Crawford is the best boxer of the year according to Match TV experts. Who voted for who?

The year ends and , as is tradition, turns to leading boxers, coaches and officials asking them to name the top three, placing them in descending order. This year’s survey included 30 respondents. The rules are simple: if a boxer was placed in first place, he received three points, for second and third places, two and one points were awarded respectively.

The absolute welterweight champion, American Terence Crawford, scored 44 points (11 respondents placed the American boxer in first place), just a little ahead of the second absolute bantamweight champion of Japan, Naoya Inoue, who had 43 points (8 respondents put it in first place).

Completed the first three best boxer 2022 WBA and IBO Russian light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol (27 points, 6 times placed in first place). Bivol himself also took part in the poll, but did not even consider his candidacy. Well, Bivol is among the top 5 ratings, regardless of weight categories, in almost all authoritative portals and publications. But Bivol modestly does not include itself in this list. His explanation is here.

There is subjectivity in any survey or vote, and we interviewed mainly Russian boxers and officials. It should therefore not be surprising to see three Russian boxers among the top six. Although Russian athletes definitely have something to brag about at the end of 2023.

In fourth place in the vote was the holder of the WBC, IBF, WBO light heavyweight belts, Russian Artur Beterbiev (19 points). The fifth was the American Gervonta Davis (12 points) and the sixth was the WBA champion in weights up to 101.6 kg, the 2016 Olympic champion, the Russian Evgeniy Tishchenko (11 points).

American Devin Haney (6), Mexican David Benavidez (2), Australians Timofey and Nikita Tszyu (3 points – you can immediately guess who put both in first place), as well as Russians Muslim Gadzhimagomedov (4 ), Sharabutdin also scored points. Ataev (2), Albert Batyrgaziev (4) and Igor Sviridchenkov (3). Also scoring a point was former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, who lost to WBC champion Tyson Fury by split decision in his professional debut. It was Alexander Emelianenko who included Ngannou in the top three for 2023.

Well, now let’s talk about the achievements of our winners in 2023.

FIRST PLACE. TERENCE CRAWFORD

In 2023, Crawford had only one fight, but which one – with American Errol Spence. This confrontation took place on July 29 in Las Vegas. Both entered the fight as undefeated: 28-0 for Spence and 39-0 for Crawford. Both were in the top 5 of the P4P rankings. However, there was no competitive fight – Crawford dominated his opponent from the first round. In the second round, Spence was already knocked down (twice in the seventh) and in the ninth round, Spence’s torment came to an end. Crawford added the WBC, IBF and WBA titles to his WBO welterweight belt. Crawford became the first second undisputed world weight champion in the history of the four belts. Crawford was previously the undisputed junior welterweight champion. By the way, Spence has already activated the rematch option, and the second fight with Crawford should take place in 2024. True, the result is unlikely to be different. But as they say, that’s a whole different story.

SECOND PLACE. NAOYA INOUE

In December 2022, Inoue became the undisputed bantamweight champion. And in 2023, the Japanese changes category and immediately goes to fight with the WBC and WBO second bantamweight champion, the American Stephen Fulton (July 25, Tokyo). The result was Inoue’s total superiority and victory by technical knockout in the eighth round. Immediately after this fight, it was announced that Inoue would meet the Filipino Marlon Tapales, holder of the WBA and IBF belts. And this fight took place on December 26, also in Tokyo. Tapales was able to put up more resistance than Fulton, but the result was the same: Inoue won by knockout in the tenth round. Inoue, after Crawford, became the undisputed champion of the second weight division.

THIRD PLACE. DMITRI BIVOL

The best boxer of 2022, Bivol, was in danger of ending 2023 without any fights. But the Russian participated on December 23 in a major tournament in Saudi Arabia against the British Lyndon Arthur, ranked WBA. Even before the fight, no one doubted Bivol’s victory. Arthur couldn’t do anything at all with the Russian – all the judges gave all the rounds to Bivol, and Artur also received a knockdown in the 11th round.

FOURTH PLACE. ARTHUR BETERBIEV

And Beterbiev had a fight in 2023 – on January 28 in London, the Russian defeated the WBO mandatory challenger, Briton Anthony Yarde, by technical knockout in the eighth round. WBO, IBF and WBC champion Beterbiev improved his impressive statistics – 19 first victories in 19 fights. On January 13, Beterbiev is scheduled to fight WBC mandatory challenger, Briton Callum Smith, in Quebec, Canada. And if Beterbiev wins, there will once again be hope of seeing the long-awaited showdown between Bivol and Beterbiev. Unlike in previous years (and this fight has been talked about for many years), Saudi Arabia is now interested in organizing such a meeting. And according to Bivol manager Vadim Kornilov, their team agreed on all conditions meet Beterbiev.

FIFTH PLACE. GERVONTA DAVIS

Among the best boxers, Davis was the first to enter the ring in 2023 – on January 7, the American defeated Hector Garcia from the Dominican Republic by technical knockout in the ninth round, defending the WBA lightweight belt. And on April 22, a high-profile and prestigious fight between Davis and American Ryan Garcia was organized in Las Vegas. Both entered the fight as undefeated – 28-0 Davis to 23-0 Garcia. Davis knocked out Garcia in the seventh round, sending star Ryan Garcia to the ground.

