BoxRec

Who ? Why ?

Fury comes to mind first. From nothing to controversial draw with WBC Champion is quite an accomplishment

Dpost

30 stone coke monster to getting Robbed against Wilder, Fury all day!

Of course, The Gypsy King. Gotta agree with the other posters. In the beginning of the year there were two Tyson Furys with that nearly 400 pound story. Later the was an indistinct performance against some CW no name. While at the end of the year there was an arguable draw against Wilder taken by the majority of spectators as a win. Not just an improvement, but an epic comeback.

Josh Taylor.
From prospect to arguably top #2 in his division.
Had the guts to sign up with the WBSS.
Gets better through increasingly tough tests. Matched hard and fast, and still coming out on top.
All this and still no world title...

I'm not Fury's fan,..but hey, let's face it: he did a good job against Wilder, a lot better in fact that I expected.. ..and that resurrection in round 12 was just unbelievable ..

greg wrote: ↑10 Dec 2018, 17:34 I'm not Fury's fan,..but hey, let's face it: he did a good job against Wilder, a lot better in fact that I expected.. ..and that resurrection in round 12 was just unbelievable ..

True Greg.
Although Fury has always been a good boxer. And historically his comeback pales beside what Leonard did back in the day. He took nearly3 years out, snorted mountains of super pure fresh off the boat coke, drank a river- and then without any soft comeback opponents, he took on the baddest guy who was huge at the weight and beat him fair and square. That to me, pales Tyson Fury and always will.

I don't think I'd call Fury an improvement. He's always been a high-level, elite boxer.

Mexi-Box wrote: ↑10 Dec 2018, 18:32 I don't think I'd call Fury an improvement. He's always been a high-level, elite boxer.

Agreed 100%, especially since the topic is Best improvement in 2018. Fury didnt lose all that weight in 2018. He was already down to 276 when he fought Sefari in June 2018.

That falls short of the improvement of any of the 3 following world champs (2 of whom never held world titles in ANY weight and 1 who added a world title in his 3rd weight division)...

EMANUEL NAVARRETE 26-1. Totally unknown outside of Mexico City until last weekend. Went 3-0 in 2018 including a sensational upset of unbeaten defending world champ Isaac Dogboe.

NAOYA INOUE 17-0 Won world title at his 3rd weight division and defended it with a 1st-round KO.

JAIME MUNGUIA 31-0 After being rejected by the NSAC as an unworthy challenger for GGG when Canelo was suspended for the PED clenbuterol.

Josh Warrington,

Kenshiro, from struggling with Lopez and Guevara to stopping Lopez and Melindo qnd dominated Juarez... Pretty impressive improvements

Disagree on Fury simply because he was incredibly good before - even better than he is now. It's not improvement, it's just getting in shape. I'd say Dillian Whyte deserves a mention here. Scored two brutal KTFOs and beat former WBO champ in Parker.

Warrington all day for me, fighter of the year, improved fighter of the year - he gets all the baubbles for his 2018 domestically.

Munguia i'd say

Nobody mentioned Prograis, I think he deserved that.

Boxing Writer wrote: ↑08 Jan 2019, 06:35 Disagree on Fury simply because he was incredibly good before - even better than he is now. It's not improvement, it's just getting in shape. I'd say Dillian Whyte deserves a mention here. Scored two brutal KTFOs and beat former WBO champ in Parker.

Look at Fury on December 31, 2017 and then again December 31, 2018. If that isn't improvement, I don't what is.

oogiebe wrote: ↑08 Jan 2019, 13:30

Boxing Writer wrote: ↑08 Jan 2019, 06:35 Disagree on Fury simply because he was incredibly good before - even better than he is now. It's not improvement, it's just getting in shape. I'd say Dillian Whyte deserves a mention here. Scored two brutal KTFOs and beat former WBO champ in Parker.

Look at Fury on December 31, 2017 and then again December 31, 2018. If that isn't improvement, I don't what is.

Physical. But not skill wise.

Boxing Writer wrote: ↑08 Jan 2019, 13:32

oogiebe wrote: ↑08 Jan 2019, 13:30

Boxing Writer wrote: ↑08 Jan 2019, 06:35 Disagree on Fury simply because he was incredibly good before - even better than he is now. It's not improvement, it's just getting in shape. I'd say Dillian Whyte deserves a mention here. Scored two brutal KTFOs and beat former WBO champ in Parker.

Look at Fury on December 31, 2017 and then again December 31, 2018. If that isn't improvement, I don't what is.

Physical. But not skill wise.

Add them both up and you get performance. Yes?

ValMar wrote: ↑08 Jan 2019, 13:16 Nobody mentioned Prograis, I think he deserved that.

I think Taylor outshined him in the lightweight division.

KiwiRider wrote: ↑08 Jan 2019, 14:38

ValMar wrote: ↑08 Jan 2019, 13:16 Nobody mentioned Prograis, I think he deserved that.

I think Taylor outshined him in the lightweight division.

lightweight ?

ValMar wrote: ↑08 Jan 2019, 15:01

KiwiRider wrote: ↑08 Jan 2019, 14:38

ValMar wrote: ↑08 Jan 2019, 13:16 Nobody mentioned Prograis, I think he deserved that.

I think Taylor outshined him in the lightweight division.

lightweight ?

Super LW last I knew.

oogiebe wrote: ↑08 Jan 2019, 15:01

ValMar wrote: ↑08 Jan 2019, 15:01

KiwiRider wrote: ↑08 Jan 2019, 14:38

I think Taylor outshined him in the lightweight division.

lightweight ?

Super LW last I knew.

Whoopsi
Yes your right, Junior Welterweight

KiwiRider wrote: ↑08 Jan 2019, 15:07

oogiebe wrote: ↑08 Jan 2019, 15:01

ValMar wrote: ↑08 Jan 2019, 15:01

lightweight ?

Super LW last I knew.

Whoopsi
Yes your right, Junior Welterweight

I meant Prograis.

There was a lack of improvement in one main area of Boxing in 2018 and it didnt pertain to any boxer in particular.

Boxing in general made ZERO improvements to the sport. I shouldn’t say that. NY did make some improvements to govern boxer’s health inside the ring in hopes to avoid another catastrophic injury to a participant. But the way that boxing is currently scored while continually ignoring the use of Instant Replay to correct or assist decisions in the ring is why this sport will always be considered corrupt. Couple that with the horrendous decisions we continually see each year in huge fights boggles the mind.

I’d sure like to see at least SOME effort to improve this sport in the way it’s judged and governed. Where winners are honestly determined and rewarded for putting their lives on the line. That’s the type of improvement that only interests me.