Yosif Panov (Bulgaria)

UBO World Welterweight Champion.

- He has won 23 straight fights (after going 2-3 in his first five), and in 2023 Yosif Panov (25-3, 11 KOs) captured both the UBO International and World Welterweight titles.

To win the International title in April he had to adjust to a new, tough opponent when his original foe pulled out injured. He fought Argentinian Victoriano Santillan, and emerged victorious by unanimous decision.

When matched against his best opponent to date, Frenchman Sandy Messaud, for the UBO world title in October, Panov stepped up to the plate again and came out on top by close, but unanimous, decision.

Jaqeem Hutcherson W. MD Brandon Chambers

UBO Inter-Continental Super Bantamweight title.

- Both boxers brought 9-1-1 records, both fighting out of Maryland, a bit of bad blood, a packed venue, and a UBO title on the line.

Drama was basically guaranteed when Jaqeem Hutcherson squared off with Brandon Chambers for the UBO Inter-Continental Super Bantamweight title on October 14 at the Live Casino in Hanover, Maryland.

The main event of a card promoted by Jeter Promotions delivered, two-way action, knock-downs scored by both, controversy as a consequence and a close decision.

Hutcherson won the fight by majority verdict, and Chambers felt robbed and has been calling for a rematch since.

Vlad Eliseev / Top Boxing Generation (Ukraine)

- Sometimes you don't have to stage multiple UBO championship fights to win this award.

In this case one is enough, simply because of how significant and historical it was when Vlad Eliseev promoted a UBO world Super Lightweight title fight between Nazri Rahimov and late substitute Irving Berry on August 12 in Brovary, Ukraine.

It was the first championship fight staged in Ukraine since the Russian invasion, and due to the ongoing war it was more than extraordinarily difficult to pull off.

The event, dedicated to the armed forces of Ukraine, took place with extra safety measures and in coordination with the highest authorities.

Askat Zhantursynov KO 2 Serdar Sirin

UBO All-Asia Cruiserweight Title, April 30, Istanbul, Turkey.

- This was probably the easiest award to decide this year!

Kazakhstan´s Askat Zhantursynov (7-1, 6 KOs) brutally knocked out undefeated local man Serdar Sirin in the second round to win the UBO All-Asia Cruiserweight title on April 30 in Istanbul, Turkey.

What looked like a fifty-fifty match-up on paper, never got a chance to develop into much of a fight, as Zhantursynov connected with a huge over-hand right to leave southpaw Sirin in a heap, and the contest waved off immediately.

It was as impressive as it could be, and highlight reel stuff. One of those knockouts boxers hope to score, and pray to avoid.

Isaiah Riquelmy (USA)

UBO Inter-Continental Super Lightweight Champion.

- From Brandon in Florida, 19-year-old UBO Inter-Continental Super Lightweight champion Isaiah “Icon” Riquelmy (7-1, 5 KOs) is certainly one to keep an eye on.

He may have lost his sixth pro fight, but only because he was not afraid to take on 9-0 Benigno Aguilar this past June, dropping a Majority Decision after a close fight he might as well have won.

After a so-called safe victory in November, he jumped right back in with another undefeated opponent on December 16, impressively stopping Venezuelan puncher Danny Mena (5-0, 5 KOs) in seven rounds for the UBO title.

Octavio Pudivitr (Portugal)

UBO World Light Heavyweight Champion.

- Octavio “Tank” Pudivitr (9-1, 4 KOs) had a great 2023, despite a small setback, culminating in winning the UBO world Light Heavyweight title on December 8 in Matosinhos, Portugal.

Pudivitr captured the WBU world title in June, but then lost a controversial decision to Martin Houben in Germany. After a comeback win, he took on tough Colombian Juan Boada for the vacant UBO world title.

It was an excellent fight, and Pudivitr didn't let it go to the scorecards as he overwhelmed Boada for an impressive eighth round stoppage.

Having accomplished what he has in only ten professional fights, Octavio Puduvitr is deservedly the 2023 UBO New Champion of the Year!

Max Fight 56 Featuring Conor McGregor

Max Fight Promotion, Sofia, Bulgaria October 19.

- A UBO world championship fight headlining, top class fights in various combat sports, around ten thousand spectators at the impressive Arena Sofia, world-wide broadcasting, and one of the biggest MMA legends of all time ringside as a special guest.

Max Fight 56 on October 19 in Sofia, Bulgaria, promoted by Max Fight Promotions, was nothing short of a world-class event which delivered in every way.

Local star Yosif Panov won the vacant UBO world Welterweight title by unanimous decision after twelve hard rounds against quality co-challenger Sandy Messaoud from France, and Conor McGregor was one of the first people in the ring to congratulate him.

Calista Silgado (Colombia)

UBO World Lightweight Champion.

- Giving up is often the easiest solution. But coming up short is part of life, and those who keep dreaming and refuse to give up will always have a better chance to succeed.

Colombian Calista Silgado had come up short in eight (!) previous world championship challenges when she got what was likely going to be her last chance against then UBO world Lightweight ruler Stevie Morgan last October in Gadsden, Alabama.

With her experience from fighting at the top level for over ten years, 35-year-old Silgado had not just come to be a name-opponent for the undefeated Morgan, and after ten rounds she emerged victorious by majority decision.

Jesus Escalera & T & K Boxing Promotions (USA)

Boxer / Promoter.

- Its not easy to be a professional boxer. Its not easy to be a professional boxing promoter. Its obviously not easy being both at the same time.

Jesus Escalera boxed an incredible 16 times in 2023, winning UBO Latino, Inter-Continental and world Heavyweight titles.

As the head of T & K Boxing Promotions he was involved with over thirty promotions, nine of which featured one or more UBO title fights.

If the above doesn't warrant winning the 2023 UBO Accomplishment of the Year Award, then nothing does!

Platinum Punch Promotions (U. K.)

Promoter.

- Britain-based Platinum Punch Promotions is not your average promotional outfit.

Established and run by professional boxers Tony Bange, the current UBO International Super Welterweight champion, and IBO world Bantamweight champion Prince Patel, the company had a strong end to 2023.

On December 19 at the famous Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra, Ghana, PPP staged a massive card with five championship fights, four of them involving UBO titles. Three Brits became UBO champions that night, including Bange.