Second Annual Ring Awards
The second annual Ring awards were held tonight in New York City at Cipriani 25. Legendary ring announcer Michael Buffer opened up the ceremony in his inimitable style. First up, Buffer introduced Ring magazine CEO, Rick Reeno. Reeno asked HE Turki Alalsheikh to press the button to launch the new Ring app on a jumbo screen display for everyone in attendance.
Reeno also explained the incredible effort that was undertaken to find every issue of the Ring magazine ever printed and digitize the entire collection, some 1200+ issues.
Reeno then called up Ring’s editor-in-chief Doug Fischer, who elaborated on the efforts to establish the “FREE-to-anyone” archives of The Ring.
Awards presenter Max Kellerman took the stage to recognize the achievements in boxing for 2025.
Cruiserweight Champion Jai Opetaia presented the winner of Round of the Year:
Seiya Tsutsumi-Daigo Higa (Round 9)
Other nominees:
Callum Smith-Joshua Buatsi (round 6)
Filip Hrgovic-David Adeleye (Round8)
Kenshiro Teraji-Seigo Yuri Akui (Round 12)
Chris Eubank, Jr.-Conor Benn #1 (Round 12)
Former Undisputed heavyweight champion James “Buster” Douglas presented the winner for Upset of the Year:
Armando Resendiz-Caleb Plant
Other nominees:
Rolando Romero UD Ryan Garcia
Ekow Essuman UD Josh Taylor
Ricardo Sandoval SD Kenshiro Teraji
Fabio Wardley TKO11 Joseph Parker
Jaron “Boots” Ennis presented the winner for Prospect of the Year:
Emiliano Vargas
Other nominees:
Reito Tsutsumi
Ben Whittaker
Jhon Orobio
Pat Brown
Rick Reeno presented the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award:
Larry Merchant
The 94-year-old Merchant was unable to attend, but he did offer a video presentation. Accepting on merchant’s behalf was one of his former HBO colleagues, Lennox Lewis.
Former Trainer of the Year Derrick James presented the award for the 2025 Trainer of the Year:
Shingo Inoue
Other nominees:
Manny Robles
Robert Garcia
Rudy Hernandez
Brian McIntyre
Inoue was also unable to be present but delivered a video greeting to the assembly.
Devin Haney presented the winner of Fight of the Year:
Chris Eubank, Jr. vs Conor Benn #1
Artur Beterbiev vs Dimitry Bivol #2
Naoya Inoue vs Ramon Cardenas
Abdullah Mason vs Sam Noakes
Kenshiro Teraji vs Seigo Yuri Akui
Deontay Wilder presented the winner for Knockout of the Year:
Brian Norman, Jr. KO5 Jin Sasaki
Other nominees:
Fabio Wardley vs Justis Huni
Jesse Rodriguez vs Fernando Martinez
Oleksandr Usyk vs Daniel DuBois #2
Frank Martin vs Rances Barthelemy
Alycia Baumgardner presented the winner of Female Fighter of the Year:
Mizuki Hiruta
Other nominees:
Ellie Scotney
Katie Taylor
Mikaela Mayer
Evelin Bermudez
Oleksandr Usyk presented the winner for Male Fighter of the Year:
Terence Crawford
Other nominees:
Dmitry Bivol
Jesse Rodriguez
Naoye Inoue
Fabio Wardley
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