2024 Universal Boxing Organization (UBO) Awards

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2024 Universal Boxing Organization (UBO) Awards

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JANUARY 3, 2024 / BY UBO PRESS OFFICER

It is time for the 2024 Universal Boxing Organization™ (UBO) Awards. After another good year with many excellent fights and new champions, we have ten categories with deserved and credible winners.

Below we list the winners of the various categories, but if you are one of the boxers, managers, promoters etc. involved with the UBO in 2024 who do not receive an award, please know that you are still very much appreciated.

The recipients are as follows:

BOXER OF THE YEAR

Emeka Nwokolo (USA / Nigeria)

UBO World Super Welterweight Champion.

- Emeka Nwokolo, fighting out of Los Angeles, is the 2024 Universal Boxing Organization™ (UBO) Boxer of the Year.

Nwokolo (13-1, 11 KOs) only boxed twice in 2024, but it was the two biggest fights of his career to date, and he excelled in both.

On January 20 at the Muhammad Ali Centre in Louisville, Kentucky, he stopped Clinton Chavez in round five to win the UBO International title. Chavez went on to win his own UBO title in his next bout.

Four months later, on June 22 in Manchester, New Hampshire, Nwokolo put on a clinic against Colombian Jeovanis Barraza, as he won every round on two judges cards, and ten rounds according to the third judge, to become UBO world Super Welterweight champion.

An injury has since sidelined him, but Nwokolo will hopefully be back soon to take advantage of the momentum he gained in 2024.

HONORABLE MENTION: Brandon Alexander (UBO International and Inter-Continental champion), Alessio Bisutti (UBO Continental (Asia) and Inter-Continental Heavyweight champion), Michal Ryba (UBO Continental (Europe) and world Light Heavyweight champion), Marius Antonietti (UBO International and Inter-Continental Middleweight champion).

FIGHT OF THE YEAR

Roberto Valenzuela Jr. TKO 7 Eslih Owusu

UBO Continental (North America) Middleweight Title.

- When two young, hungry and ambitious boxers are pitted against each-other, its very likely that you will see an entertaining fight.

Roberto Valenzuela Jr. (28-5, 26 KOs) and Eslih Owusu (12-1, 7 KOs) was just that, and more, and is the 2024 Universal Boxing Organization™ (UBO) Fight of the Year.

Promoted by Nolan Bros Boxing, they fought on November 22 at the Oceanside Events Centre in Revere, just outside Boston, Massachusetts, with the vacant UBO Continental (North America) Middleweight title at stake.

It was a very even fight, both boxers having their moments, and the crowd got value for their hard-earned money, as the boxers earned every bit of their purses for the night.

In round seven, Valenzuela hurt Owusu badly and seized the moment, overwhelming him with a flurry and forcing the referee to step in as Owusu failed to respond.

Before round seven started, two judges had it all even 57-57 while the third judge had Owusu ahead 58-56.

HONORABLE MENTION: Matt Floyd W12 Sirimongkhon Iamthuam (UBO world Cruiserweight title, December 27), Frank Kiwalabye W12 Haidari Mchanjo (Interim UBO world Super Bantamweight title, November 30), Clinton Chavez TKO8 Mario Gonzalez (UBO Continental (North America) Super Welterweight title, November 9), Isaiah Riquelmy D12 Joseph Fernandez (UBO world Super Lightweight title, August 17).

PROMOTER OF THE YEAR

Jeter Promotion (USA)

- You don't necessarily need to do the most Universal Boxing Organization™ (UBO) championship fights inside a year to be the UBO Promoter of the Year.

Jeter Promotions, headed by Tony and Christen Jeter, staged two UBO double-headers in 2024, and both were quality events with excellent fights.

On February 24 at the Live Casino & Hotel in Hanover, Maryland, Immanuwel Aleem won the vacant UBO Continental (North America) Super Middleweight title, stopping Malcolm Jones in round four.

On the same card, in a rematch of the 2023 UBO Fight of the Year, Jaqeem Hutcherson defended the UBO Inter-Continental Super Bantamweight title with a unanimous decision over Brandon Chambers.

On July 20, at the same venue, Aleem defended his UBO title with a unanimous decision over Vitalii Gubkin, and Mykal Fox captured the vacant UBO Inter-Continental Welterweight crown by out-scoring Donald Ward.

Four excellent fights involving four excellent boxers, on two well-attended, well-arranged shows at a great venue. Quality all around!

