Although there is still one day left in 2021, considering that Japan is already in a state of lockdown, the author no longer has high hopes for the quality of the traditional "Big Day" boxing matches. Therefore, the author plans to make a small summary of the entire professional boxing world in 2021 in advance to see what memorable stories have happened in the professional boxing world in the past year.

In order to facilitate everyone’s recall, we have summarized a few key words as clues for the introduction.

In the professional boxing world, the boxer who holds the world boxing championship gold belt of the four major organizations (WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO) of a level is generally called the overlord of this level. From the formation of the four major organizations coexisting in the professional boxing world to the end of 2020, only four unified overlords have been born in a year. They are Bernard Hopkins, Jermain Taylor, Terence Crawford and Oleksandr Usyk ). It can be said that this overlord's identity does not have an official title, but it has a very high gold content.

When the time entered 2020, the new coronavirus swept the world, and many boxing matches were either canceled, postponed, or simply forced to be held in empty venues. In this case, the boxers' income was also greatly affected and dropped a lot. In order to continue to maintain income during the "off season" of the boxing market, many current world boxing champions have come up with the idea of ????unifying the world boxing champions. Therefore, at the beginning of 2021, there was a grand occasion that four levels might produce a level hegemon.

The four levels are heavyweight (WBA, WBO, IBF heavyweight world boxing champion Anthony Joshua and WBC world boxing champion Tyson Fury), super lightweight (WBA, IBF super light) Heavyweight world boxing champion Josh Taylor and WBC, WBO super lightweight world boxing champion Jose Ramirez), super welterweight (current WBC, WBA, IBF super welterweight world boxing champion Jermall ·Charlo and WBO super welterweight world champion Brian Castano) and super middleweight. Among them, the super middleweight class is in a special situation. At the end of 2020, Sur Alvarez only owned two world boxing championship gold belts. However, the huge market influence has made the other two world boxing champions in this level, Billy Joe, Sanders and Caleb Plant couldn't resist his offer.

Finally, after entering 2021, except for the heavyweight class, the unification battles of the other three levels of world boxing champions were held as scheduled.

First of all, on May 23, Beijing time, WBA, IBF super lightweight world boxing champion and British boxer Josh Taylor went through 12 rounds at the Viking Hotel Theater in Las Vegas, USA. In the game, he defeated the WBC and WBO super lightweight world champions and American boxer Jose Ramirez by decision, completing the unification of the world boxing titles of the four major professional boxing super lightweight organizations and becoming the world champion of this level. The undisputed overlord.

Later, on July 18th, Beijing time, WBC, WBA, IBF super welterweight world boxing champion and American star Jermall Charlo held a championship at ATamp Sports Center in San Antonio, USA. In the unification match for the super welterweight world title held at T Center, the fight ended in a draw with WBO super welterweight world champion and Argentinian boxer Brian Castano.

Finally, and the most exciting thing is that Mexican boxing superstar Zul Alvarez fought three times in a row throughout 2021, defeating WBC world mandatory challenger Yildirim in February and He defeated WBO super middleweight Billy Joe Saunders in May and defeated IBF super middleweight world boxing champion Caleb Plant in November, completing the four major professional boxing super middleweight organization world boxing championships. Unification of titles, becoming the undisputed overlord of this level.

In the history of professional boxing, the title of the Four Kings has appeared twice. Once in the 1980s, Marvin Hagler and Sugar Ray Leonard Four talented boxers, Roberto Duran and Thomas Hearns, emerged from nowhere. In an era when big-level boxers dominated the market, they carved a path for the middleweight class. And what is commendable is that these four boxers have never avoided each other, and they have all fought against each other, providing one memorable peak showdown after another throughout the 1980s.

The other time the title of "Four Kings" appeared was in the 1990s. Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis and Lee are still unforgettable. Dick Bowe, the four professional boxing heavyweight superstars, gave us an elegy representing the final glory of professional boxing in that golden era of professional boxing. Missing them makes most of us crazy, so many years later, when we grow up and see a heavyweight match, we will still unconsciously compare these boxers now with the four people from back then. Imagine what the four of them would have accomplished if they appeared in today's boxing world.

