By Derek Bilton

As far as British boxing is concerned, 2011 has definitely been an Annus Horribilis.

The year started with so much hope but with Amir Khan, Carl Froch and David Haye all losing their world titles in the last 12 months (and Haye walking away for the sport in the process) it's definitely been a year to forget.

Froch battled valiantly but was a clear second best to the brilliant Andre Ward in America recently, but 'The Cobra' continues to regularly mix it with the best at 168 pounds and as a fighter who 'lives the life' there may be more to come from him in 2012.

Khan, meanwhile, lost his WBA and IBF belts after a hugely controversial, if entertaining, scrap with Lamont Peterson.

Khan dropped his American opponent twice in the opening stanza of that one (though only one count was called) but two point deductions for persistent pishing ultimately did for the Bolton icon.

Team Khan have launched a protest and there is still a chance the decision may be changed with an appeal due to be heard in January, but the fighter must take some of the blame himself after failing to adadpt against an increasingly inspired Peterson in Washington DC.

Their fight was a stone cold classic and won't have done anything to harm Khan's profle in America, provided he gets a return and wins it well. There are lots of big fights out there for both him and Froch, who if nothing else have established themselves as bona fide box-office stars this year.

John Murray bravely stepped up to world class recently but was bashed up and stopped by the brilliant Brandon Rios, while Kevin Mitchel''s protracted legal problems threaten to derail his career at elite level.

All is not lost however. As it stands Nathan Cleverly remains Britain's only world champion at present, but with Haye rumoured to be gearing up for a crack at WBC heavyweight boss Vitali Klitschko next year and Kell Brook continuing his impressive emergence as a world force (the Sheffield puncher looks a nailed on world champion in waiting), hope springs eternal.

St Helens star Martin Murray proved in boxing a draw with Felix Sturm in Germany that he belongs, and with middleweight rivals Matt Macklin and Darren Barker all still hungry we have a very competetive middleweight division that will hopefully spawn some big domestic dust-ups in the New Year.

Former WBO super-featherweight king Ricky Burns will continue his improbable march towards world glroy at lightweight in the New Year, and few who saw how he handled Michael Katsidis last time out would rule out him bagging another world title.

So too brilliant Bury body-snatcher Scott Quigg, who has shown he's the main man on these shores at super-bantamweight and will hopefully take the fight to Europe and then the world in his next few fights.

And if Tyson Fury can knuckle down with a settled training camp and continue to improve don't rule out him bagging a world title in the next 12 months.

The 6ft 9in traveller boxed four times this year and his breakout win over Dereck Chisora proved he has the raw tools to make a real noise in the sport.

Fury v Haye in a world heavyweight title showdown at Wembley? You heard it here first.

Derek Bilton covers boxing for PA Sport.