• Steve Bunce

Wlad and Tyson the pick of 2011

Wladimir Klitschko helped himself to David Haye's WBA title earlier this year © PA Photos

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Our weekly boxing columnist Steve Bunce hands out his awards for the best and worst of 2011...

Fighter of the Year
Wladimir Klitschko was on the wrong end of a stream of insults from David Haye before their unification fight in July, but handled himself with style and grace throughout - and dominated the Brit when they got into the ring, claiming a wide points decision. Klitschko was too good, too big and too clever, which is exactly what we've heard over the last ten years from dozens of heavyweights who have shared the ring with him.

British Fighter of Year
Tyson Fury has been watched on British TV by more people than any other fighter, and every time he puts on a show. Fury is an old school heavyweight - basically, a lunatic boxer. He fights with his heart on his sleeve, gives great value and has too much pride for his own good. He's very, very tough, has a brilliant heart - and he can bang. He had four fights throughout 2011 and won them all - including a triumph over the Vitali Klitschko-bound Dereck Chisora.

Fight of the Year
The Commonwealth super-featherweight cracker between Liam Walsh and Paul Appleby, which Walsh won via tenth-round stoppage. He was down in the seventh but recovered so well that Appleby's corner threw in the towel three rounds later.

Disappointment of the Year
British fighters were involved in nine unsuccessful world title shots abroad this year, so it's hard to pick just one - but if pushed, I'd go for Carl Froch's defeat against Andre Ward. Froch, up against the very best Ward we've seen, was going through the motions for the entire second half of the fight, having realised he had no chance of victory. Nothing was working for him on a difficult evening in Atlantic City.

One to watch
David Price, bronze medallist at the 2008 Olympics, has won all 11 of his pro fights and is destined for a big future. He has also got that amateur victory over Fury and, the way Fury tells the story, Price denied him an Olympic place. That's not quite true - but, hey, let's not let the truth get in the way of a good story. There's a score to settle there, and a fight between the two would be terrific.

Medal hopeful
World Amateur Championship silver medallist Andrew Selby can push for flyweight gold at the Olympics next year. He had a tough route to the Games, getting through a box-off against Khalid Yafai, but can seize his place with both hands.

Steve Bunce is co-host of ESPN's Pardon the Interruption show. Click here for more details

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