Anthony Joshua, Gennady Golovkin and Manny Pacquiao were among the stars of boxing in 2016.
AJ went from being a rising talent to a champion, winning the IBF heavyweight title with victory over Charles Martin in April and setting up a super-fight with Wladimir Klitschko in 2017 with a consummate win over Eric Molina in December.
Golovkin extended his record to 36-0 with a classy win over Sell Brook in September, while Pacquiao bounced back from last year?s defeat to Floyd Mayweather by beating Timothy Bradley and Jessie Vargas.
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But boxing as a whole didn?t have its greatest year. The fight everyone is longing for – Golovkin versus Canelo Alvarez – didn?t happen, while Tyson Fury?s torrid year prevented a rematch with Klitschko that would have provided some interest to the heavyweight division.
Thankfully, there are signs that 2017 will be a much better year for the sport. GiveMeSport has picked five reasons why next year will be great for boxing.
Anthony Joshua vs Wladimir Klitschko
Not to take anything away from Joshua?s achievements, but he has fought 18 relatively harmless opponents in his professional boxing career.
Klitschko, who boasts a 64-4 record, can certainly not be described as being ?relatively harmless?.
The Ukrainian is 40-years-old but the fact that he hasn?t fought this year will help him against the 27-year-old Brit.
