2025 WBN Boxing Awards: The Year’s Top Fighters and Moments
World Boxing News proudly presents the 2025 WBN Boxing Awards, recognizing the fighters, fights, and performances that defined boxing worldwide.
From historic title defenses to breakthrough campaigns, these honorees set the standard in the sport and hint at what fans can expect in 2026.
Throughout the year, WBN logs every major benchmark in each category, building a comprehensive record of performance. WBN independently verifies each benchmark before inclusion in the year-end review.
At year-end, the editorial team reviews these benchmarks before determining the official winners, ensuring the awards reflect sustained achievement and historical significance.
From Tokyo to Riyadh to Madison Square Garden, WBN tracks performances worldwide to ensure awards reflect actual international impact.
Fighter of the Year: Naoya Inoue
Naoya Inoue completed a perfect 4–0 campaign in 2025, defending his undisputed super-bantamweight title across three continents.
Victories over Ye Joon Kim, Ramon Cardenas, Murodjon Akhmadaliev, and Alan Picasso reclaimed him the top spot in the pound-for-pound rankings.
Inoue matched Muhammad Ali’s record by defending an undisputed world title four times in a single year and set a new benchmark for consecutive world title fight victories, surpassing Floyd Mayweather and Joe Louis.
His combination of precision, power, and consistency placed him ahead of all other contenders, solidifying his legacy as a modern great.
Women’s Fighter of the Year: Gabriela Fundora
For the second consecutive year, Gabriela Fundora stood out in the women’s flyweight division, finishing 17–0 with 9 KOs.
She defended the WBA, IBF, WBC, and WBO World Flyweight titles, including stoppages of Alexas Kubicki and Marilyn Badillo.
At just 23, Fundora continues to combine technical mastery with knockout power, emerging as a defining figure in women’s boxing.
Fight of the Year: Dmitry Bivol vs. Artur Beterbiev II
Dmitry Bivol avenged his previous loss to Artur Beterbiev with a majority decision victory (114-114, 116-112, 115-113) in Riyadh.
Both fighters delivered world-class action, with Bivol landing 170 punches—the most any opponent has landed on Beterbiev in his career.
The rematch now sets up a highly anticipated trilogy in 2026, promising more drama in the light heavyweight division.
Young Fighter of the Year (23 or under): Xander Zayas
Puerto Rico’s Xander Zayas captured the WBO Super Welterweight title and maintained his undefeated streak (22–0, 13 KOs).
His 12-round decision over Jorge Garcia Perez at Madison Square Garden highlighted his poise, accuracy, and composure under pressure.
At just 23, Zayas is positioned as a top young talent to watch in 2026, blending power and tactical awareness.
Pound-for-Pound Breakthrough: Jesse Rodriguez
Already a top-10 pound-for-pound fighter, Jesse Rodriguez’s 2025 campaign propelled him to number three globally.
Capturing both the WBC and WBO Super Fly titles, Rodriguez impressed with 16 KOs in 23 bouts.
His speed, technique, and power have solidified him as a major contender in the super flyweight division, with potential to climb even higher in P4P rankings.
Knockout of the Year: Brian Norman Jr. vs. Jin Sasaki
Brian Norman Jr. delivered a decisive fifth-round knockout over Jin Sasaki in Tokyo, flooring him instantly with a full-powered blow.
The stoppage demonstrated Norman’s precision and power, reinforcing his WBO welterweight credentials and his reputation as one of the division’s hardest hitters.
Trainer of the Year: Shingo Inoue
Shingo Inoue guided his son, Naoya, to another year of undisputed dominance, combining strategy and elite-level training methods.
This marks Shingo’s second Trainer of the Year award, first earned in 2023 when Naoya previously claimed Fighter of the Year, reflecting a sustained ability to produce world-class champions.
Boxing Comeback of the Year: Manny Pacquiao
Manny Pacquiao returned at 46 to challenge WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios, with the bout ending in a majority draw.
Despite the outcome, Pacquiao displayed speed, timing, and ring IQ reminiscent of his prime, proving that elite skill can transcend age and reinforcing his status as a modern boxing legend.
“I felt like I was in control enough and using the whole ring, using my jab, but the judges saw it the other way,” Pacquiao said.
World Title Prospect of the Year: Moses Itauma
At 21, Moses Itauma impressed in high-profile bouts, scoring victories over Mike Balogun and Dillian Whyte.
Ranked #1 by two major organizations, Itauma enters 2026 as one of boxing’s most promising heavyweights, combining power, tactical intelligence, and composure at an early stage of his career.
Boxing Upset of the Year: Jose Resendiz vs. Caleb Plant
Armando Resendiz stunned Caleb Plant in Las Vegas, winning a split decision for the interim WBA super middleweight title.
Resendiz outlanded Plant 186–108 in total punches and 109–70 in power shots, executing a career-defining performance.
“I knew that everybody was going to be against me, because on paper, of course, he was the favorite, but I believed in myself,” Resendiz said.
Looking Back at WBN Awards History
From legends like Gennadiy Golovkin and Tyson Fury to modern stars such as Naoya Inoue and Gabriela Fundora, the WBN Boxing Awards have consistently recognized excellence across decades.
These awards highlight the performances, moments, and emerging talents that define boxing’s global landscape.
For the full archive of past winners, the WBN Fighter of the Year History & Awards page provides a definitive list.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a veteran boxing reporter with 15+ years of experience. He has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside since 2010. Read full bio.