By Gabriel Princewill-
The International Boxing Federation (IBF) have declared the fight between Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko as the fight of the year, 2017. The Boxing Federation said it’s award for 2017 is to be presented at the Annual Awards Banquet at the Saint Vincent Resort & Casino in Saint Vincent, Italy on Thursday, May 31, 2018. The award closes the 35th Annual Convention.
The IBF selected Anthony Joshua’s victory over Wladimir Klitschko in 2017 as the fight of the year, among all other fights last year contested by boxers under their jurisdiction. Joshua defeated former reigning heavyweight champion, Wladimir Klitschko, in the 11th round of a thrilling contest that saw both men hit the canvas. It was a bold challenge from Joshua’s team who estimated Klitschko’s best days over, after the Ukranian lost to Britain’s Tyson Fury on points in 2015. However, a motivated an energized Klitschko turned up on the big night and gave Joshuahis toughest opposition, flooring the Londoner in the sixth round.
Joshua recovered well in that fight, and after trailing Klitschko in many of the rounds, began to take over, but only marginally until the penultimate round in which he knocked Klitchko out. In doing so, Joshua effectively retired a former world champion who dominated the heavyweight division for many years. Many believe Klitschko would have finished Joshua off had he been a much younger man, an intuitive conclusion which may be flawed if Klitschko was for any reason simply apprehensive to launch a finishing attack on a power house like Joshua.
Joshua received plenty of credit for the victory, but his struggle still raised question marks in the mind of some. He did well to get off the canvas and win, he and Klitschko both got plenty of credit for putting up such a scintillating display.
The Federation revealed in a circulated press release that the Jersey Joe Walcott Award, the organization’s highest honor, will go to Lee Selby. Selby is currently preparing for his sixth defense of his IBF Featherweight title, and the Boxing organisation said Selby’s ”notable career in the ring has earned him this distinction”.
The IBF Female Fighter of the Year Award went to Debora Dionicius of Argentina. The reigning IBF Female Jr. Bantamweight Champion has defended her title successfully, since she won it in November of 2012. Dionicius is currently preparing for her twelfth IBF title defense. A spokesperson said:
“The IBF is proud of its champions and we are honored to celebrate their remarkable careers and achievements during our Annual Awards Banquet this year in Saint Vincent,” noted IBF President Daryl Peoples. “These men and women work hard striving for their success and these distinctions are well deserved”.