Nov 1310 min read

Brunch Boxing Remembers: Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year

Updated: Nov 18

11/13/2024

The Golden Boy era of Ring Magazine has officially come to an end. Long live The Ring. Oscar De La Hoya has sold The Ring to a Saudi Arabian consortium fronted by Turki Alalshikh. While the boxing world wonders what the future holds for the publication, Brunch Boxing looks back at the history of The Ring in our Brunch Boxing Remembers series. In this edition, we look back at the recipients of the Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year award.

Brunch Boxing Remembers: Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year

All years before 1928 are retroactive.

1920s

1922: Harry Greb

Greb, fought an incredible 19 times in 1922. Notably, he defeated future Hall of Famers like Tommy Gibbons and Gene Tunney in grueling battles, with his win over Tunney being the only loss in Tunney’s career.

1923: Jack Dempsey

Dempsey successfully defended his heavyweight title against Tommy Gibbons in Shelby, Montana, in July. Although the fight went the full 15 rounds, Dempsey dominated the bout.

1924: Harry Greb (2)

Greb had another busy year, fighting 15 times in 1924. He defended his middleweight title successfully, notably defeating Mickey Walker in a close fight where his relentless style overcame Walker’s power.

1925: Paul Berlenbach

Berlenbach won the light heavyweight title by defeating Mike McTigue in May. He defended the title twice, including a win over Young Stribling.

1926: Gene Tunney

Tunney defeated Jack Dempsey for the heavyweight championship. In a major upset, he outboxed Dempsey over 10 rounds.

1927: Mickey Walker

Walker defended his middleweight title multiple times, including a decisive victory over ace boxer Ace Hudkins.

1928: Gene Tunney (2)

Tunney retired undefeated as heavyweight champion after a rematch victory over Tom Heeney.

1929: Tommy Loughran

Loughran had a stellar year in 1929, successfully defending his light heavyweight title. Loughran’s notable wins included a tough fight against “Cinderella Man” James Braddock and a victory over Mickey Walker.

1930s

1930: Max Schmeling

Schmeling became heavyweight champion after defeating Jack Sharkey by disqualification for the vacant title.

1931: Tommy Loughran (2)

Loughran moved up to heavyweight and fought frequently, defeating opponents like Ernie Schaaf.

1932: Jack Sharkey

Sharkey defeated Max Schmeling in a controversial split decision to win the heavyweight title, avenging his previous DQ loss.

1933: No Award Given

The Ring Magazine refused to acknowledge Primo Carnera due to his ties to organized crime. Carnera became heavyweight champion after defeating Jack Sharkey.

1934: Tony Canzoneri and Barney Ross

Canzoneri defeated Baby Arizmendi and Frankie Klick. Ross defeated Billy Petrolle and Jimmy McLarnin.

1935: Barney Ross (2)

Ross successfully defended his welterweight title against Ceferino Garcia. Ross also defeated Frankie Klick and Jimmy McLarnin.

1936: Joe Louis

Louis defeated former champion Jack Sharkey.

1937: Henry Armstrong

Armstrong went 27-0 in 1937, with notable wins over Baby Casanova and Benny Bass.

1938: Joe Louis (2)

Louis avenged his previous loss to Schmeling with a first-round knockout in their rematch.

1939: Joe Louis (3)

Louis continued his dominant heavyweight reign, defending his title several times, including a win over John Henry Lewis.

1940s

1940: Billy Conn

Conn successfully defended his light heavyweight title, including against Gus Lesnevich.

1941: Joe Louis (4)

Louis successfully defended his heavyweight title seven times, including against Billy Conn.

1942: Sugar Ray Robinson

Robinson’s precision and speed were unmatched as he continued to win in the welterweight division, most notably against Fritzie Zivic and Marty Servo. Robinson also defeated Jake LaMotta

1943: Fred Apostoli

Apostoli won for his military service.

1944: Beau Jack

Jack had a series of high-energy bouts, including multiple thrilling fights with Bob Montgomery. His exciting style kept fans entertained during wartime.

1945: Willie Pep

Pep went undefeated, including a victory over Phil Terranova.

