2024 is about to draw to a close, and the boxing fans have had a memorable year. The sweet science produced some memorable fights, saw the birth of some superstars, witnessed some dramatic shifts, and well, also sandwiched between all these were some moments that took the fans by surprise and left them with anger and frustration.

Such visuals were plastered all over the internet and became the talking point of this year, eventually defining how we look at 2024. Let’s have a look at 5 such controversial and divisive moments.

#5 Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol divides the boxing world

When Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol met inside the boxing ring, the undisputed crown was on the line. What’s more? A win would have crowned the first-ever light heavyweight undisputed champion, so history was waiting to be written. While the fans had an exciting and close fight, the judges left them feeling cheated. Beterbiev, 39, went the distance for the first time in his career and left the arena with a win with a split decision, one judge scoring it even at 114 and the other two giving him the fight with 115-113 and 116-112.

But here is the thing. Bivol, 34, outlanded Beterbiev, 142 to 136. He also connected 50% of his power shots, exhibiting greater accuracy and efficiency. Meanwhile, Beterbiev had a higher punch output at 682 attempts than Bivol’s 423. It ignited the debate of being busy vs. being accurate, and Eddie Hearn‘s infamous words summed it up—disgrace.

#4 Mike Tyson slaps Jake Paul

Ok, no one saw this coming. No one had this on their bingo cards. But we all saw it unfold. Who would have thought that Mike Tyson would make a return to the squared circle in 2024? That too again, Jake Paul. The current generation never witnessed the trash-talking and aggressive fighter ‘Iron Mike’ in his prime. But ‘Problem Child’ witnessed a glimpse of it.

When Paul, 27, crawled up to Tyson, 58, and intentionally stepped on his toes, it triggered a response from the latter—a slap. The internet was soon flooded with the snippet, and it also helped sell their fight. However, if there was a list of things that shouldn’t have happened in the boxing world, their fight would top that list.

#3 Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 2 decision draws backlash in boxing community

We agree that bad judging is plaguing boxing, and Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 2 is the best example of it. Serrano, 36, waited for the rematch and prepared accordingly. And she was ready. The Puerto Rican fighter and every onlooker believed she did enough that night to dislodge Taylor, 38, from the undisputed lightweight thrown. But not the judges, who awarded it to her with the unanimous score of 95-94.

If you believed activity won matches, then Serrano should have won it. She landed 324 of 734 punches, compared to Taylor’s 217 of 529. What makes the result more dubious is Taylor’s point deduction in round 8. Serrano addressed the situation in the post-fight interview, where she declared, “I knew it was going to be a little shady.”

#2 Ryan Garcia’s social media meltdown before Devin Haney’s fight

Internet and social media created Ryan Garcia. It also almost destroyed him. The American fighter spiraled down before the Devin Haney fight, and the fans kept wondering whether it was an act or a cry for help. The fans saw him indulging in intoxicants, making absurd claims, and doing everything but preparing for the fight.

The whole drama left Haney vs. Garcia in turmoil, and the New York State Athletic Commission had to step in and request a mental evaluation of ‘King Ry’ ahead of the fight. Garcia, 26, had declared, “So, because I’m Tweeting what I’m Tweeting, that’s a premise for a mental evaluation?” His coming overweight only added fuel to the fire. While he left the arena with a now-wiped-out win, the fans still wonder why the Victorville native did that.

#1 Imane Khelif’s boxing controversy at the 2024 Paris Olympics

There is a reason why Imane Khelif topped Google’s most-searched athlete list in 2024. Her gender controversy drew responses from the likes of Donald Trump and Elon Musk since Angela Carini forfeited the fight 36 seconds into the fight. The Algerian fighter went on to win the Olympic gold in the backdrop of all this drama. The whole internet was divided into the quest to collect evidence to either prove or disprove the claim.

The whole drama stretched on for months and months, and the flames of it were still burning after a leaked medical report. Khelif, 25, has since filed a lawsuit for cyberbullying and is now preparing for the next chapter in her life—turning pro.

What do you make of these controversial boxing moments? Which one was your favorite? Let us know in the comments now.