After entering the 21st century, although the professional boxing world is still full of stars, there are very few boxers who can complement each other like the four middleweight kings and the four heavyweight kings before. The battle for world boxing championships at all levels lacks both topic and suspense. Fortunately, in recent years, in the lightweight category of professional boxing, four young boxers have begun to emerge. Each of them has a strong business background and outstanding competition results. People began to place their hopes on them, and dubbed the four young men who did not have world boxing titles at that time the reputation of the four lightweight kings, hoping that they could take over the banner of their predecessors and compete in the lightweight category. Create a new glorious era.

In 2020, it can be said that the four little kings have all delivered good results. Devin Haney holds the WBC lightweight world boxing title; "Tank" Gervotta Davis Defeated the former featherweight champion Leo Santa Cruz; Ryan Garcia beat the former lightweight world boxing champion challenger and London Olympic gold medalist Luke Campbell directly into retirement at the beginning of 2021 . However, the most exciting victory came from Teofimo Lopez. After 12 rounds of hard fighting in the world boxing championship unification match, he defeated the lightweight overlord Vasily Lomachenko with his outstanding performance. .

A series of valuable victories has given boxing fans high hopes for the Four Little Kings. People hope that after the epidemic eases in 2021, the Four Little Kings can officially come to the forefront and start their own era. However, things did not develop at all as boxing fans expected. After entering 2021, the performance of the Four Little Kings can be described as "abnormally weak".

Although Gervotta Davis performed well when he was promoted to super lightweight in June and defeated compatriot Mario Barrios to win a WBA regular title, but in After returning to the lightweight division at the end of the year to compete, Gervota Davis was helpless against the equally young Isaac Cruz and ended up with a controversial victory.

As for Devin Haney, instead of saying that he defeated Joseph Jojo Diaz in the December game, it is better to say that he outperformed Joseph Jojo Diaz in the game. Diaz's lackluster fight made the audience drowsy, and Devin Haney's lack of domineering fighting style also disappointed many boxing fans who loved him.

Of course, the most disappointing one is Teofimo Lopez. In 2020, Teofimo Lopez unexpectedly defeated Vasily Lomachenko. In November 2021, Teofimo Lopez Philip Morris suffered another upset. This time he was defeated by Australian rookie George Cumbersos Jr. as the defending boxing champion. He lost all his world boxing titles and was knocked down once in the first round. , the poor performance of single tactics throughout the game made all the excuses he made for himself pale in vain.

By the way, there is one more. Ryan Garcia, who was favored by De La Hoya and worked hard to cultivate, actually suffered from depression after defeating Luke Campbell at the beginning of 2021 and did not play for a whole year. Until now, Ryan Garcia's comeback plan has remained on paper with no sign of implementation.

It can be said that the weak performance of the four lightweight kings in 2021 only brings us disappointment.

The special external environment from 2020 to 2021 also provides some people with room for development. Here we must talk about the two brothers Jake Paul and Logan Paul.

Jake Paul and Logan Paul are internet celebrities on American YouTube and have a large number of fans. At the same time, the two are also boxing enthusiasts. In 2019 and 2020, brothers Jake Paul and Logan Paul began to appear in some boxing exhibition matches, but their opponents were either Internet celebrities who were also fans, or retired athletes from other sports (such as former NBA Dunk King Nate Robinson).

However, after entering 2021, the quality of Jake Paul and Logan Paul's games has changed dramatically. Logan Paul and former five-division world boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. fought to a draw. And Jake Paul’s results are even more dazzling. He won three out of three fights in 2021, knocking down former ONE Championship undefeated welterweight champion Ben Askren and former UFC champion Tyron Woodley. before.

Although the above games were all exhibition matches, the performance of the two brothers Jake Paul and Logan Paul was praised by boxing celebrities including Mike Tyson.