1946: Tony Zale

Zale retained his middleweight title from Rocky Graziano in a brutal fight.

1947: Gus Lesnevich

Lesnevich defended his light heavyweight title against Tami Mauriello and Melio Bettina.

1948: Ike Williams

Williams dominated in the lightweight division, with victories over notable contenders like Kid Gavilán and Beau Jack.

1949: Ezzard Charles

Charles top contenders like Joey Maxim, Gus Lesnevich and Jersey Joe Walcott.

1950s

1950: Ezzard Charles (2)

Charles became the heavyweight champion, defeating Joe Louis in a decision.

1951: Sugar Ray Robinson (2)

Robinson moved to middleweight and defeated Jake LaMotta for the title, winning the “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre.”

1952: Rocky Marciano

Marciano won the heavyweight title by knocking out Jersey Joe Walcott in a brutal battle.

1953: Bobo Olson

Olson won the middleweight title against Randy Turpin.

1954: Rocky Marciano (2)

Marciano defended his title in thrilling battles, including a rematch with Ezzard Charles.

1955: Rocky Marciano (3)

Marciano retired undefeated after defending his title against Archie Moore.

1956: Floyd Patterson

Patterson became the youngest heavyweight champion by defeating Archie Moore.

1957: Carmen Basilio

Basilio moved up to middleweight to beat Sugar Ray Robinson.

1958: Ingemar Johansson

Johansson defeated Joe Erskine, Heinz Neuhaus and Eddie Machen.

1959: Ingemar Johansson (2)

Johansson won the heavyweight title by knocking out Floyd Patterson in a major upset.

1960s

1960: Floyd Patterson (2)

Patterson regained the heavyweight title by knocking out Ingemar Johansson, becoming the first to reclaim the title after a loss.

1961: Joe Brown

Brown defended his lightweight title against Dave Charnley and Bert Somodio.

1962: Dick Tiger

Tiger won the middleweight title by defeating Gene Fullmer.

1963: Muhammad Ali

Ali defeated Henry Cooper and Doug Jones.

1964: Emile Griffith

Griffith retained the welterweight title in a close fight with Luis Rodriguez. This was the 1st year of Ring Magazine’s Muhammad Ali ban. The ban was due to Ali’s religious and political beliefs. In 1964, Ali knocked out Sonny Liston to become heavyweight champion of the world.

1965: Dick Tiger (2)

Tiger won bouts against Rubin “Hurricane” Carter and Joey Giardello. This was the 2nd year of Ring Magazine’s Muhammad Ali ban. The ban was due to Ali’s religious and political beliefs. In 1965, Ali knocked out Sonny Liston and Floyd Patterson.

1966: Muhammad Ali (2) (retroactive)

No award was given. This was the 3rd year of Ring Magazine’s Muhammad Ali ban. The ban was due to Ali’s religious and political beliefs. Ali was retroactively awarded the honor, posthumously in 2017. In 1966, Ali defended his heavyweight title with victories over tough opponents, including Cleveland Williams, Henry Cooper, Karl Mildenberger and George Chuvalo.

1967: Joe Frazier

Frazier won a series of heavyweight bouts, most notably against George Chuvalo. This came during the unjust revocation of Muhammad Ali’s boxing license. Ali was not allowed to fight during this period.

1968: Nino Benvenuti

Benvenuti won the middleweight title by defeating Emile Griffith. This came during the unjust revocation of Muhammad Ali’s boxing license. Ali was not allowed to fight during this period.

1969: José Nápoles

Nápoles had a dominant year in the welterweight division, winning the title by defeating Curtis Cokes, beating Cokes in the rematch and beating Emile Griffith. This came during the unjust revocation of Muhammad Ali’s boxing license. Ali was not allowed to fight during this period.

1970s

1970: Joe Frazier (2)

Frazier defeated Jimmy Ellis to unify the WBA and WBC Heavyweight Championships. His relentless pressure and powerful hooks overwhelmed Ellis, leading to a fourth-round TKO and cementing Frazier as the undisputed (disputed) heavyweight champion. This came during the unjust revocation of Muhammad Ali’s boxing license. Ali was not allowed to fight during this period. Ali returned to the ring in October 1970.

