BRITISH boxing suffered some setbacks in 2021, with great champions like Terri Harper, Josh Warrington, and Anthony Joshua losing their crowns temporarily.
There were many eye-catching performances from UK-based fighters and life-changing results to make up the losses.
Anthony Yarde retaliated against Lyndon Arthur by winning a rematch earlier in the month
SunSport tried to reduce it to seven sensational performances. We apologise to all those who came up trumps 2021.
Anthony Yarde vs Lyndon Arthur - December 4
Manchester's Arthur surprised everyone when he won a split decision over his light-heavyweight opponent a year prior.
There were disputes about the rematch, contract disputes and threats between the trainers.
Yarde did the right thing in the end, and he blew his opponent away in four rounds.
Arthur didn't have an answer to all the questions Yarde and his side expected him to ask.
It was explosive, punishing, but also cathartic for Beast from East London.
Free Bets: Get more than PS2,000 in NEW CUSTOMER DEALSDavid Avanesyan and Josh Kelly - February 20, 2008
The Nottinghamshire-based Russian had been well overdue a high-profile dance partner and a coming out party after a string of eye-catching results all over Europe.
Carl Greaves-trained, the welterweight was able to take on any challenge and has been accused by many big-name 147lbers.
He was able to land the European title and, after some Covid-19 delays, the Kelly bout was finally in his hands.
Kelly was the 2016 Team GB Olympian and Matchroom posterboy. He was also a Adam Booth-trained hunk with a lot of potential.
Many boxing insiders believe that Ava is a good sleeper and capable of causing an upset, even though she's in the far corner.
The understated Armenian hardman broke Pretty Boy Kelly down, floored Kelly twice more and left him a bloodied wreck before Booth pulled his bulldozed man from the fire.
Felix Cash vs Denzel Bentley - April 24
The Tomy Sims-trained Cash was in a thrilling fight with beanpole Jake Cullen, so there were doubts about his true potential.
Frank Warren and BT were backing Bentley, so they lured Cash to their show and placed him in the away corner - in an empty York Hall arena.
It was generally agreed that it was a 50-50 match that could ebb or flow, and that judges would need to divide them.
Cash took the script from his hosts and brutalized Bentley. He is bright and fresh enough to return in just nine minutes.
Cash was in a pivotal moment after being hampered by injuries. He should be in exciting fights or dominating performances in 2022.
Sunny Edwards vs Moruti Mathalane – April 30
Croydon's Edwards had been complaining about the lack of interest from domestic flyweight fighters in challenging him for a long time, so it was a huge step when Edwards won his shot at the IBF World title without any gut checks.
Mthalane, a veteran champion, was rarely seen in such a light division and was considered dangerous KO puncher, so it was best to avoid him at all cost.
Edwards did a great job boxing, scoring clear scores and evading the KO artist.
Edwards' expert movements made the York Hall ring look almost like a football pitch at times, but he also traded close and landed some decent punches to win the unanimous decision.
He proved that it wasn't a fluke when he recreated a similar performance seven month later, giving an almost identical performance to UD Mama.
Sunny, the little brother to Charlie, is not concussive but this makes his 17 wins even more impressive. He must be focused for 36 minutes without allowing any errors and has to stay that way.
Leigh Wood vs Can Xu – July 31
It was billed as a dangerous task when Josh Warrington, a Leeds hero and former IBF featherweight champion chased Can Xu for a union.
China's WBA boss was a constant pressure fighter, so undefeated Warrington would need to be very cautious.
When Eddie Hearn tempted Xu to come over to the UK for a warm up fight in his Essex backgarden, against Nottingham's Wood - few outside Ben Davison’s gym offered the Englishman a chance.
The Brit's heavy-handedness led to a one-sided boxing show that seemed like it would require the judges. Xu took a pounding.
Wood discovered another gear in the 12th, to load another arsenal and stop a potentially life-altering long shot.
It will be an exciting bout with Mick Conlan, Ireland's icon, in 2022.
Josh Taylor vs Jose Ramirez - May 22
The World Boxing Super Series superlight king dreamed of becoming the undisputed champion and following in Ken Buchanan's footsteps.
This fantasy featured a packed stadium with his family and friends, and a bloody fight that would see him reach the bottom of the pit before he reached the top.
Unfortunately, he didn't get either.
Due to the strict Covid-19 travel restrictions, he was unable to travel to Las Vegas with any more than a few of his teammates to face the Mexican-American WBO/WBC champion and his entourage.
The fight was a great success, and the Tartan Tornado blew away his opponent.
Taylor fulfilled so many criteria, he faced Ramirez’s Twitter troll boss who wilted under the California sun. He stood up to all the tricks he faced, he got right into Ramirez’s face, and then defeated him in every department, scoring two knockdowns, and a wide UD.
Maxi Hughes vs Jovanni staffon - September 4, 2008
Before 2021, the featherweight southpaw was most famous for being Josh Warrington's sparring partner-cum-painter-and-decorator.
The brilliantly-modest underdog just won a five-fight win streak that ended in the IBO lightweight title against Straffon.
Although it may not be one the Big Four belts, it is still an incredible achievement for Hughes at 31 years old.
His record now includes the scalps Jono Carroll, Kazakh Viktor Kotochigov and Paul Hyland dangerous Mexican bagger Straffon.
Hughes was a master at Headingley. He was able to slip shots and counter the heavy favourite.
Hughes, in his trademark self-deprecating style, has offered to travel to America and Australia to give champions Devin Haney or George Kambosos a 'easy fight'.
Every British boxing fan hopes that the Cinderella tale of the handsome fella will continue.
