2024 was another thrilling year for kickboxing, packed with highlight-reel knockouts and intense battles across the globe. But which fighters stood out the most? Which knockouts were the most devastating, spectacular, or significant? Beyond Kickboxing presents the year's top knockouts, factoring in both the impact of the finish and the stakes of the fight.
TOP 10 KNOCKOUTS OF 2024
10. MASASHI KUMURA VS. ANTONIO ORDEN
Two-time K-1 World Grand Prix finalist Masashi Kumura made quick work of Antonio Orden, flooring the Spanish fighter with a perfectly timed left hook in the first round.
9. AKIHIRO KANEKO VS. KAN MENG HONG
The hardest hitter at 55 kg, Akihiro Kaneko started the year strong by stopping Kun Khmer fighter Kan Meng Hong against the ropes—first rocking him with a massive right hand before sealing the finish with a left hook.
8. PANUWAT TGT VS. TAISEI IWAGO
Thai fighter Panuwat had a breakout year in 2024, winning a four-man tournament at RISE 177 and scoring two highlight-reel knockouts, including a devastating head kick against Taisei Iwago. He capped off the year with a victory over Chan Hyung Lee, cementing his status as one of the world's top super bantamweights.
7. ASDREN GASHI VS. KADIR YILDIRIM
Belgium’s Asdren Gashi secured a last-minute knockout victory over Kadir Yildirim at SENSHI 20, landing a decisive overhand right in the final 30 seconds after three competitive rounds.
6. DAVID MEJIA VS. BOBO SACKO
A stunning finish saw Bobo Sacko flatline David Mejia at GLORY 91. Fighting in front of his home crowd, Sacko landed a seemingly unassuming left hook that connected perfectly, rendering Mejia unconscious on impact.
5. MOHAMED AMINE VS. CEM CACERES
Cem Caceres is one to look out for! The Turkish fighter made a statement in his GLORY debut, unleashing his trademark left hook to the body of Mohamed Amine before sealing the finish upstairs.
4. IONUT IANCU VS. MURAT AYGUN
Heavy-hitting Ionut Iancu unleashed a brutal feint into a leaping left hook, knocking out Murat Aygun at the GLORY Light Heavyweight Grand Prix. Known for his knockout power, the Romanian slugger has stopped two of his three GLORY opponents inside the distance.
3. LIU CE VS. SINA KARIMIAN
K-1 Openweight Tournament winner and title challenger Liu Ce delivered the worst beating of Sina Karimian's career. After heated trash talk and an intense weigh-in staredown, the fight lived up to expectations. Four knockdowns later, a battered Karimian took a flush 1-2 and collapsed backward—a brutal passing of the torch.
2. KOYATA YAMADA VS RYUNOSUKE OMORI
Koyata Yamada, a recurring name in our Knockout of the Year awards, found himself on the wrong end of one of the most devastating spinning backfists of the year. Underdog Ryunosuke Omori perfectly timed the strike while moving backward, leaving Yamada unconscious before he even hit the canvas.
1. MIGUEL TRINDADE VS. KENTO HARAGUCHI
In a showdown between top featherweight contenders, Miguel Trindade dismantled Kento Haraguchi with a crushing overhand right, handing him his first knockout loss in the quarter-finals of the GLORY x RISE Featherweight Grand Prix. The Portuguese fighter followed up with another stoppage win over Chadd Collins before falling to Petchpanomrung in the finals. Despite the setback, his strong form keeps him in a promising position for 2025.
