Belfast boxer Carl Frampton has been named ESPN's Fighter of the Year for 2016.
In July, Frampton became the second ever Irish fighter, along with Steve Collins, to win world titles in two weight divisions when he beat Mexican Leo Santa Cruz by majority decision in New York.
The two are scheduled for a much-anticipated rematch in a month's time when they meet at the MGM in Las Vegas.
The victory over Santa Cruz, where he earned the WBA Super World featherweight title, added to The Jackal's win against Scott Quigg in February.
In defeating the Englishman at the Manchester Arena, Frampton unified his IBF World super bantamweight title with Quigg's WBA belt.
Regarding Frampton, ESPN's senior boxing writer Dan Rafael, who decides the winner, wrote:
No other fighter in 2016 scored such an impressive combination of victories in high-profile bouts against elite opponents -- in multiple divisions, on the road -- with one of them a contender for fight of the year.
Other contenders for the award included Vasyl Lomachenko, Terence Crawford, Manny Pacquiao, Joe Smith Jr, Andre Ward and Roman Gonzalez.
The previous winners of the award are:
2015: Canelo Alvarez
2014: Terence Crawford
2013: Floyd Mayweather
2012: Nonito Donaire
2011: Andre Ward
2010: Sergio Martinez
2009: Manny Pacquiao
2008: Manny Pacquiao
2007: Floyd Mayweather
2006: Manny Pacquiao
2005: Ricky Hatton
2004: Glen Johnson
2003: James Toney
2002: Vernon Forrest
2001: Bernard Hopkins
2000: Felix Trinidad