Although the author is not too fond of the flamboyant personalities of these two Internet celebrity brothers, it is undeniable that during the low period of professional boxing development from 2020 to 2021, Jake Paul and Rogan ·The two Paul brothers have made their contribution to promoting boxing around the world.

Time is the enemy that all competitive athletes have to face, and almost no one is its opponent. The difference is that some people resist for a long time, while others resist for a short time.

Almost every year, we have to say goodbye to several professional boxing stars. 2021 is no exception. The most famous boxers who announced their retirement this year are the welterweight duo, Filipino boxing superstars Manny Pacquiao and Shawn Porter.

Affected by the epidemic, Manny Pacquiao has defeated Keith Thurman in the WBA welterweight title unification match in Las Vegas, USA on July 21, 2019. After winning the WBA welterweight world super boxing title, he has been away from boxing.

Manny Pacquiao, who is also a Philippine senator, appeared more in current affairs news rather than sports news throughout 2020. Being away from the ring for a long time caused Manny Pacquiao to lose his world boxing title, so when Manny Pacquiao announced that he would compete with the welterweight overlord Errol Spence Jr. in 2021 At the time, almost everyone treated this game as Manny Pacquiao's farewell match. Unfortunately, before the game was about to start, Errol Spence Jr. had to withdraw from the game due to a retinal tear, and was replaced by Cuban star Yodenis Ugas. Finally, in August 2021, Manny Pacquiao, who had been away from the fight for a long time, lost to Yodanis Ugas at a clear disadvantage after 12 rounds, bringing his professional boxing career to an end.

On September 29, 2021, the Filipino boxing star and "Asian Destroyer" Manny Pacquiao, who has won world boxing championships in eight levels, officially announced his retirement. In his 26-year career, Manny Pacquiao participated in 72 professional boxing matches, achieving 62 wins, 8 losses and 2 draws, and won 12 world championship titles. However, after leaving the professional boxing ring, Manny Pacquiao immediately entered a new arena. He has announced his official participation in the Philippine presidential election. Once the presidential election is successful, Manny Pacquiao will be the first to become the president. Professional boxer.

Compared with Manny Pacquiao, who is over 40 years old, the announcement of former WBC and IBF welterweight boxing champion Shawn Porter's retirement is somewhat disappointing. Although he no longer has the world boxing championship belt, in the entire welterweight category of professional boxing, it is still very easy for Sean Porter to rank among the top five in the world rankings with his strength. However, the match against WBO welterweight world champion Terrence Crawford on November 20 made Shawn Porter determined to leave the boxing ring.

In the match with Terrence Crawford, although Shawn Porter still maintained a brave style, the technical gap between the two was too big. In the middle, you can only be beaten passively. After being knocked down multiple times by Terrence Crawford, who was not known for his strength, Shawn Porter, who was kneeling on the ground and hammering the ring hard, knew it was time to say goodbye to the boxing ring.

After losing to Terrence Crawford, Shawn Porter announced his retirement that day. The 34-year-old Sean Porter has a professional record of 31 wins, 4 losses, 1 draw and 17 KOs against his opponents. Although his fighting style is more than brave, it is not delicate enough. However, his performance in the welterweight class and his experience of reaching the world boxing championship twice have earned him the love of many boxing fans.

According to Shawn Porter, although he has announced his retirement, it does not mean that he will leave the boxing ring. In the future, he will transform into a commentator for boxing events and continue to contribute his light and heat to professional boxing in another capacity.

In addition to Manny Pacquiao and Shawn Porter, others who also announced their departure from the boxing ring in 2021 are former lightweight world boxing champion challenger and London Olympic boxing gold medalist Lu Campbell, Athens Olympic boxing super heavyweight gold medalist and former WBA heavyweight world champion Alexander Povetkin, and former world middleweight and super middleweight champion German Arthur Abraham.

2021 is about to become a thing of the past. I hope that 2022, which is just around the corner, can bring us more hope and joy.