bout delivered on all expectations as these two let their hands fly in this Super Flyweight unification bout from Dallas back in March. Did the judge who ruled 117-111 screwed the pooch? Absolutely, but that still doesn’t discredit the fight these two had in the ring. It was a war that had a back and forth ebb and flow and, like all great boxing fights, questionable judging in a contest that could’ve gone either way. At some point, these two will meet again in a rubber match to hopefully settle the score.

2. Brandon Glanton vs. Efetobor Apochi

This fight may have been at the end of June, but this Sunday night contest was quickly the best cruiserweight contest I’ve seen in a long, long time. You know a fight is good when the “highlights from it” are almost half the time of the 10 round contest from The Armory in Minneapolis. An upset win for Glanton helped just a great battle with back and action and.

On the possibility of a rematch, Glanton said after the fight, “If they want the rematch, then I’ll do it again. I think I’ve proven what I needed to prove, but it’s easier the second time.”

Let’s hope they run this one back.

3. Stephen Fulton vs. Angelo Leo

One of the most anticipated fights during this pandemic was the WBO contest at 122 lbs. involving Stephen Fulton and champion Angelo Leo making his first title defense of the title. What transpired once the bell rang between these two was complete brutality over twelve rounds, resulting in Fulton becoming the new champion. The win not only was great for him but has also led a slew of solid fights in the weight division, which will result in a unification bout against Brandon Figueroa in September. That fight on paper has the makings of being on this list at the end of the year.

4. Oscar Valdez vs. Miguel Berchelt

Oscar Valdez vs. Miguel Berchelt has my knockout of the year as Valdez hit Berchelt with a hook on the button to become the new WBC champion at Junior Lightweight. Another contest that boxing fans had been waiting for to happen once the pandemic broke out and what went down in the ring looked to be a changing of the guard. Berchelt before the fight was having trouble and looked drained on the scale. So much so he was racing for food afterward but once the bell rang, was game and was going down swinging against Valdez.

Can’t stop watching @OscarValdez56’s huge knock out 😳 #BercheltValdez pic.twitter.com/PaWvkYEcxX

— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) February 21, 2021

5. Ebanie Bridges vs. Shannon Courtenay

I’d be remiss if I didn’t put Ebanie Bridges and Shannon Courtenay on this last as that may be low-key one of the best female fights in the ring during the pandemic, let alone 2021.  Many forgot that the fight wasn’t to take place until Rachael Ball had to withdraw due to coronavirus, opening the door for Bridges to step in. Once the bell rang, Bridges was greeted to a shut left eye but still pressed on in what was a very entertaining fight that was a lot closer than the final scorecards from London.

That is my list of what I liked so far. I’m sure I missed your favorite fight and I’m all ears here on what it was.