Reflecting on 12 months in which boxing made history and hit the headlines for the right and wrong reasons.
Thursday 25 December 2014 12:52, UK
Will there ever be a bigger night of boxing than May 31 at Wembley? The rest of the sport did everything to step out of the shadows over the last 12 months.
Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao have ended the year calling each other out, Wladimir Klitschko still rules the heavyweight roost and Genardy Golovkin is emerging as the new superstar. But it has been a brilliant year for British fighters too.
Carl Froch and George Groves' rematch, dubbed Unfinished Business, gripped the nation, sold out the national stadium and produced a stunning finish.
Froch, Scott Quigg, Jamie McDonnell, Kell Brook, Carl Frampton and Ireland's Andy Lee all end 2014 as world champions. Groves and James DeGale are heading for world title tilts – and a rematch – while Amir Khan is a Vegas name.
The year's highlights also include grudge matches like Cleverly v Bellew, Saunders v Eubank Jr and Fury v Chisora.
It is hard to call but here, in no particular order, are five moments that proved boxing in 2014 captured the public's imagination in stadiums, in arenas, on social media and on the back pages although, sadly, not always for the right reasons.
I've been involved in some magnificent fights but this is by far the biggest and best crowd I've ever boxed in front of. It's the biggest event I've ever been involved in and I'm very proud.
What: Froch v Groves II
Where: Wembley Stadium
When: Saturday, May 31
The word rematch was hot on everybody's lips as we hit 2014. George Groves successfully lobbied the IBF to get another crack at Carl Froch, who eventually agreed early in February. The rest was to become history.
Forget the City Ground, Nottingham or Twickenham, there was only one place that was going to hold the size of crowd that wanted to see Froch Groves II – Wembley Stadium. The build-up began with the usual war of words but, while he invited a sports psychologist into his camp, even Froch must have been miffed when Groves brought a Rubik's Cube out at one of the pre-fight press conferences.
The bitterness grew, as did the public interest, but did anyone expect the rivals to pull off the biggest British fight we've seen. The walk-ins were something to remember: Froch simple and straight up for it, Groves on a double decker bus and demonstrating his showmanship. Of course, Froch produced the stunning knockout in the eighth round of a much more tactical tussle to finally end the debate. The Cobra was still the world champion. And his business with Groves was finished... wasn't it?
After weeks of speculation, including feedback from fans across an array of social media platforms, Mayweather will face the dangerous, power-punching Maidana.
What: Mayweather picking May opponent
Where: Twitter
When: Wednesday, February 4
Floyd Mayweather is a social guy with the small matter of 5.6million Twitter followers, so who better to let the public pick his opponent? Well, Money did just that in February. He was down to two but could not decide. Would it be Amir Khan, the Brit flying the flag in Las Vegas, or would it be Marcos Maidana, the Argentine who had taken the WBA welterweight belt away from Mayweather's protege Adrien Broner.
Khan had a contract in place to take on Mayweather but that counted for nothing – despite the news the British fighter had won the poll with an estimated 60 per cent share of the vote. Yet three weeks later, the Maidana rematch was on and the public had, apparently, decided.
Mayweather took his record to 45-0 but the mixed reaction suggested the public had the right idea when it came to Money and entertainment. The rematch, sadly for Khan, had to happen. And did.
It was a tough, tough fight. I needed to dig in at times, but I trained hard for this fight. I’ve come over here, to his back yard, from little old England and I’m the new champion.
What: Porter v Brook
Where: StubHub Center, Carson, California,
When: Saturday, August 16
Kell Brook became the fourth British world champion by prising the IBF welterweight title away from Shawn Porter in the American's own backyard. The challenger went out to the States two weeks before the fight, acclimatising and focusing on become not only a British world champion, but one who took a world title from an American across the pond. To add to the difficulty of it all, Brook's world title shot had fallen through three times before. When the first bell rang, few people expected him to beat the then-unbeaten champion.
In the opening rounds the pre-fight forecasts looked accurate, with Porter's come-forward style setting the tone and Brook forced to box on the back foot. But bit-by-bit he took over in the second half of the fight and picked Porter apart, following the gameplan set out by trainer Dominic Ingle.
It was a perfect performance but even at the end, especially on foreign soil, had Brook done enough? Judges scored of 116-112, 117-111 and 114-114 gave him the decision, the IBF welterweight strap, and the chance to finally and formally call-out British rival Amir Khan!
I really believe that Floyd will have big problems with my speed, movement and accuracy. Floyd is one of the best fighters in the world, don’t get me wrong, but I want my chance.
What: Khan v Alexander
Where: MGM Grand, Las Vegas
When: Saturday, December 13
In what was supposed to be the toughest test of his career, Amir Khan produced a masterclass in beating Devon Alexander. It was his fifth and finest Vegas show and when you top the bill at the MGM Grand you know you have made it. Khan outclassed the former two-time world champion and strolled home with a landlisde win.
Alexander is no fool and he knew he was in trouble early on so tried to change the approach and be more aggressive. The trouble with that was Khan moved out of range as quickly as he got in. The Bolton-born fighter also managed to pick him off with several counters.
Khan's speed was a sight to behold, his combinations were clinical and his calmness under pressure was something we hoped Virgil Hunter had instilled.
Where next for Khan? Kell Brook was on hand in the Sky Sports studio to press his claim. Brook wants Khan but, despite Mayweather calling out Manny Pacquiao, Khan wants Money. Surely we all want to see Khan fly the flag in Vegas in what would be 2015's biggest fight?
What: Amateur attacks referee
Where: European Youth Boxing Championships, Zagreb
When: Tuesday, October 23
Boxing is never full of sweetness and light. Kell Brook, Jamie Moore and Anthony Crolla have become innocent victims of horrific attacks outside the ring.
Inside the ropes, at the European Youth Championships in Zagreb, an equally shocking incident occurred. A boxer attacking a referee after a fight is almost unprecedented. When Vido Loncar shamed the sport, the world was watching.
Loncar, a Croatian light-heavyweight, was clearly upset at the referee's admittedly strange decision to step in and call off his bout with Algiras Baniulis, awarding the decision to the Lithuanian.
Loncar went to the corner calmly but, when he returned for the announcement of the decision, began pummeling the referee, only stopping his attack when security staff dragged him through the ropes by his ankles. He was banned for life and thankfully the referee was OK. It was a moment that will linger but, surely, it won't be one we see again.
