Boxing fans around the world have been treated to an array of edge-of-your-seat encounters over the past 12 months, with titles changing hands frequently at domestic and world level.
However, certain fights have captured the imagination of the sport's supporters, whether that be from the competitiveness of the two respective combatants, or the result that followed from the referee or the judges.
Sports Mole reviews which bouts have provided supporters with the most thrilling action in 2013.
© Getty Images
Ruslan Provodnikov entered his welterweight encounter with the unbeaten Timothy Bradley as an unknown on the world stage, but after 12 rounds of brutal action in California, he left the ring with his reputation enhanced after a powerful display against the WBO champion.
The Russian had Bradley out on his feet with some hard shots in the opening two rounds, before Bradley fought back with some blows of his own. The American edged the later rounds, but he was forced to take a knee after a relentless assault from Provodnikov during the final seconds of the fight.
The judges awarded the bout to Bradley by unanimous decision, but while the 29-year-old was disappointed to lose, he left the Home Depot Center firmly established on the global scene.
© Getty Images
Anthony Crolla had been stopped in the sixth round by Derry Mathews in 2012, but due to popular demand, a second showdown was agreed a year later for the vacant Commonwealth lightweight title.
Mathews was ahead in the fight after six rounds of non-stop hitting, but Crolla dug deep in the latter stages to push his more experienced opponent onto the back foot and leave the result to the judges.
Both boxers were given one verdict of 115-113 in their favour, but the third judge called it 115-115 to see the match end in a draw, leaving the prospect of a third bout somewhere down the line.
© Getty Images
After Mikkel Kessler got the better of him in 2010, Carl Froch was eager to gain revenge against the Dane in their super-middleweight clash for the IBF and WBA titles at the O2 Arena.
Froch began strongly, but a fifth-round response from Kessler kept things in the balance. Froch increased the intensity between rounds seven to 10 as he appeared to have the bout under control.
However, Kessler rocked the Nottingham man in the penultimate round to remain active in the fight, but Froch ended the bout on the front foot to record the win by unanimous decision.
© Getty Images
Darren Barker went into his IBF middleweight clash with Daniel Geale looking to improve on his previous world title defeat to Sergio Martinez in 2011.
After a fast-paced five rounds, Barker was floored in the sixth by a gut-wrenching shot from the champion, but he got back to his feet to take the fight to the Australian.
The resulted remained in the balance right until the final bell, but the Brit was awarded a split-decision triumph to become world champion for the first time.
© Getty Images
After taking Timothy Bradley to the brink in March, Ruslan Provodnikov was given a second chance of world honours against WBO light-welterweight champion Mike Alvarado, who was equally as strong as the fearsome Russian.
It was an enthralling bout in Alvarado's home state of Colorado, but the vocal crowd were stunned when Provodnikov dominated their man with two knockdowns in the eighth round, and 'Mile High' never recovered.
Alvarado retired on his stool at the start of the penultimate round to hand Provodnikov a huge win and the Russian will no doubt be involved in another all-action affair early in 2014.
© Getty Images
George Groves's gameplan to meet Carl Froch in the centre of the ring was seen as the wrong move ahead of their highly-anticipated showdown in Manchester, but he silenced his doubters by dropping Froch with a huge right hand in the first round.
The challenger dominated the champion for the majority of the opening eight rounds, before Froch fought back in the ninth, forcing the referee to controversially stop the match after a sustained attack on Groves.
Groves and the 21,000 inside the Phones4U Arena disputed the call, but Froch remained the champion and a rematch could take place in the middle of 2014.
© Getty Images
Three-weight world champion Adrien Broner faced the toughest test of his career against Argentina's Marcos Maidana last weekend, but he was expected to come through the Texas encounter.
However, the South American launched an assault on the unbeaten American from the start, dropping him with a left hook in the second round, before earning a second knockdown in the eighth.
Broner had his moments in the bout but he couldn't withstand Maidana's power, and the 30-year-old deservedly scored a unanimous verdict from the judges.
