by Paul R. Jones: With awards season in full swing and 2024 in the rearview, I'm counting down boxing's 5 gutsiest performances of 2024 and handing out the hardware to honor the fighters who got us here.

(⚠️WARNING: This article contains graphic boxing images that some readers may find disturbing. Viewers are advised to exercise discretion.)

No. 5. Gutticist Performance

Photo © DAZN on X
Nominee: Bektemir Melikujev

• Date: April 20, 2024
• Venue: Barclays Center (Brooklyn, NY)

ranked competitor, Bekhtemir Melikujevand undefeated rivals, Pierre Hubert DIBOMBE, closed square in April Haney v. Garcia Undercard for WBA Inter-Continental Super Middleweight Title. A bloody melee ensued as Melikujiv and DiBombe sustained deep cuts to their respective eyes, caused by accidental headbutts and elbows exchanged in close quarters. Although DIBOMBE maintained a manageable cut in the opening round, it was even worse, courtesy of Melikujiev's vicious cut in the 5th stanza, a nasty clash of heads with DiBombe, which left the self-proclaimed “bully” with profuse bleeding from his eyelid. Banked the round and was on the card in the 8th round when the fight was stopped by the ringside medic due to an accidental headbutt. He was ahead comfortably. And it was no surprise when Melikuzhiev was awarded a technical unanimous decision over DIBOMBE when the final scorecards were read.

No. 4. Gutticist Performance

Photo © World Boxing Association/@wbaboxingofficial

Nominee: Jono Carroll

• Date: July 24, 2024
• Location: IBA Colosseum (Serpukhov, RUS)

Heavy underdogs in an entertaining fight, JThat's CarolAgainst the former Olympic gold medalist, Albert BatirgazievFor the WBA (Interim) Super Featherweight title, Carroll started off hot in the first quarter of the fight, even buzzing Batirgaziev badly in the 3rd round. However, for the remainder of the fight, Battergazyev took a systematic beating of Carroll, hitting Carroll to the head and body and finally ending the Irishman's night with a brutal body shot in the 9th round.

After the fight, Carroll quipped, “I'm going to have to put the modeling career on hold for a while.” That's an understatement considering the boxing makeover the battering ram gave Carroll. For Carroll's bravery, and ability to persevere despite having both eyes nearly swollen shut – the likes of which we haven't seen since Guerrero vs Berto in 2012 – Carroll earns the No. 4 spot on our list.

Photo © Jae C. Hong/AP

No. 3. Gutticist Performance

Image © NETFLIX
🥉 Third Place: Amanda Serrano

• Date: November 24, 2024
• Venue: AT&T Stadium (Arlington, TX)

Our 3rd place holder, Amanda SerranoPushed it to the max Taylor v. Serrano – II (Women's Boxing Consensus Fight of the Year), fight Katie Taylor With a nasty blow over his right eye for the final 3 rounds. Although SERRANO fought Taylor nip-and-tuck throughout their 10 rounders, it was SERRANO's ability to ratchet up his performance in the clutch that was remarkable — the Boricua legend landed 285 of his 734 punches (39%, per Compubox) on Taylor over 8 rounds. receiving a headbutt from And with 4 world titles on the line, and despite constantly competing with blood in his eyes during the championship round, Serrano excelled here again in a controversial decision loss to Taylor (scorecard: 95-94 (three times)) — a fight that many believed SERRANO is winning.

No 2. Gutticist performance

Photo © Esther Lin/PBC
🥈Runner-up: Sebastian Fundora

• Date: March 30, 2024
• Venue: T-Mobile Arena (Las Vegas, NV)

Check-in number 2 on our countdown is filled in late, Sebastian Fundorawho outlasted the former WBO world champ, Team TJU, By split decision in March, serving as half of the bloodiest battle of 2024, TSZYU Vs. Fundora.

Photo © Esther Lin/PBC

Despite the continued bleeding and nasty cuts covering his face and body, and with Fandora leaking faucet-like leaks from his nose and mouth that occasionally blurred his vision – 'The Towering Inferno' managed to land over 700 of the 1100 punches combined in the fight. . . Equally important, FUNDORA's history-making win, where he edged TSZYU by split decision to become the unified super welterweight world champion (WBC/WBO), helped create an instant fight of the year candidate that deserved a second-place finish. A matchup that has fans clamoring for a rematch of this 'bloody-good' affair.

No 1. The most significant performance

Photo © @MIKAELLAUREN76/Instagram

🏆Winner: Mikaela Lauren

• Date: November 30, 2024
• Venue: Hotel Intercontinental (Vienna, AUST)

Finally, the boldest performance of 2024 came from former world champion, Mikaela Laurenof Sweden. In a championship match in November vs. the reigning titlist, Michael KotaskovLorraine, 48, proved she really is “a fighter”, fighting until the final bell despite suffering horrific facial swelling. Lauren's swelling stemmed from a fractured skull, which resulted in a handful of accidental headbutts delivered early in the first round.

Making matters worse, the younger Kotaskova beats on Lauren with the increasing impact of Kotaskova's punches, and an inadvertent head-on collision leaves Lauren's face virtually unrecognizable, resembling a character outside the movie's central casting, The Man.

Although Loren quipped post-fight that he “looked (edited) like a freak show”, his courage was undeniable, taking on an undefeated and major world-ranked competitor 13 years his junior, at an age when more people are worried about their 401Ks. Compared to they are about the leather business. And for these reasons, as well as the significant physical pain endured by Mikaela Lauren, she tops the list Best performance of the year! 

******

Did I get it right?

Please let me know by leaving a comment, sharing and retweeting this article on X and Instagram and smashing the like button on all social media platforms.
It would mean a lot to me.

******

Want more articles like this? Follow Paul and Jones! Check out his exclusive boxing content on X (Twitter) and Instagram @boxingepicenter.

More must-reads from Paul R. Jones!

Counting Down Boxing's Top 7 Absolute Best WTF Moments 2023 That Left Social Media Buzzing!

3 Bold Boxing Predictions for 2021 — Pacquiao, Charlo, Bivol, Beterbiev, More!

About the author:

Paul and Jones! is a longtime boxing writer and ringside photographer for Boxing News 24. A scientist by day and writer by night, he covers the ridiculous, offbeat and absurd from the sport of boxing. His articles, photographs, and commentaries have appeared in many online outlets (such as Boxing News 24/7, Round by Round Boxing, Boxing Insider, and Medium.com) as well as in print and scholarly journals.
Email or send him a tip at prjones1@hotmail.com.