HONORABLE MENTION: FCC Promotion / Thailand, Highland Boxing Promotion / Thailand, Kiliti Promotion / Hungary.

KNOCKOUT OF THE YEAR

Idowu Rasheed KO 2 Bastie Samir

UBO Continental (Africa) Light Heavyweight Title, April 13, Accra, Ghana.

- Nigerian Idowu Rasheed knocked out local hero Bastie Samir in two rounds to win the Universal Boxing Organization™ (UBO) Continental (Africa) Light Heavyweight title on April 13 in Accra, Ghana.

It was devastating and conclusive, and the 2024 UBO Knockout of the Year!

Rasheed, only 5-1-1 (5) going in, and a massive underdog against the experienced and accomplished Samir (20-1-1, 18 KOs) was impressive as he first scored a heavy knock-down with a left hook, and then finished Samir with a follow-up flurry, sending him on his back and forcing the referee to wave it off without a count.

Unfortunately controversy followed as the fight was initially declared a technical draw due to an illegal blow, but there was no illegal blow and thankfully the result was later overturned and Rasheed declared the rightful winner and new champion.

HONORABLE MENTION: Roberto Valenzuela KO 7 Eslih Owusu (UBO Continental (North America) Middleweight title, November 22), Michal Ryba KO 3 Daniel Wanyonyi (UBO world Light Heavyweight title, December 21), Matteo Gubinelli KO 2 Omar Faruk (UBO International Super Middleweight title, December 1).

PROSPECT OF THE YEAR

Joseph Commey (Ghana)

UBO Continental (Africa) Lightweight Champion.

- Joseph “The Jaguar” Commey is an obvious pick as the 2024 Universal Boxing Organization™ (UBO) Prospect of the Year.

The 21-year-old Ghanaian was an outstanding amateur, and the entire boxing community in his country is expecting him to do great things in the professional ranks.

On November 24 at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra, he made his paid debut against experienced and tough fellow countryman Richman Ashelley, and won the UBO Continental (Africa) Lightweight title in the process.

Only a select few boxers can go straight to championship level in their first pro bout, and Commey showed that he is one of those when he won by unanimous decision after a competitive fight.

The future looks bright for the young man, and there will undoubtedly be many more championship belts to come for him.

HONORABLE MENTION: Timur Bassitov (UBO Continental (Asia) Light Heavyweight champion), Martin Gruy (UBO International Middleweight champion), Davide Carpentieri (UBO Youth Lightweight champion), Riccardo Rizzi (UBO Continental (Asia) Super Welterweight champion), Alexandro Foglia (UBO Youth Super Bantamweight champion), Danylo Huncharuk (UBO East Europe Lightweight champion).

NEW CHAMPION OF THE YEAR

Prince Patel (U. K.)

UBO World Welterweight Champion.

- While he has been a Universal Boxing Organization™ (UBO) world champion before, current world welterweight champion Prince Patel (32-1-2, 27 KOs) is the 2024 UBO New champion of the Year.

Amazingly, Patel held the UBO world Bantamweight title in 2019, and as recent as December of 2023 he won the IBO world Bantamweight title.

He then decided to move up six (!) weight classes last August, testing the waters at Welterweight before taking on local man Maxwell Awuku for the vacant UBO world title on November 24 in Accra, Ghana, winning by sixth round stoppage.

Doing things his own way, Patel is doing it well!

HONORABLE MENTION: Samantha Worthington (UBO World Super Lightweight champion), Immanuwel Aleem (UBO Continental (North America) Super Middleweight champion), Idowu Rasheed (UBO Continental (Africa) Light Heavyweight champion), Federico Schinina (UBO International Super Welterweight champion), Junior Cruzat (UBO Continental (South America) Super Featherweight champion), Catalin Ionescu (UBO International Super Featherweight champion), Mikael Arutyunyan (UBO Inter-Continental Featherweight champion), Matt Floyd (UBO world Cruiserweight champion).

EVENT OF THE YEAR

FCC 7: Double Impact II

FCC Promotion & Highland Boxing Promotion, Bangkok, Thailand October 6.

- The 2024 Universal Boxing Organization™ (UBO) Event of the Year award was very easy to decide.

FCC Promotion and Highland Boxing Promotion presented no less than five UBO championship fights, and two additional title bouts, on October 6 at the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

While the main event between Alessio Bisutti and Gurkan Karadag, for the vacant UBO Continental (Asia) Heavyweight title, turned out to be over almost before it started, with Karadag going down and refusing to continue after the first punch landed by Bisutti, it was still an excellent show.

