Who is the “Wrestler of the Year 2024”?

There are five world champions being considered for ‘Fighter of the Year 2024’.

Topping the list is WBA, WBC, WBO, IBF and IBO world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, 23-0 with 14 stoppages from Simferopol, Crimea, Ukraine.

Usyk defeated WBC World Heavyweight Champion ‘The Gypsy King’ Tyson Fury, 34-2-1 with 24 stoppages, from Morecambe, UK, twice. In June, Usyk unified, defeating WBC champion “The Gypsy King” Tyson Fury by split decision. In the December rematch, he won by unanimous decision over Fury.

WBC, WBO, IBF, WBA and IBO light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev, 21-0 with 20 stoppages in Khasavyurt, Russia, unified the title in October. He defeated previously undefeated WBA and IBO champion Dmitrii Bivol 23-1 with 12 stops in Tokmak, KYRG by a controversial decision. In January, he stopped Callum ‘Mundo’ Smith, 29-1, in Liverpool, UK.

Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez, WBA and WBO World Super Cruiserweight Champion, 47-1 with 30 stops, from Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico. He won the WBA title, defeating the previously undefeated Arsen ‘Feroz’ Goulamirian, 27-0, in Yerevan, Armenia in March. In November, he defeated WBO champion Chris ‘The Gentleman’ Billam-Smith, 20-1, from Bournemouth, UK.

Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO super middleweight champion, 62-2-2, with 39 stoppages, from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. In May, he defeated previously undefeated Jaime Munguia, 43-1, of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. In September, he defeated undefeated Edgar ‘The Chosen One’ Berlanga, 22-1 with 17 stops, of New York, NY.

IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO super bantamweight champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue, 28-0 with 25 stops from Yokohama, Japan. In June, he stopped Louis Nery, 35-2, with 27 saves, of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. In September, he stopped TJ Doheny, 26-4, of Portlaoise, Ireland, and Bondi Junction, New South Wales, Australia.

There you have it, five nominees for ‘Fighter of the Year 2024’. Usyk and Beterbiev lead the list. Ramírez, Álvarez and Inoue follow.