As 2024 winds down, boxing fans are left in awe of a year filled with explosive knockouts and unforgettable moments. From Anthony Joshua’s shocking highs and lows to Gervonta Davis’s continued dominance, the year witnessed rising stars like Daniel Dubois shaking up the heavyweight scene, and the historic fall of Tyson Fury against the undefeated Oleksandr Usyk. No doubt, the sport served drama hot at the plate.

Boxing in 2024 brought some of the most thrilling and jaw-dropping knockouts in recent history. From shocking upsets to displays of sheer dominance, these five knockouts left fans stunned and eager for more.

1. Anthony Joshua Against Francis Ngannou 

The fight between Francis Ngannou and Anthony Joshua took place on March 2024, in Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The fight, hyped as a clash of titans, ended almost as quickly as it began. AJ landed a clean right hook within the first three minutes, dropping Francis Ngannou to the canvas. The fight was indeed dramatic as the Batie native was down once in round 1 and twice in round 2. When Ngannou emerged from the second knockdown, ‘AJ’ sent a thundering right that put the Cameroonian fighter’s lights out. We’ve never seen Ngannou KO’d flat like that before.

The crowd erupted as the referee waved it off, solidifying Joshua’s place as one of the hardest hitters in boxing history. This victory positioned Joshua, 34, for a title opportunity, with his next challenge being Daniel Dubois, 27.

2. Zhilei Zhang Delivers a Brutal KO to Deontay Wilder

When the 41 years old stepped into the ring with Deontay Wilder on June 2024, fans and pundits alike had already predicted the outcome. ‘The Bronze Bomber’ was 1-3 in his last four, having suffered devasting KO’s in two of them to ‘The Gypsy King’ Tyson Fury. Those wars with Fury might taken quite a bit of steam away from his momentum, and possibly his fighting career. While Wilder did score a first-round KO over Robert Helenius in October 2022, he lost to Joseph Parker next, in a 12-round unanimous decision war. However, with his next bout which took place in June 2024 against Zhilei Zhang, fans and pundits have seriously questioned his longevity in the sport after the bout.

The 6’6″ Zhang knocked him out with heavy force at 1:51 of the fifth round of their heavyweight bout, sending the American boxer to his fourth defeat in his past five fights — in what might have been his last fight. Zhang’s precision and timing neutralized Wilder’s aggression and resulted in a thunderous left hook that sent the former WBC champion crashing to the mat.

3. Gervonta Davis Destroys Frank Martin in the Eighth

Gervonta “Tank” Davis continued to live up to his reputation as one of boxing’s most electrifying fighters with a brutal finish. He made a triumphant return after a 421-day hiatus, knocking out Frank Martin in the eighth round to retain his WBA lightweight title at the MGM Grand’s 100th championship night in June 2024.

After a competitive first seven rounds, Davis unleashed a series of powerful hooks in the eighth, leaving Martin unable to continue. The referee’s stoppage came as no surprise, with Davis once again proving why he’s one of the star boxers.

4. Anthony Joshua’s Stunning Knockout Loss Against Daniel Dubois

How can any boxing fan forget about the tragic AJ bout in late September 2024? Even though Anthony Joshua started the year strong with his dramatic win against Francis Ngannou, his bout against Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium was a stark contrast. The IBF World Champion in the heavyweight division shocked the world by delivering a knockout punch to AJ in the fourth round.

Joshua, who seemed dominant early on, was caught by a perfectly timed uppercut. As a result, this loss raised questions about Joshua’s future in the sport and proved that Dubois is worth the watch. Reflecting on the fight, the former boxer Tony Bellew told DAZN that it was indeed a career-defining fight for Anthony Joshua. “He’s the kind of fighter you want to see – he either knocks you out or gets knocked out,” Bellew added.

5. Naoya Inoue Gets Knocked Down, Comes Back, and Finishes Luis Nery

Last but not least, Naoya Inoue’s bout with Luis Nery in May 2024 at the Tokyo Dome was a rollercoaster of emotions. The Japanese superstar, often called “The Monster,” was knocked down in the first round. The fight took a 360 turn with the Japanese boxer’s dramatic return in the second and fifth rounds before knocking Nery out to retain his undisputed super bantamweight championship in the sixth round. The 32-year-old finally finished the fight with a brutal left hook in the seventh round. This comeback solidified Inoue’s status as one of the pound-for-pound greats.

These knockouts not only entertained fans but also reminded everyone of boxing’s unpredictable nature. Which of these knockouts surprised you the most, and why? Do you think Anthony Joshua can regain his status as a dominant heavyweight? Who would you like to see Naoya Inoue face next in his career?