– What was your favorite fight of 2024?
Chris Algieri: Sergey Lipinets versus Robbie Davies Jnr. It was back-and-forth action – an incredible fight. Knockdowns; blood; guts. Lipinets was the former champion kind of on his way down; it was Davies’ last chance of getting a big win and possibly a title shot. Tons of drama, great fight, and of course being ringside, I’m going to be partial to that.
Paulie Malignaggi: Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury I.
– Which fighter will you most remember 2024 for?
Algieri: Oleksandr Usyk. Definitely Usyk. The things he was able to accomplish this year – two huge wins over Tyson Fury – is enough to solidify him being remembered as an all-time great. I know a lot of people say he shouldn’t be. But based on accomplishment, on who he’s beaten – wiped out the cruiserweight division; unified at cruiserweight and heavyweight – and also the fighters he’s beaten on the way there, absolutely he’s going to be remembered forever.
– What will live longest in your memory?
Algieri: Definitely Angelo Leo’s knockout of Luis Alberto Lopez. One, I was there – it was me calling the fight for ESPN, which is big for my career. I was standing in for Tim Bradley, and Angelo Leo’s a guy I’ve watched come up on ProBox TV, so to see him get the upset the way he did – especially the way he did, with a huge knockout like that, is something that will always be in my memory.
Malignaggi: Seeing Mike Tyson back in the ring. The fact remains that whether people approved of it or not, his fight with Jake Paul – the event – showed that Tyson is arguably the most famous and recognisable figure on the entire planet and even fighting at this advanced age, the amount of opinion, talking points and controversy his name alone has generated proves this. Will boxing ever create as big a star again? Especially a star whose talent and resume actually equal his popularity? It is highly unlikely.
– What was your biggest gripe of 2024?
Algieri: There were no major heavyweight fights in the US. Which makes sense – we don’t have any standout heavyweight fighters anymore. Deontay Wilder is all but done at this point. He hasn’t been able to go into any huge fights and bring anyone to the States. The next in line, it seemed, was going to be Jared Anderson, and obviously he got upset by Martin Bakole. It’s ironic that he was supposed to be next in line as America’s next great heavyweight and he loses in America on a Riyadh Season card.
Malignaggi: That gimmick and YouTuber fights generate more crossover appeal than real fights between top fighters.
– What is your unpopular take of 2024?
Algieri: We need to do something about these failed drugs tests, and depending on the drug, we need to be more specific about what kind of drugs garner certain types of punishments. If you’re taking an anabolic steroid it changes your tissue and never goes away. You should be banned for life. If you’re going to take something that’s going to help grow tissue; harden your bones; strengthen your tendons, you should never be allowed to compete in the sport again. People are going to get mad at me for that because a lot of big people fail that kind of test, but for the safety of the sport, if we’re going to be scientific and pragmatic, if you’re going to take an anabolic agent, you should never be able to fight again.
Malignaggi: That Jake Paul may be good for boxing. He’s built a brand and though I do not believe he is a good boxer – I actually think he’s regressed as a boxer – part of that brand is a promotion which has centred around grabbing untapped and sometimes undiscovered talent and not only exposing them to more fight fans but also paying them well. He’s very good for the fighters and, honestly, when he’s not the one fighting he has a brand that centres around prioritising real talent in boxing.
– Who most needs 2024 to end?
Algieri: Shakur Stevenson. He has had a stink-bitten year between injuries, not being able to make big fights; changing promoters but also staying out of the ring. He also has a huge 2025 ahead of him, so getting 2024 in the past is very important for him.
Malignaggi: Devin Haney. With the no-contest against Ryan Garcia in a high-profile fight he has relieved a lot of backlash and his brand has taken a hit. He needs a new start, with a fresh fight that he can look good in to be what people think of when they think of him, ‘cause since the Garcia fight and the inactivity he’d had since, the criticism of that Garcia fight has only grown. It remains the last time anyone saw him inside the ring.
– Has boxing had a good year?
Algieri: It sure has. The heavyweight division is alive and well and we are getting the big fights. Also, the pound-for-pound top three are all excellent and arguable.
Malignaggi: Boxing has had a good year but not a benchmark year. It can be better but always comes up short of its potential.
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