By Paul R. Jones! – Each year, East Side Boxing releases the names of its annual award winners, given to the world’s best fighters, fights, and moments in the sport of boxing.
We were as stunned as Zhora Hamazaryan (above) when he was declared the loser against Thomas Mattice in July. Photo © SHOBOX.
Anatoly Lomachenko is our pick for Trainer of the Year in 2018. Photo © 234Fight
By Paul R. Jones! – EASTSIDEBOXING Writer and Photographer
Our fourth award winner of 2018:
TRAINER OF THE YEAR (2018)
WINNER: 🏆 ANATOLY LOMACHENKO
Despite stellar campaigns from trainers Derrick James, Ben Davison, and Shingo Inoue,
Anatoly Lomachenko—more affectionately known in boxing circles as ‘Papachenko’—tops our list as East Side Boxing’s 2018 trainer of the Year.
Tyson Fury is our pick for East Side Boxing’s 2018 Comeback Fighter of the Year – Photos © Esther Lin/SHOWTIME.
By Paul R Jones – EAST SIDE BOXING Writer and Photographer – Our third award winner of 2018:
COMEBACK FIGHTER OF THE YEAR (2018)
WINNER: 🏆 TYSON FURY
Boxing was chock-full of empowering stories of redemption in 2018, including: Devon Alexander’s (27-5-1, 14 KOs) reemergence after coping with opioid abuse; Kell Brook’s (38-2, 26 KOs) return after battling depression and alcohol abuse, and suffering successive eye injuries;* Tevin Farmer’s resilience in earning a world championship at junior lightweight after being robbed, shot, nearly drowning, and tearing his biceps; and Beibut Shumenov’s (18-2, 12 KOs) journey to reclaim a cruiserweight world title (WBA Regular) after retiring from the sport due to a career-ending eye injury.
Olimpiyskiy, Moscow: ‘EAST SIDE BOXING’ FIGHTER OF THE YEAR cruiserweight OLEKSANDR USYK raises the Muhammad Ali Trophy after beating Murat Gassiev in the World Boxing Super Series in Moscow on July 21, 2018.
World Lightweight Champion Katie Taylor was our pick for ‘East Side Boxing’ 2018 FEMALE FIGHTER OF THE YEAR.
By Paul R Jones – EAST SIDE BOXING Writer and Photographer
Today, we announce our second award winner of 2018*:
FIGHTER OF THE YEAR, FEMALE (2018)
WINNER: 🏆 Katie Taylor
Although cogent cases can be made for Cecilia Brækhus (35-0, 9 KOs) and Claressa Shields (8-0, 2 KOs), undefeated and unified WBA and IBF World Lightweight Champion Katie Taylor (12-0, 5 KOs) is our pick for 2018 FEMALE Fighter of the Year.
Bowie State University (BSU) hosted its second fight card at the Leonidas James Complex on Saturday, showcasing a handful of D.C.
All photos: Paul “Paparazzi” Jones – Over the weekend, Bowie State University (BSU) – a Historically Black College/University (HBCU) in Maryland – hosted an inaugural fight card at the Leonidas James Complex.
By Paul “Paparazzi” Jones | Photos © Paul Jones
OXON HILL, MD – There’s an old adage: The cream (always) rises to the top.
By Paul “Paparazzi” Jones | Photo © Paul Jones – OXON HILL, MD – When WBC world champ, Gary Russell Jr.