Tuesday 27 December 2016 11:48, UK
It has, as ever, been a titanic 12 months in the world of boxing, from elite fighters facing their enemies, world champions showing their class, British boxers exploding onto the scene and plenty stunning and surprising the watching world.
Sky Sports has been behind some of the biggest bouts of 2016, so with Fights of the Year on Boxing Day, we have picked out five and are giving you the chance to pick your favourite. Take your pick...
Ward narrowly beat Kovalev to be crowned unified light-heavyweight champion of the world on arguable Las Vegas' biggest boxing night of the year. The three judges at ringside all scored the bout 114-113 in favour of the American and it was close, controversial and classy as they showcased the sport at its best. Ward had to climb off the canvas in round two and re-commute a game plan to crack the code of the formerly unbeaten Russian in an absorbing 12 rounds. When the decision was read out, controversy rained from ringside and beyond, but there has been little talk of a rematch. Yet...
Bitter rivals Whyte and Chisora settled their pre-fight feud in the ring and delivered one of the most exciting heavyweight contests for many years. The action ebbed and flowed back and forth as both men put everything on the line and in the end it was Whyte who got the split decision in a fight which could've gone either way. The volatile Gloves Are Off and the table-tossing press conference saw the British belt no longer on the line but if anyone thought that would affect the action or that both had used their energy up before a bell had sounded, they were wrong. Very wrong.
Brook shot for boxing history when he stepped up two divisions to take on the fearsome middleweight supremo Golovkin. Many said it was a mist-match but it was explosive while it lasted, the 'Special One' giving as good as he was getting, particularly in a spectacular second round. Golovkin though seemed to cherish the challenger and from then on, his power was there for all to see - but maybe not Brook. A fractured eye-socket and trainer Dominic Ingle's timely intervention brought it to an end, with 'Triple GGG' showing the intrigued UK just how hard, and good, he is.
Crolla has never had it easy, so when his first mandatory challenger was the hard-hitting Barosso, Manchester knew it was in for another boxing blockbuster. 'Million Dollar' brought the memories of Ricky Hatton back, weathering an early storm from the ominous Barosso and at the halfway stage we were still waiting for the shift in momentum that would see the WBA 'world' lightweight title would stay on these shore. But a total role reversal in the seventh, ended by a vicious Crolla bodyshot, had Manchester celebrating again.
Bellew may have been forgiven for thinking that his dream of winning a world title at his beloved Goodison Park was consigned to the movies, but even those behind Creed, could not have written this script. The emotions were running high as he walked out onto the hallow'ed Everton pitch but reality landed inside the opening round as did Bellew, courtesy of Makabu's knockdown. 'Bomber' regrouped and within two rounds he returned the compliment and his brutal finish saw him take the coveted WBC cruiserweight world title.