1971: Joe Frazier (3)

In one of boxing’s most legendary matches, Frazier faced Muhammad Ali in the “Fight of the Century,” winning a 15-round decision and knocking Ali down in the 15th.

1972: Muhammad Ali (3) and Carlos Monzón

Ali dominated George Chuvalo and Jerry Quarry. Monzón defended his middleweight title multiple times, including a win over Emile Griffith.

1973: George Foreman

Foreman shocked the boxing world by knocking out Joe Frazier in two rounds to become the heavyweight champion. His raw power and aggression dominated Frazier, scoring six knockdowns in the bout.

1974: Muhammad Ali (4)

Ali reclaimed the heavyweight title by defeating George Foreman in the “Rumble in the Jungle.” Using the “rope-a-dope” strategy, Ali wore down Foreman and delivered an eighth-round knockout.

1975: Muhammad Ali (5)

Ali defended his title in the grueling “Thrilla in Manila” against Joe Frazier, winning by TKO in the 14th round. This brutal contest was one of Ali’s most iconic bouts.

1976: George Foreman (2)

Foreman knocked out Ron Lyle and Joe Frazier in comeback fights. His fight with Lyle was a slugfest.

1977: Carlos Zarate

Zarate had a dominant year, defending his WBC bantamweight title four times, all by knockout.

1978: Muhammad Ali (6)

Ali regained the heavyweight title by defeating Leon Spinks in a rematch, becoming the first three-time heavyweight champion.

1979: Sugar Ray Leonard

Leonard captured the WBC welterweight title by defeating Wilfred Benitez in a highly skilled fight, winning by TKO in the 15th round.

1980s

1980: Thomas Hearns

Hearns won the WBA Welterweight Championship by knocking out Pipino Cuevas in two rounds. Hearns also defeated Ángel Espada and Eddie Gazo.

1981: Sugar Ray Leonard (2) and Salvador Sánchez

Leonard defeated Thomas Hearns in a classic battle to unify the welterweight titles. Sánchez defended his featherweight title against Wilfredo Gómez and Azumah Nelson.

1982: Larry Holmes

Holmes defended his heavyweight title against Gerry Cooney in a highly publicized fight, winning by TKO in the 13th round.

1983: Marvin Hagler

Hagler defended his middleweight title three times, including a victory over Roberto Durán.

1984: Thomas Hearns (2)

Hearns defeated Roberto Durán with a spectacular second-round knockout.

1985: Marvin Hagler (2) and Donald Curry

Hagler defeated Thomas Hearns in a legendary three-round war. Curry unified the welterweight division by knocking out Milton McCrory.

1986: Mike Tyson

Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion by knocking out Trevor Berbick in two rounds.

1987: Evander Holyfield

Holyfield unified all of the cruiserweight titles by defeating Ossie Ocasio, Dwight Muhammad Qawi and Carlos De León.

1988: Mike Tyson (2)

Tyson dominated the heavyweight division with wins over Larry Holmes, Tony Tubbs and Michael Spinks.

1989: Pernell Whitaker

Whitaker defeated Greg Haugen and José Luis Ramírez to unify the lightweight titles.

1990s

1990: Julio César Chávez

Chávez defeated Meldrick Taylor in a dramatic 12th-round TKO.

1991: James Toney

Toney captured the IBF middleweight title by defeating Michael Nunn in a major upset.

1992: Riddick Bowe

Bowe defeated Evander Holyfield in a heavyweight classic to become the undisputed champion.

1993: Michael Carbajal

Carbajal won the first of his trilogy with Humberto González in a thrilling contest.

1994: Roy Jones Jr.

Jones dominated James Toney to capture a super middleweight title.

1995: Oscar De La Hoya

De La Hoya won his first recognized world title by defeating Rafael Ruelas for the IBF Lightweight Championship.

1996: Evander Holyfield (2)

Holyfield shocked the world by defeating Mike Tyson in a stunning upset, reclaiming the heavyweight title.

