Gervonta Davis gave us one of the most-dramatic knockouts in recent memory Saturday night in San Antonio, a one-punch stoppage of Leo Santa Cruz in the sixth round.
But was it 2020 Knockout of the Year?
No knockout was more brutal, that’s for sure. Davis’ perfect left uppercut rendered Santa Cruz unconscious for several minutes. Add to that the magnitude of the fight and you get a prime candidate for the coveted year-end honor.
His main competitors? These are four other prime candidates for 2020 Knockout of the Year so far.
ALEXANDER POVETKIN KO 5 DILLIAN WHYTE
Povetkin’s one-punch knockout of Whyte was absolutely shocking. The Russian was knocked down himself in Round 4 and seemed on his way to defeat when he landed a Davis-like left uppercut that put Whyte to sleep in Round 5.
RYAN GARCIA KO 1 FRANCISCO FONSECA
Garcia was already on an early knockout streak when he landed a devastating left hook that knocked his opponent flat on his back and completely out only 1 minute, 20 seconds into their fight. For the record: Fonseca, a tough veteran, went eight rounds with Davis.
JOSE ZEPEDA VS. IVAN BARANCHYK
The fight itself was insane, as each boxer when down four times. However, it was the last knockdown that stood out most. Zepeda had just gotten up from his final knockdown when he landed a paralyzing left hand that ended the fight instantly and created some anxious moments. Baranchyk lay on the canvas for four minutes before walking out of the ring.
ROMAN GONZALEZ VS. KHALID YAFAI
One factor that made this knockout special was the fact that Gonzalez, the former pound-for-pound king, had been written off by some a few fights earlier. “Chocolatito” clawed his way back and earned a shot at the undefeated Yafai’s world title. He won it by beating up the champ and ending matters with a classic straight right hand.
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