Wow, what an eventful year 2021 has been for boxing both in and out of the ring.
As always, the sport has thrown up the occasional bizarre moment which caught the eye and subsequently went viral for either good or bad reasons.
Michel Rivera emulated Muhammad AliEsther Lin/SHOWTIME
Here, talkSPORT.com has brought together four instances that stick in the mind…
Boxer KOs opponent who had his back turned
Maxi Hughes continued his magnificent career renaissance by winning the British lightweight title with a KO of Paul Hyland Jr in March.
However, the fight’s conclusion was shambolic after confusion stemming from referee Mark Lyson.
In round eight, Hughes got through with yet another strong left hook to the body.
Hyland Jr wilted and the referee jumped in between the pair – assuming he would touch down and score a knockdown.
The referee pointed for Hughes to go to a neutral corner, but then noticed Hyland Jr had recovered before touching the canvas.
As a result, he instantly corrected himself and told the pair to box on.
However, as he thought a knockdown had been scored, Hyland Jr turned away and did not see the referee change his mind.
With the action resumed, Hughes then ran over and smashed his unsuspecting foe with a massive right hook to the head when he was not looking.
Hyland Jr collapsed to the canvas and was counted out as a result.
The closing stages as @BOXERMAXIHUGHES became British lightweight champion.
Main event coming up NEXT on IFL TV.
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https://t.co/MFen2fSxTo#MTKFightNight #MaxiHughes #HughesHylandJnr pic.twitter.com/b1xClJ36Mk
— MTK Global Boxing (@MTKGlobal) March 19, 2021
Referee’s towel horror show
Lewis Ritson endured an unnecessary additional minute of punishment when the referee threw his corner’s towel back out of the ring during his defeat to Jeremias Ponce in June.
He was beaten up for the majority of the contest as his tall, Argentinian foe simply pummelled him throughout.
Ritson was finally floored in round ten and the towel came in from his corner, wisely acknowledging that he’d had enough.
Ritson assumed the fight was over, only for referee Steve Gray to wave him to continue. He chucked the towel back out of the ring and the fight bizarrely resumed.
This is within the rules as only the referee technically has the right to stop a fight.
However it’s a very rare occurrence for the corner to be overruled and backfired this time around.
Ponce floored Ritson twice more within the punishing extra minute and Steve Gray was forced to wave it off regardless.
HUGE WIN FOR PONCE
Jeremias Ponce floored Lewis Ritson three times in the 10th round to earn a stoppage win but should the fight have continued after Ritson’s corner had thrown the towel in?
#RitsonPonce pic.twitter.com/HBNeJT2YT9— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) June 12, 2021
Boxer dressed as Muhammad Ali
Michel Rivera caught the eye in more ways than one during his fight back in July.
The 23-year-old lightweight contender moved to 21-0 (14 KOs) with a sensational knockout of Jon Fernandez, and did so while dressed like a young Muhammad Ali.
Rivera explained to BoxingScene: “Everyone around me claims that I resemble a young Cassius Clay, who of course became Muhammad Ali.
“My coach [German Caicedo] always told me that from day one and it just stuck.”
WOW. Michel Rivera with a devastating KO in his @showtime debut! pic.twitter.com/bghXKJrBjo
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) July 4, 2021
Boxer told off by referee for doing press-ups celebration
Kevin Lele Sadjo was overjoyed at his European super-middleweight title win when he stopped Jack Cullen earlier this month.
Cullen lay on his back as medical staff tended to him after being KOd.
Meanwhile Sadjo jumped around the ring in celebration.
The crowd began to boo, but the Frenchman was unbothered.
He started doing press-ups in the ring to prove he still had plenty more energy left in him.
At this point the referee stepped in, told him off and sent him back to his corner.
BRUTAL SHOT FROM KEVIN SADJO ENDS THE FIGHT
pic.twitter.com/ccHYHgEBR9
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) December 18, 2021