1997: Evander Holyfield (3)

Holyfield defended his title against Tyson in their infamous rematch, known for Tyson’s disqualification in the “Bite Fight.”

1998: Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Mayweather won his first world title, defeating Genaro Hernández for the WBC Super Featherweight Championship.

1999: Paulie Ayala

Ayala won a close decision over Johnny Tapia in the Ring Magazine Fight of the Year.

2000s

2000: Félix Trinidad

Trinidad defeated Fernando Vargas in a thrilling battle to unify the super welterweight titles. Trinidad then went on to defeat William Joppy to capture a middleweight title.

2001: Bernard Hopkins

Hopkins defeated Félix Trinidad to unify the middleweight titles, becoming undisputed champion.

2002: Vernon Forrest

Forrest defeated Shane Mosley twice to capture and retain the welterweight title.

2003: James Toney (2)

Toney moved up to cruiserweight and defeated Vassiliy Jirov in a grueling fight. Toney then moved up to heavyweight, defeating Evander Holyfield.

2004: Glen Johnson

Johnson knocked out Roy Jones Jr., while also defeating Antonio Tarver and Clinton Woods.

2005: Ricky Hatton

Hatton defeated Kostya Tszyu for the IBF Junior Welterweight Championship in an upset.

2006: Manny Pacquiao

Pacquiao defeated Erik Morales twice and Oscar Larios.

2007: Floyd Mayweather Jr. (2)

Mayweather defeated Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton, earning the title of “best pound-for-pound fighter.”

2008: Manny Pacquiao (2)

Pacquiao defeated David Díaz for the lightweight title and Oscar De La Hoya at welterweight. Pacquiao also defeated Juan Manuel Marquez.

2009: Manny Pacquiao (3)

Pacquiao defeated Ricky Hatton with a stunning knockout and Miguel Cotto.

2010s

2010: Sergio Martínez

Martínez knocked out Paul Williams with a stunning one-punch KO to retain the middleweight title after defeating Kelly Pavlik.

2011: Andre Ward

Ward won the Super Six World Boxing Classic, defeating Arthur Abraham and Carl Froch to unify super middleweight titles.

2012: Juan Manuel Márquez

Márquez scored a dramatic knockout over Manny Pacquiao in their fourth bout, capping their rivalry with a definitive win.

2013: Adonis Stevenson

Stevenson knocked out Chad Dawson to claim THE light heavyweight title.

2014: Sergey Kovalev

Kovalev defeated Cedric Agnew, Blake Caparello and Bernard Hopkins, unifying light heavyweight titles.

2015: Tyson Fury

Fury defeated Wladimir Klitschko, ending his long reign and winning the heavyweight title.

2016: Carl Frampton

Frampton defeated Scott Quigg and Leo Santa Cruz in two close encounters.

2017: Vasiliy Lomachenko

Lomachenko defeated Jason Sosa, Miguel Marriaga and Guillermo Rigondeaux in super featherweight title defenses.

2018: Oleksandr Usyk

Usyk defeated Mairis Briedis and Murat Gassiev to unify the cruiserweight division, also winning the World Boxing Super Series. Usyk later defeated Tony Bellew to defend his undisputed crown.

2019: Canelo Álvarez

Canelo moved up to light heavyweight to defeat Sergey Kovalev after defeating Daniel Jacobs in a unified middleweight title bout.

2020s

2020: Tyson Fury (2) and Teófimo López

Fury defeated Deontay Wilder in a dominant performance, and López shocked Vasiliy Lomachenko to unify lightweight titles.

2021: Canelo Álvarez (2)

Canelo unified all super middleweight titles by defeating Avni Yildirim, Billy Joe Saunders and Caleb Plant in succession.

2022: Dmitry Bivol

Bivol successfully defended his light heavyweight title against Canelo Álvarez and Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramírez.

2023: Naoya Inoue

Inoue defeated Stephen Fulton for the unified super bantamweight titles. Inoue later defeated Marlon Tapales to become the undisputed super bantamweight champion.