27 years ago today: Atuiz Razmikovich "King Artur" Grigorian vs. Marco "Tekkno Rudi" Rudolph

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WBO lightweight title at stake, the 5th successful defense (of a record 17) by Grigorian. Ironically this - '98 - was the only year in the 9-year stretch of 1996-2004 in which the champion wasn't ranked top ten at lightweight by Ring Magazine, despite solid defenses over Rudolph and Giorgio Campanella.

Grigo had gone 361–23 in the amateurs. Rudolph's own impressive 207-28-1 record included two victories over Óscar De la Hoya, plus one over Grigorian himself along with other top international talents such as Julio González and Diego Corrales. ODLH would avenge himself in the most dramatic fashion possible, defeating the German in the finals to capture gold at the Barcelona Olympics, and the Uzbek southpaw's turn would come seven years later.

And what vengeance it was: Rudolph not only got stretchered from Rüterstraße 75, he never laced up gloves again. Grigorian, three years his senior, campaigned for more than a decade longer.