BOXING - What Happened On This Day???????

Probably a pity Lester was so young going into it against Barry the veteran, but hard to imagine a better fight under any circumstances.

If coin showers were still in vogue the ring would have collapsed under the weight.

 

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(30 years ago today)


Rocky Mattioli v Maurice Hope - Conference Centre, Wembley, London, UK.

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Mattioli wins the World light middleweight title by TKO in round 11 of 15.

 

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Mickey Ward v Emanuel Augustus - Hampton Beach Casino, New Hampshire, USA.

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Ward takes the points by UD over 10 rounds in a fight deemed good enough to be named Ring Magazine’s fight of the year!

 

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Birth date of former world heavyweight champion Michael Spinks.

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Spinks is of course the younger brother of Leon Spinks (see recent post), and the pair become the first set of brothers to win the heavyweight title.

Leon would win the world title from the great Muhammad Ali, and later Michael won the heavyweight title from Larry Holmes.

The Klitschko brothers, Vitali & Wladimir, have since emulated the feat of the Spinks brothers, and still concurrently hold heavyweight titles.

 

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Maxie Rosenbloom v Lou Scozza - Bison Stadium, Buffalo, New York, USA.

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In a battle between two ring reterans, Rosenbloom retains his World light-heavyweight title on PTS over 15 rounds.

The New York Times summary:

‘Slapsie’ Maxie piled on the points in the first half of the fight, cuffing and slapping away when Scozza attempted to bring the fight to close quarters. Scozza concentrated on a body attack, but Maxie's long left was too much for him. Rosenbloom scored a KD in the 7th round, and Scozza dropped Rosenbloom in the 14th. From the 11th round on Maxie was in trouble and the crowd of 10000 stood and roared for the local boy to score a knockout. Maxie was able to weather the flurry of blows.

 

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(40 years ago today)


Emile Griffith v Dick Tiger, New York City, USA.

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Griffith won on points over 10 rounds in a one sided contest.

Griffith had lost his world welterweight title to Jose Napoles a few bouts prior to this, but would go on to win the middleweight title in the future.

For the veteran Nigerian Tiger, this would be his last harah.

 

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Billy Costello V Ronnie Shields - Municipal Auditorium, Kingston, New York, USA.

Costello comfortably retains his WBC super-lightweight title on PTS over 12 rounds.

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Billy Costello's championship run was the subject of Thomas Hauser's must read book "The Black Lights: Inside the World of Professional Boxing."

 

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Birth date of boxer turned actor, and better known recently as actor/wrestler, Mickey Rourke.

Rourke had a brief undefeated, pro boxing career of 6 wins (4 by KO) and 2 draws in the early 90’s.

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Mickey Rourke fought at light heavyweight, and spread his 8 fights across 4 countries: Germany, Spain, Japan and the USA.

 

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Bob Foster v Jorge Ahumada - University Arena, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.

Foster retains his world light-heavyweight title with a draw over 15 rounds, in what would be his final title defense.

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Foster announced his retirement a few months later, but then stepped up, briefly and somewhat unsuccessfully into the heavyweight ranks.

 

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Jeff Fenech v Steve McCrory - Entertainment Centre, Sydney, NSW.

Fenech retains his IBF bantamweight title by KO in round 14 of 15, and serves up McCrory's first defeat.

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Correct Ash. If there's not a fight-specific pic, I just go for any old decent pic of the fighter concerned.

Your prize is in the mail mate.

 

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(10 years ago today)


The Nevada State Athletic Commission files a complaint against Bob Arum, based on the testimony the promoter gave at the racketeering trial of IBF President Bob Lee. Arum admitted under oath that he paid Lee a $100,000 bribe.

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