Year-End Sports Recap: Ranking The Best Boxing Fights Of 2021

KEY POINTS

A number of historic fights have happened this year in the sport of boxing
Upsets, controversial wins and rivalries all made the list of this year's best boxing fights
Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder's trilogy fight is arguably the biggest story of 2021

This year has been big for the sport of boxing, and here are five of the best fights that people have raved about the most.

5. Oscar Valdez vs. Miguel Berchelt

In February, Oscar Valdez made his presence felt in the sport after pulling off a Knockout of the Year candidate win over Miguel Berchelt.

Valdez knocked out Berchelt at the end of the 10th round to become the WBC junior lightweight champion.

Though it was a one-sided fight, it made the list because of Valdez's remarkable career-best performance that made him a two-division champion.

4. Josh Taylor vs. Jose Ramirez

Josh Taylor and Jose Ramirez squared up in May to prove that only one can be the undisputed junior welterweight champion.

After 12 rounds of boxing, it was Taylor who claimed the prestigious recognition.

Taylor managed to get the judges' nod by dismantling Ramirez in the middle rounds. The Scot dropped his opponent in the sixth round and even almost forced the referee to call a stoppage in the seventh.

In the process, Taylor became only the sixth boxer to claim undisputed champion status in the four-belt era.

Scotland's Josh Taylor celebrates his win by unanimous decision over Jose Ramirez in their junior welterweight world unification title fight at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / David Becker

3. Juan Francisco Estrada vs. Roman Gonzalez II

After more than eight long years, Juan Francisco Estrada finally got his revenge over his super flyweight rival Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzales in a one-of-a-kind rematch.

Despite the fight ending in a controversial split decision win for Estrada, the fight still made the list because of the pair's incredible performance.

2. George Kambosos vs. Teofimo Lopez

Apart from being one of the best fights of the year, Kambosos vs. Lopez also deserves to be hailed as the best upset of the year.

It can be recalled that Lopez came in as the heavy favorite over Kambosos. However, things did not play out the way the reigning champion wanted it to be.

Instead, Kambosos--the challenger--refused to succumb to Lopez and even convinced the judges to hand him a split decision win, stealing the WBA, IBF and WBO titles in the process.

Teofimo Lopez (right) and George Kambosos talk after their championship bout GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA via AFP / AL BELLO

1. Tyson Fury vs. Deontay Wilder III

Arguably the most celebrated boxer of his generation, global superstar Tyson Fury finally ended his longtime rivalry with Deontay Wilder this year.

Fury and Wilder had been ultimate rivals since 2018 and many were not convinced that "The Gypsy King" had proven that he's the better fighter after beating Wilder in 2020 via TKO.

However, all that is just part of history now as Fury once again prevailed in their trilogy fight, dropping Wilder three times before finally knocking him out cold in the 11th round.