Jeff Horn claims Fighter of the Year honours

 
UNDEFEATED welterweight Jeff Horn has claimed the Nigel Benn Fighter of the Year award.

 
The former Olympian was crowned at the End of Year Awards ceremony at Lux Foundry on Thursday night.

 
Horn, 27, backed up an impressive 2014 with an even better campaign in 2015 – competing four times over the course of the year – while scoring several high-profile wins and collecting a handful of regional belts.

 
The world rated welterweight had to wait until June to have his first outing for the year, disposing of an also world rated Richmond Djarbeng and acquiring a WBA affiliated regional title to add to his growing collection.

 
Eager to make up for lost time due to a hand injury, Horn fought a further three times in New Zealand, comfortably outpointing former European title challenger Viktor Plotnykov and durable Argentine Alfredo Blanco.

 
Horn’s promoter, New Zealand-based outfit Duco Events, who also promote fast-rising heavyweight Joseph Parker, have put the Australian on a fast-track to a world title fight with Horn rated highly across the sanctioning bodies.

 
Flanked by event sponsor Simon Alessi of Gruppo Alessi, legendary two-divison world champion Nigel Benn presented Horn (13-0-1, 8 KOs) with his belt, which confirmed his status as Australia’s premier welterweight.

 
The combined record of Horn’s four opponents reads as an impressive 88-8-2.

 
The other star of the night was Toowoomba-based super featherweight Jack Asis, who returned home as the only fighter to pick up multiple awards for their efforts in 2015.

 
Asis, 32, only fought twice over the course of the year – but made an emphatic statement in his first fight – scoring a come-from-behind eighth round stoppage over the previously unbeaten Kye MacKenzie in April.

 
Asis’ efforts were rewarded with the IBO super featherweight title as well as Fight of the Year and Upset of the Year honours, given the fact he was an astounding 4-1 underdog to defeat MacKenzie.

 
Other award winners on the night included undefeated light middleweight prospect Anthony Buttigieg, who earned the Prospect of the Year award for his consistent displays in 2015 against three seasoned opponents.

 
Meanwhile, Australian champion Kane Watts picked up the Knockout of the Year for his violent one-punch knockout over Emosi Solitua with Zac Dunn earning the Performance of the Year for his decision over Max Bursak.

 
Talented light heavyweight Trent Broadhurst took home the Comeback of the Year following his impressive return from a year long layoff, with the Queenslander putting together four consecutive wins to close out the year.

 
 
‘Nigel Benn’ Fighter of the Year: Jeff Horn
‘Gruppo Alessi’ Fight of the Year: Jack Asis vs. Kye MacKenzie
‘HK Clothing’ Prospect of the Year In Memory of Braydon Smith: Anthony Buttigieg
‘Box Cult Promotions’ Knockout of the Year: Kane Watts vs. Emosi Solitua
‘Action Fitness Centre’ Performance of the Year: Zac Dunn vs. Max Bursak
Upset of the Year: Jack Asis vs. Kye MacKenzie
Comeback of the Year: Trent Broadhurst

 
 
Photos: Louie Abigail/Photography by Rockfingrz