Canada Fighting Awards 2024 for Quebec Boxing

By William Dumoulin

Photo credit: Canada Fighting – Andréanne Lambert

Welcome to the first edition of the Canada Fighting Awards 2024, celebrating Quebec boxing.
This year, marked by 18 professional galas, was rich in emotion and entertainment. Here are the winners in each category:

Boxer of the Year

Winner: Artur Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs)
Honorable Mention: Christian Mbilli (28-0, 23 KOs)

Artur Beterbiev had a standout year in 2024 with exceptional performances. His dominant victory over Callum Smith in January was one of the most impressive displays by a Quebec champion in recent years. He went on to capture the WBA belt against Dmitry Bivol, completing his collection and cementing his status as Quebec’s Boxer of the Year.

Christian Mbilli also deserves an honorable mention for his remarkable year. His victories over Rohan Murdock, Marc Heffron, and Sergiy Derevyanchenko solidified his position as an elite super middleweight.

Female Boxer of the Year

Winner: Jessica Camara (14-4, 3 KOs)

The choice was clear. “La Cobra” delivered a historic performance by defeating Hyun Mi Choi in South Korea, achieving the greatest international victory ever by a Quebec female boxer. She then defended her WBA Gold title at a Canada Fighting Club gala in September.

Gala of the Year

Winner: Artur Beterbiev vs. Callum Smith, January 13, 2024, Centre Vidéotron

This unforgettable gala, broadcast on ESPN in the United States, kicked off the year with a bang. In addition to the Beterbiev-Smith showdown, it featured Christian Mbilli versus Rohan Murdock and a thrilling WBO title clash between Jason Moloney and Saul Sanchez.

Fight of the Year

Winner: Jan Michael Poulin (10-1-2, 2 KOs) vs. Sébastien Bouchard (20-4-1, 9 KOs)
Honorable Mention: Luis Santana (13-0, 6 KOs) vs. Sebastien Aguirre (19-6, 12 KOs)

The Canadian super welterweight championship clash in Drummondville between Poulin and Bouchard delivered intense rounds, exciting exchanges, and a closely contested scorecard—everything you want in a Fight of the Year.

An honorable mention goes to the spectacular Santana-Aguirre bout in Gatineau, which featured three knockdowns in the very first round.

KO of the Year

Winner: Osleys Iglesias (13-0, 12 KOs) vs. Evgeny Shvedenko (17-2-1, 8 KOs)

Iglesias’ devastating hook against Shvedenko in the first round made headlines worldwide. His opponent remained on the canvas for several minutes, raising concerns among spectators at the Casino de Montréal.

Prospect of the Year

Winner: Derek Pomerleau (10-0, 8 KOs)
Honorable Mentions: Jhon Orobio (12-0, 11 KOs) and Wilkens Mathieu (12-0, 8 KOs)

Derek “Slick” Pomerleau solidified his place in 2024 with four wins by stoppage, including a landmark victory against Marcelo Coceres.

Meanwhile, the dynamic Jhon Orobio and Wilkens Mathieu also deserve recognition for their active schedules, each fighting seven times this year.

Comeback of the Year

Winner: Jean Pascal (37-7-1, 21 KOs)

Many thought Pascal’s career was over, but he proved otherwise with a stunning last-round KO of Osias. This victory could signal a new world title campaign in 2025, this time in the light heavyweight division.

Breakthrough of the Year

Winner: Theo Owusu (5-0-1, 3 KOs)

A relatively unknown figure to many fans, Theo Owusu made a name for himself in 2024 with four fights in Quebec, including a decisive win over Zacharie Loiseau. He’s now a serious contender in the Quebec super lightweight scene.

Congratulations to all the winners who entertained us throughout this incredible year of boxing!