In the four other UBO title fights Turkish Twin-brothers Efe and Ege Konuk both triumphed against good opponents, Italian Riccardo Rizzi was impressive, and Filipino star Joepher Montano looked excellent.

It was by far the biggest evening of UBO championship boxing in 2024.

HONORABLE MENTION: Ghana For Peace Fight Night / BROWNED WORLDWIDE & Box Office Sports (Four UBO title fights, Accra, Ghana, November 24), Joseph Fernandez vs. Isaiah Riquelmy / Imran Haddabah vs. Kenmon Evans / Star Fight Productions (UBO double-header, St. Petersburg, Florida, August 17), Aleksander Ramo vs. Carlos Jimenez, Alexandru Ciupitu vs. Stevens Bonicel, Simone Vanni vs. Mohamed Nasri / Accademia SSD (UBO triple-header, Ferrara, Italy, July 25), John Zile vs. Emmanuel Quartey & Stanley Nyantakyi vs. Isaac Nettey / Osibor Boxing Promotion (UBO double-header, Kumasi, Ghana, July 5).

COMEBACK BOXER OF THE YEAR

Mykal Fox (USA)

UBO Inter-Continental Welterweight Champion.

- He will claim that he never left, but never the less the Universal Boxing Organization™ (UBO) Comeback Boxer of the Year Award for 2024 goes to UBO Inter-Continental Welterweight champion Mykal Fox (24-4, 5 KOs).

“The Professor” lost three straight between August of 2020 and October of 2022, but in one of those defeats he should have become WBA world champion. Instead he was robbed horribly by the judges after schooling Venezuelan Gabriel Maestre.

Between May of 2023 and June of 2024 he had seven bouts in the Team Combat League, a format where boxers compete in one-round bouts for a team, so Fox was not exactly rusty when he returned to championship action.

On July 20 in Hanover, Maryland, he won the UBO Inter-Continental title with a unanimous decision over the tough Donald Ward. He has since picked up another win, continuing his way towards a second shot at world honours.

HONORABLE MENTION: Ana Arrazola (UBO world Light Flyweight champion), Immanuwel Aleem (UBO Continental (North America) Super Middleweight champion), Marius Antonietti (UBO Inter-Continental Middleweight champion), Clinton Chavez (UBO Continental (North America) Super Welterweight champion).

ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE YEAR

Michal Ryba (Czech Republic)

UBO World Light Heavyweight Champion.

- Michal Ryba made UBO history in 2024, which we honour by giving him the Universal Boxing Organization™ (UBO) Accomplishment of the Year Award.

Ryba, from Brno in the Czech Republic, won the UBO world Light Heavyweight title on December 21, stopping Kenyan veteran Daniel Wanyonyi in three rounds.

That feat made him the first boxer to win UBO subregional (East Europe, 2022), International (2023), Inter-Continental (2023), Continental (Europe, 2024) and world titles.

Ryba (23-12-1, 18 KOs) is a true warrior who has never backed down from a challenge, or any opponent, and by doing something that has not been done before he fully deserves this award.

HONORABLE MENTION: Alessio Bisutti (winning UBO Continental (Asia) and Inter-Continental titles), Joseph Commey (winning UBO Continental (Africa) title in pro debut), Timur Bassitov (winning UBO Continental (Asia) title in second pro bout), Brandon Alexander (winning UBO International title, and winning and defending UBO Inter-Continental title).

SPECIAL TRIBUTE OF THE YEAR

Jaye Byard (Canada)

UBO Continental (North America) Heavyweight Champion.

- The 2024 Universal Boxing Organization™ (UBO) Tribute of the Year Award goes to Continental (North America) Heavyweight champion Jaye Byard from Canada.

Byard (8-4, 8 KOs) is living proof that its never too late to turn your life around, both inside and outside the ring.

He turned professional at thirty-eight in 2019, after doing almost twenty years of a life-sentence in prison for murder.

That in itself is a huge accomplishment, but when you add that he lost his first four bouts before deciding to train himself, and then winning his next eight inside the distance, it is quite remarkable.

Byard won the UBO title on February 3 when he stopped undefeated Benjamin Alvarez in six rounds. Determination, persistence and self-belief can take you a long way, in life and in boxing.

HONOURABLE MENTION: None.

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