The year of 2023 was a banner year for Boxing. There were many great matchups and many fights that the fans wanted to see. With so many big events the big knockouts followed. Here are the top three knockouts of the year.
1. Jose “El Rayo” Valenzuela Ko 6 Chris Colbert
Valenzuela and Colbert met in March of 2023 and the fight was a highly controversial win for Colbert. Valenzuela said he would get revenge and Colbert insisted on a bet that he wouldn’t be knocked. “El Rayo” agreed eventually and come fight night he delivered. With a little over a minute left “Rayo” threw a leaping right hook that caught Colbert flush. The punch immediately had Colbert out as he fell face-first into the bottom rope. The fight was a good fight up until that point and “Rayo” did not leave it to the judges this time around.
2. Junto Nakatani ko 12 Andrew Moloney
Nakatani and Moloney met for the WBO Super Flyweight title. Nakatani many see a future star and Moloney is the consummate tough contender. Nakatani throughout the fight showed why many see him in such a grand light. With two knockdowns in rounds two and eleven he was up big on the cards. Moloney’s corner contemplated not sending him out for the final round, but Moloney is a warrior and wanted to go out swinging. Nakatani with about 20 seconds left baited him in and landed a vicious left hand that echoed throughout the arena. Moloney fell in a heap and the fight was immediately waved off.
3. Zhilei Zhang ko 3 Joe Joyce
In another rematch this year. Zhilei Zhang returned to England following the biggest win of his career in a rematch with Joe Joyce. Zhang had stopped the Joyce train with a stoppage victory early in 2023. The rematch many seemed was too quick, but Joyce wanted revenge. Zhang made a bigger statement than the first match-up and this time even louder. With round three coming to an end Zhang had been dominant in the early stages and while the round ended, he landed a counter right hook that sent Joyce crashing to the mat. Joyce was able to stand but was in no condition to continue and the fight was over.
