MANY of the biggest fights this year proved to be one sided but if some star names had it easy in 2016 there were still some stellar contests.

The readers of Boxing News Online voted Dillian Whyte’s epic scrap with Dereck Chisora as their fight of the year with 41% of the vote. Whyte won the British heavyweight title but it was a close points decision and both men tore ferociously into one another throughout.

Carl Frampton’s stirring victory over Leo Santa Cruz came in second with 17% of the vote.

10% voted for Frank Buglioni’s British light-heavyweight title triumph over Hosea Buglioni, another brilliant battle that saw momentum swing from one to the other.

10% also voted for Andre Ward’s high level, if close, victory over Sergey Kovalev for the WBA, WBO and IBF light-heavyweight world titles.

7% voted for Keith Thurman’s points win over Shawn Porter.

6% voted for Francisco Vargas draw with Orlando Salido.

4% voted for Sam Eggington halting Frankie Gavin.

2% voted for Tony Bellew’s emotional, spectacular finish of Ilunga Makabu for the WBC cruiserweight title.

The Boxing News awards are in this week’s special edition of the magazine