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A heavyweight year
- Updated: December 24, 2016
Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and David Haye will look back on 2016 with mixed emotions as we review an eventful year in the heavyweight division.
Joshua was crowned as the IBF heavyweight champion, while Haye kicked off his comeback, but Fury will be keen to put the past 12 months behind him…
January
Deontay Wilder started the year with a bang as he defended his WBC belt with an explosive knockout win over Artur Szpilka, then engaged in some heated trash talk with Tyson Fury.
Security staff struggled to restrain the rampant Fury, who climbed into the ring to issue a typically brash challenge to Wilder, although a unification clash would not materialise in the coming months.
On the undercard, Charles Martin began his brief reign as IBF champion after Vyacheslav Glazkov suffered a fight-ending knee injury.
Earlier that evening, Haye had ended his lengthy absence from the sport with a crushing knockout victory against the over-matched Mark de Mori.
February
Fury gave early indications that he needed a break from boxing, suggesting that he could retire before a planned rematch against Wladimir Klitschko.
The WBO and WBA champion had been stripped of his IBF belt before he had the chance to defend it and was looking towards the end of his career, just a few months after defeating Klitschko on points in Germany.
March
Joshua was confirmed as the first challenger for IBF champion Martin and would receive home advantage, with his first world title fight being staged at The O2 in April.
Cuban danger man Luis Ortiz sent out a warning to his rivals by flooring Tony Thompson three times in a knockout win.
Lucas Browne secured the WBA ‘regular’ belt after a dramatic knockout win over Ruslan Chagaev, but his joy was shortlived as the Australian tested positive for a banned substance in a post-fight drug test.
April
Joshua’s fast-moving career hit new heights when he lifted the IBF heavyweight title after demolishing Martin inside two rounds.
The Olympic gold medallist had enjoyed swift success in the professional ranks, requiring just 16 fights to become a world champion, and soon announced that his first …
