THE RING pound-for-pound champion, Roman Gonzalez. Photo: Naoki Fukuda

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 10: Fighter the Year

The finalists (in alphabetical order) are.

Canelo Alvarez

The Mexican boxer-puncher follows a highlight reel knockout of James Kirkland with a mature and dominant decision victory over Miguel Cotto to emerge as THE RING middleweight champion and a confirmed pay-per-view attraction.

Tyson Fury

The majority of fans and critics spend much of 2015 mocking the enigmatic Englishman who ignores criticism and vows to become king of the glamor division. Fury completely nullifies long-reigning heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko to pull off a historical 12-round decision triumph in D├╝sseldorf, Germany.

Gennady Golovkin

Another year, another string of knockouts by Triple-G. The Los Angeles-based Kazakh becomes the first fighter to stop Martin Murray and Willie Munroe Jr. and also adds David Lemieux’s IBF middleweight title to his WBA strap, via eighth-round stoppage.

Roman Gonzalez

The diminutive Nicaraguan is the new RING pound-for-pound champion and closes out the year looking like one. Easy stoppage wins over Valentin Leon and Edgar Sosa are followed by a terrific ninth-round TKO of former two-weight world titleholder Brian Viloria.

Floyd Mayweather Jr.

The self-proclaimed TBE finally gets in the ring with Manny Pacquiao and dominates the majority of the 12 rounds contested. Unbeaten at 49-0, 26 KOs, Mayweather retires from the sport after claiming a unanimous decision against former welterweight titleholder Andre Berto in September.

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