Billy Joe’s my fighter of the year

IT’S the end of 2017 so it’s time to look back on what has been a big year for boxing and a look ahead to what should be an even better 12 months...

FIGHTER OF THE YEAR: Billy Joe Saunders

HE has turned around his career in the last year and put on a masterclass in beating David Lemieux earlier this month to defend his WBO middleweight title.

FIGHT OF THE YEAR: Anthony Joshua v Wladimir Klitschko

IT was an excellent heavyweight fight, not between two fighters in their prime but there is no doubting it was an exciting one.

UPSET OF THE YEAR: James DeGale v Caleb Truax

NOBODY expected this as DeGale was 100/1 ON with some bookmakers but the American took his chance to claim the IBF super-middleweight title.

KO OF THE YEAR: Zolani Tete v Siboniso Gonya

THE first punch of the fight, a right hook from Tete, knocked out Gonya after just 11 seconds. That says it all.

BEST MOMENT OF THE YEAR: Billy Joe Saunders at his best

I’VE been banging the drum for years on Saunders, so to see him so focused and looking his best against Lemieux vindicated all the talk.

FIGHTS TO SEE IN 2018:

THE two that stand out are the winner of Gennady Golovkin (above) against Saul Alvarez taking on Saunders, and the victor of Lee Selby versus Josh Warrington against Carl Frampton.

FIGHTERS TO WATCH IN 2018: Daniel Dubois, Anthony Yarde, Zelfa Barrett

THOSE three are the real young guns of British boxing, so expect them to make big strides over the next 12 months.

SURPRISE OF 2018: Ryan Burnett

IBF and WBA bantamweight champion Ryan Burnett is stepping up to face WBO king Zolani Tete. We can only hope.

BIG HOPE FOR 2018:

I would love to see Tyson Fury back in the ring and on a quest to regain the world heavyweight titles.