SIXTH PLACE. EVGENIE TISHCHENKO

Russian Evgeniy Tishchenko, 2016 Olympic champion, 2015 world champion and double European amateur champion, beat former EBU champion, Belgian Yves Ngabu, by split decision on May 5 in Yekaterinburg. The judges’ verdict raised many questions. On December 9 in Dubai, at the next IBA Night of Champions tournament, Tishchenko knocked out the German Leon Hart in the sixth round and, ahead of Conor McGregor, Islam Makhachev and Petr Yan, present that evening, won the WBA. belt in the new weight category up to 101.6 kg. Tishchenko became the first Russian boxer who managed to win both Games gold and a full-fledged professional belt. Tishchenko’s emotions after victory in this interview.

BELOW THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY:

Zaur Abdullaev, former WBC Silver lightweight champion (18-1, KO 11):

1. Terence Crawford 2. Naoya Inoue 3. Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol

Former regular welterweight champion David Avanesyan (30-4-1, KO 18):

1. Terence Crawford 2. Artur Beterbiev 3. Dmitry Bivol

2023 world champion Sharabutdin Ataev (6-0, KO 4):

1. Terence Crawford 2. Naoya Inoue 3. Gervonta Davis

2020 Olympic champion and IBA belt holder Albert Batyrgaziev (10-0, KO 7):

1. Terence Crawford. 2. Naoya Inoue 3. Artur Beterbiev

Alexander Besputin, former regular WBA welterweight champion:

1. Artur Beterbiev 2. Dmitry Bivol 3. Evgeniy Tishchenko

WBA and IBO light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol (22-0, KO 11):

1. Terence Crawford 2. Naoya Inoue

Promoter Dmitri Brich:

1. Naoya Inoue 2. Evgeniy Tishchenko 3. Sharabutdin Ataev

Murat Gassiev, former WBA and IBF cruiserweight champion:

1. Naoya Inoue 2. Artur Beterbiev 3. Terence Crawford

Former WBA Gold cruiserweight champion Alexey Egorov (12-1, KO 8):

1. Terence Crawford 2. Naoya Inoue/Gervonta Davis 3. Dmitry Bivol/Artur Beterbiev

MMA fighter Alexander Emelianenko:

1. Dmitri Bivol. 2. Evgeniy Tishchenko 3. Francis Ngannou

Secretary General of the Russian Boxing Federation Tatyana Kiriyenko:

1. Dmitry Bivol 2. Artur Beterbiev 3. Evgeniy Tishchenko

Chairman of the Coaching Council of the Russian Boxing Federation, coach and manager of Batyrgaziev, Tishchenko, Gadzhimagomedov, Petrovsky Eduard Kravtsov:

1. Naoya Inoue 2. Terence Crawford 3. Gervonta Davis

Vasily Konov Jr., special correspondent for :

1. Terence Crawford 2. Naoya Inoue 3. Devin Haney

Vadim Kornilov, director of Bivol:

1. Terence Crawford 2. Naoya Inoue 3. Devin Haney

Former WBC Silver cruiserweight champion Dmitry Kudryashov (26-6, KO 25):

1. Terence Crawford 2. Naoya Inoue 3. Gervonta Davis

Heavyweight Sergey Kuzmin (19-2, KO 14):

1. Dmitry Bivol 2. Artur Beterbiev 3. Naoya Inoue

Junior middleweight boxer Magomed Kurbanov (25-0, KO 13):

1. Dmitry Bivol 2. Artur Beterbiev 3. Devin Haney

Sergey Lipinets, former holder of the IBF welterweight belt (17-3-1, KO 13):

1. Terence Crawford 2. Gervonta Davis 3. David Benavidez

Bivol and Kuzmin coach Gennady Mashyanov:

1. Albert Batyrgaziev. 2. Evgeniy Tishchenko 3. Terence Crawford.

Russian boxer and commentator Vladimir Myshev:

1. Naoya Inoue 2. Terence Crawford 3. Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev

2021 world champion Mark Petrovsky (7-0, KO 5):

1. Dmitry Bivol 2. Gervonta Davis. 3. Albert Batyrgaziev

Gassiev’s coach Vitaly Slanov:

1. Terence Crawford 2. Naoya Inoue 3. David Benavidez and Gervonta Davis

Promoter Sergei Strelkov:

1. Naoya Inoue. 2. Devin Haney. 3. Dmitri Bivol

Head of the World Boxing Council (WBC) Mauricio Sulaiman:

1. Naoya Inoue 2. Terence Crawford 3. Devin Haney

General Director of RCC Boxing Promotions German Titov:

1. Naoya Inoue 2. Terence Crawford 3. Dmitry Bivol

Vadim Tikhomirov, special correspondent for :

1. Dmitri Bivol. 2. Gervonta Davis. 3. Terence Crawford

2016 Olympic champion, and now WBA champion in weights up to 101.6 kg Evgeniy Tishchenko (13-1, KO 8):

1. Evgeniy Tishchenko 2. Artur Beterbiev 3. Dmitry Bivol

Promoter Vladimir Khryunov:

1. Igor Sviridchenkov. 2. Muslim Gadjimagomedov

Konstantin Tszyu, former absolute junior welterweight champion

1. Timofey and Nikita Tszyu.

Promoter and former general secretary of the Russian Boxing Federation Kirill Shchekutyev:

1. Naoya Inoue 2. Muslim Gadzhimagomedov 3. Sharabutdin Ataev.

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