2015 RING Awards: Finalists for Upset of the Year
The past year was packed with drama in and out of the ring, including some memorable fights, big surprises and important milestones.
Who and what stood out the most?
Find out when THE RING reveals its annual year-end awards for 2015 in January. The categories: Fighter, Fight, Knockout, Trainer, Upset, Event, Comeback, Round, Prospect and Most Inspirational.
Leading up to the announcement, we will give you the five finalists in one category each day. Day 5: Upset of the Year
The finalists (in chronological order) are.
JAMIE MCDONNELL UD 12 TOMOKI KAMEDA (1)
Bantamweight contender Jamie McDonnell made noise internationally on May 9 when he ventured to Texas to win a hard-fought decision against Japanese star and pre-fight favorite Tomoki Kameda, unbeaten in 31 fights. It was no fluke. The underrated McDonnell returned to Texas four months later and did it again.
BADOU JACK MD 12 ANTHONY DIRRELL
Unfairly tarnished by a first-round knockout loss to Derek Edwards, few picked Badou Jack to snatch Anthony Dirrell’s WBC world super middleweight title on April 24. In fact, all the talk was of Dirrell using the fight as a warmup for an imminent collision with George Groves. Jack shocked Dirrell, taking his title and then successfully defending it against Groves later that year.
AARON MARTINEZ UD 10 DEVON ALEXANDER
A sizable underdog going into the fight, Aaron Martinez proved no respecter of reputations as he attached himself to Devon Alexander from the get-go and outworked the former world champion for most of 10 rounds on Oct. 14.
TYSON FURY UD12 WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO
It might not have made for scintillating viewing but Fury’s unanimous decision victory over long-reigning heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko shocked the world. The enigmatic Englishman’s size, feints and use of angles are decisive in handing Dr. Steelhammer his first loss in 11 years.
ADRIAN GRANADOS TKO 8 AMIR IMAM
Nicknamed “Young Master,” Amir Imam was 18-0 and had appeared faultless before durable trial-horse Adrian Granados got his hurtful hands on him and explained, in brutal fashion, how he wouldn’t have his own way in the pros.
Tomorrow: Round of the Year finalists.
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