SPECIAL EDITION: THE BEST BOXING PHOTOS OF 2017
By Dr. Paul Jones | Published: December 15, 2017
The pictures in this SPECIAL EDITION were culled from a variety of online sources and represent some of the finest boxing photos taken in 2017:
THURMAN vs GARCIA | SHOWTIME: Amanda Westcott, March 2017
IN ONE OF THE YEAR’S EARLIEST GRUDGE MATCHES, Keith Thurman (WBA) and Danny Garcia (WBC) put their titles on the line in a fight for welterweight supremacy. Pound-for-pound (P4P) implications were obvious.
Leading into the weigh-in, Thurman and Garcia engaged in a series of heated press conferences and interviews that left both fighters on edge.
Westcott’s two shot (above) captures the raw tension and intensity of Thurman, Garcia, and their respective camps a mere 24-hours before the duo would do battle in the ring.
JOSHUA vs KLITSCHKO | Reuters: Andrew Couldridge, April 2017
IN FRONT OF A RECORD CROWD, former Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko challenged reigning IBF Champ Anthony Joshua for the IBF and WBA (Super) World Titles. Though Joshua vs. Klitschko featured five knockdowns and culminated in a TKO victory for ‘AJ,’ it was Joshua’s colossal uppercut to Klitschko’s chin that left an indellible mark on boxing fans.
This noteworthy photo from Reuters’ Andrew Couldridge captures a pivotal moment in the fight: when the balance of power in Joshua vs. Klitschko began to tip in Joshua’s favor and signal a de facto changing of the heavyweight guard.
DIRRELL vs UZCATEGUI | EastSideBoxing: Paul Jones, May 2017
IN 2014, I INTERVIEWED FORMER CHAMPION BERNARD HOPKINS WHO SAID:
I don’t want to down my sport, […but] I’ve got a lot of business and corporate friends and they look at boxing as the red light district.
Albeit referencing questionable scorecards, Hopkins’s comments are consistent with a deep-rooted stereotype plauging boxing since its inception: The belief that the sweet science has an alter ego marked by chaos, contraversy, and corruption.The aftermath of Dirrell vs. Uzcategui was proof postive that this social consensus has a kernel of truth.
Featured on the undercard of Russell Jr. vs. Escandon, Andre Dirrell took on Venezuelan challenger, Jose Uzcategui, for an interim IBF World title. With seven rounds in the books, Uzcategui folded Dirrell with an illegal punch that landed after the bell in Round 8. Uzcategui was disqualified for his transgression and that’s when things began to unravel.
Dirrell’s trainer and uncle, Leon Lawson Jr. (above right) would sucker punch Uzcategui shortly therafter and flee the ring. Bedlam ensued.
Lawson was wanted by Prince George’s County Police in Maryland on two felony assault charges in connection with his cheap shot. However, all of the felony charges were eventually dropped.
Nevertheless, Paul Jones’s photo freezes in time the emotion of Lawson immediately after his cowardly act.
WARD vs KOVALEV II | Squint: @squint2mylou, June 2017
ANDRE WARD EDGED FELLOW POUND-FOR-POUNDER, SERGEY KOVALEV, BY A RAZOR-THIN MARGIN IN 2016; but many boxing writers and fans weren’t convinced that the Oakland native earned the victory. Therefore, Ward vs. Kovalev 2: The Rematch was meant to determine whether Ward could replicate his previous performance.
Despite many in the boxing mainstream believeing that Ward would be steamrolled by a (presumably) more motivated and refocused Kovalev, Ward would go on to neutralize, wear down, and ultimately stop the Russian badass in the rematch — an impressive feat that could help Ward garner 2017 Fighter of the Year honors.
SQUINT’s gritty and graded photo (above) gives us a glimpse into one of Ward’s finest hours as a pro: The culmination of Ward’s clinical punching and physicality being manifest in a single, thudding right-hand. Ironically, photos like SQUINT’S are (probably) the last that we’ll see from Ward as a prizefighter: Ward announced his retirement from boxing in September, capping a distingushed career.
MAYWEATHER vs McGREGOR | SHOWTIME: Esther Lin, August 2017
IN AUGUST, THE T-MOBILE ARENA PLAYED HOST TO BOXING’S LATEST PAY-PER-VIEW(PPV) BLOCKBUSTER: MAYWEATHER vs. McGREGOR. Despite a lukewarm reception from the boxing cognoscenti, the public remained abuzz amid speculation of a fight between boxing icon, Floyd Mayweather, and surging UFC bad boy Conor McGregor.
Factor in that both fighters are equal parts handsome, confident, and polarizing, and there was little doubt this combat sports crossover bout would generate considerable interest.
Though the revenue generated by Mayweather vs. McGregor was staggering, including an estimated $55.4 million live gate, Mayweather’s TKO victory over McGregor was less impressive and predictable. However, Esther Lin’s snapshot of Mayweather coldcocking a fading McGregor (above) is an iconic moment, marking Mayweather’s final curtain call and the end of an era in boxing.
RUNGVISAI vs GONZALEZ II | AP: Chris Carlson, September 2017
AFTER OUTPOINTING ROMAN GONZALEZ BY CONTRAVERSIAL DECISION IN THE PREQUEL, Thailand’s Srisaket Sor Rungvisai left no doubts in the sequel. Rungvisai dismantled former pound-for-pound kingpin, Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez via kill shot KO — an instant Knockout of the Year candidate.
This poingnant photo from Chris Carlson is elegant in its simplicity, depicting the subtle satisfaction of Rungvisai who, with one mighty blow, silenced his critics and established himself as one of the top Super Flyweights in the world.
WILDER vs STIVERNE II | Premier Boxing Champions: Ryan Hafey, November 2017
DEONTAY WILDER IS ONE OF BOXING’S MOST OUTSPOKEN CHAMPIONS, but he has yet to record a transcendent, career-defining win against an elite heavyweight. Unfortunately, many of the other marquee heavyweights appear to be in no rush to fight Wilder, either preoccupied with fighting mandatories or each other (e.g., Anthony Joshua, Joseph Parker), or on hiatus from the sport (i.e., Tyson Fury).
Therefore, it’s easy to see why Wilder was frustrated with his situation.
So, when Wilder headed to the Barclays Center (Brooklyn, NY) in November to rekindle his rivalry with former WBC titlist, Bermane Stiverne, it was clear that Wilder wanted to send a message to his critics and the heavyweight vanguard: “I am the man to beat. I am the most feared.”
In what must have felt like a nanosecond when compared to the protracted prefight build-up, Wilder flattened Stiverne late in the first round with a series of right and left hands that culminated in a highlight-reel KO.
Hafey’s noteworthy photo (above) is taken mere seconds after impact. ■
Disagree with Dr. Jones? Let me know your picks for the best boxing photos of the year using the hashtag: #BoxingsBest
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Dr. Paul Jones is a boxing writer, ringside photographer, and award-winning educator. He has coauthored over a dozen scholarly publications and technical reports, and his boxing articles and photography can be seen on EastsideBoxing.com, Boxingnews24.com, Wrapsontv.com, and BoxingInsider.com. Follow him on Twitter @boxingepicenter and Medium.com.
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More from Dr. Jones:
The Third Time’s The Charm: Russell Jr. Thumps Escandón by TKO, Tacks on 4th Consecutive Win
The People’s Court (of Public Opinion): Mayweather v. Pacquiao
