Despite the fact that 2020 was put on hold due to the covid-19 pandemic, it was not without its fair share of accomplishments for Australian boxing.
So with that, here are the top five Australian boxers for 2020. For this article I’ll be doing a list for both men and women. Record setting world title wins, never before seen achievements for a debutante, the biggest robbery since Jeff Fenech v Azmah Nelson 1, it’s got it all.
First the men.
5. Justis Huni
The Olympic hopeful, now due to the Tokyo games being put on hold, Huni was able to turn pro and he didn’t disappoint. In his debut fight, Huni fought for the Australian Heavyweight Title against champion Faiga “Django” Opelu. Huni with the handspeed of a lightweight, completely outboxed Opelu, beating the champion down over a course of eight rounds, until the corner finally threw in the towel. This historic debut win that has never been seen before has shot Huni into the Australian boxing spotlight. In his second pro fight against Arsene Fosso, Huni easily defended his Australian Title with an fourth round TKO victory. Huni has definitely proved his worth in Australian boxing.
Huni fights again in 2021 and is linked to some big names such as Alex Leapai and Lucas Browne.
4. Tim Tszyu
Many would question why Tszyu isn’t number one, and I answer. With Tim yet to win a world title, or even become a mandatory for a world championship, it’s hard to place him above others whom have done this in 2020. However Tszyu did become the new face of Australian boxing with his eight round destruction of former WBO Welterweight champ Jeff Horn, and followed it up with a brutal one minute knockout of Kiwi fighter Bowyn Morgan. With being the only fighter globally to have two stadiums fights in 2020, you got to respect the attention Tszyu is bringing to the sport. Can’t wait to see what 2021 has installed for Tszyu.
3. Jason Moloney
Jason’s achievement of fighting for three world titles in the Bantamweight division (WBA, IBF and Ring), a feat not seen since Lionel Rose fought Fighting Harada in 1968 for Harada’s WBC/IBF and Ring Titles, was the biggest fight for an Australian in 2020. Jason took on undefeated Bantamweight king Nayoa Inoue. Unfortunately it didn’t go well, as Jason was knocked out in the seventh round, putting the dream of Jason equaling Rose’s achievement out or reach. But the fact that Jason made the historic fight has earned his place on this list.
2. George Kambosos Jr.
With his clinical an intelligent win over former IBF Featherweight champ Lee Selby, Kambosos Jr became the mandatory challenger for the IBF Lightweight Championship currently held by Teofimo Lopez. With Lopez’s own impressive win other Vasyl Lomachenko, Kambosos Jr could well fight for all of Lopez’s titles (WBA, IBF, WBO, Ring and WBC (franchise). Not since Michael Katsidis in 2010, has an Australian competed for a world championship in the lightweight division. Kambosos Jr is well on his way to making Australian boxing history.
1. Andrew Moloney
With the roller coaster ride that Andrew Moloney has endured in 2020 (and that’s not including the pandemic) there little doubt in my mind that he is number one for 2020. Things started off great for Moloney, being evaluated to the full world championship status in February, by the WBA, making him the WBA Super-Flyweight World champ, Moloney was on top of the world. But like a roller coaster, there’s that falling to the ground part. In his first defence of his title in June, Moloney fought what many thought was an easy fight in Joshua Franco, how wrong they were. Franco destroyed Moloney over a twelve round beat down, with suffering two fractured cheekbones and a broken nose, some thought that this could be the end for Moloney after suffering such a defeat. But with a fantastic turnaround in the rematch due to pure determination to win, Moloney evened the score with a two round domination of Franco, giving Franco a massive black eye. What happened next would be a worse black eye for boxing. With the referee indicating an accidental headbutt, the fight that was stopped in the third round would be declared a no-contest. However with the replays available, no headbutt could be found. But the officials disagreed. After near a half hour, the officials couldn’t find any evidence to reverse the referee’s decision that stunned the boxing world, and give Australian boxing the biggest injustice since Fenech v Nelson 1, and yes that was also in Las Vegas. Despite this Moloney will enter into a third fight with Franco that will have the world’s attention in 2021.
Now to the ladies.
5. April Adams
After an unsuccessful challenge for the WBO Super-Bantamweight Title in 2019, Adams travelled to Mexico to get back into the winners circle. Fighting for the vacant WBA Oceania -Bantamweight Title against undefeated Laura Cubos. Adams defeated Cubos via unanimous decision.
4. Ebanie Bridges
The Blonde Bomber and a social media glamour, Bridges increased her record to 4-0 in 2020 and he made her claim for a world title fight in 2021. Bridges travelled to the USA in February to appear on event headlined by Women’s World Title fight’s, before the covid-19 pandemic. Bridges faced Crystal Hoy and dominated her way to an unanimous points decision. In the later part of the year, Bridges was set to face Rachel Ball for the WBA bantamweight Title, but injuries forced her out of the fight. With Bridges on the mend and the Ball fight still on the cards in 2021, it’s shaping up to be an interesting year for Bridges.
3. Deanha Hobbs
Headlining the same card as Bridges inz February, Hobbs would contest for her second world title in as many fights. Hobbs would challenge Mary McGee for her IBF Super-Lightweight championship. Although Hobbs would be defeated, Hobbs lasted nine rounds with the champ you had three times the amount of fight experience. A fantastic achievement by Hobbs.
2. Shannon O’Connell
Not seen since the Horn v Zerafa (1) fight of 2019, O’Connell returned to the ring with authority to make her claim of number one in Australian Women’s boxing. Firstly appearing in the undercard of Horn v Tszyu, O’Connell outboxed Kylie Fulmer to a seventh round TKO victory that was pretty impressive, to win the Australian Super-Bantamweight Title. To close out the year O’Connell would cut down to the Bantamweight division and defeated Kori Farr, knocking her down twice as part of a ten round unanimous decision victory. This earning O’Connell the Commonwealth Bantamweight Title. Winning two significant titles in two divisions after a year of inactivity is an impressive feat not obtained by many. But my number one edges this out.
1. Susie Ramadan
After over a year of inactivity, at near 41 years old and a weight cut, Ramadan returned to the fight to for the vacant WIBA Super-Flyweight World Title in February. Ramadan defeated Gretel de Paz (a fighter 15 years her junior) via unanimous decision to earn her fifth world title in three divisions, a feat not seen since Lester Ellis’ career. With the victory Ramadan again cemented her place as Australia’s most successful Women’s boxer, with career that would best many of our male fighters. Ramadan with her amazing achievements is my number one for Women’s boxing in 2020.
Hopefully 2021 will be just as entertaining as 2020 for Australian boxing.