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

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Jiro Watanabe v Soon Chun Kwon - Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan

Watanabe retains his WBA super flyweight title by TD in round 11 of 15.

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Watanabe was considered by many to be one of Japan's greatest world champions. However, he resorted to some rather interesting business practices after his ring career came to an end:

In August 1995, he was arrested for blackmail. After running an import business where he threatened debtors with beating them to death. Police suspended judgment and he was released.

In October 1999, he was arrested for providing a gun to a friend who was prosecuted for murder. He was sentenced to 4 years & 6 months imprisonment.

After being released he was arrested for blackmail.

 

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(10 years ago today)


Paulie Ayala v Johnny Tapia - MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

Ayala, the reigning WBA world bantamweight champion wins non-title bout by UD over 12rounds.

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A close and seen by many as controversial decision. There was mayhem when the decision was announced to the 7,000 in attendance.

Tapia's brother-in-law Rob Guiterrez whacked Todd DuBoef (Top Rank) and the stepson of promoter Bob Arum, in the mouth. For his efforts, Guiterrez was led away by the police in handcuffs.

 

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Tomasz Adamek v Paul Briggs - Allstate Arena, Rosemont, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Adamek retains his WBC light heavyweight title by MD over 12 rounds.

Briggs had Adamek on the canvas in the 1st round - an early sign of the war that would follow.

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This was the second meeting between the pair - the first, 18 months earlier, ended with the same result.

Those were the days for Brigggsy, and hopefully the way he'll ultimately be remembered.

 

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Vic Darchinyan v Glenn Donaire - Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

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Vic successfully defends his IBF & IBO world flyweight titles by TD in round 6 of 12.

Vic knocked Donaire down towards the end of the 4th round. The stoppage was due to a broken jaw sustained due to an accidental headbutt in the 3rd round.

 

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Rod Carr v Ray Aquaye – Fitzroy Central Hall, Melbourne, Victoria.

Carr wins the Commonwealth super middleweight title from Ghana's Aquaye by KO in round 4 of 12.

Carr would lose the title on his first defence to fellow Aussie Lou Cafaro. But have two more attempts at regaining it against Englishman Henry Wharton.

 

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Debut of another Ali


Laila Ali v April Fowler - Turning Stone Casino, Verona, New York, USA.

Laila 21, daughter of Muhammad Ali, turns pro with a 1st round KO of Fowler, a Denny’s waitress.

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...Laila Ali stands over the KO'ed Denny's waitress Fowler.

 

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(5 years ago today)


Jorge Arce v Hussein Hussein - Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

The interim WBC flyweight title bout ends in a 2nd round TKO win to Arce.

This was the second meeting between the pair.

The earlier bout, 6 months earlier, was an enormously courageous performance from Hussy, engaging in a toe-to-toe war covered in his own blood for 10 rounds, before being stopped.

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...a shot from the first meeting between the pair.

 

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Pat Ford v Frank Johnson - West Melbourne Stadium, Melbourne, Victoria.

Ford from Orange NSW retains his Commonwealth lightweight title by KO in round 13 of 15.

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...Pat Ford.


This was Ford's first defence of the title he won from the Englishman Johnson in their previous meeting.

Ford was inducted into the Australian Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006.

 

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Nigel Benn v Chris Eubank - Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, Lancashire, England.

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'The Dark Destroyer (Benn) retains his WBC super middleweight title on PTS over 12 rounds.

The all-England battle attracts a crowd of well over 40,000 spectators to the home of Lancashire cricket club.

 

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Sam Langford v Sam McVea - Exhibition Stadium, Perth, Western Australia.

Langford successfully defends his Australian and World 'coloured' heavyweight titles after a stoppage in 11 of 20.

McVea had claimed a foul. But when it was disallowed he refused to continue.


This was the 3rd of 6 meetings between the pair in Australia - Langford eventually winning 4, McVea 1 and the other bout drawn. They would also meet on many other occasions back home in the USA.

Sadly, Langford, who logged well over 300 bouts, never fought for a fully fledged World title.

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...The 'Boston Tar Baby' Sam Langford.

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....Sam McVea (or the laternate McVey as has often been applied to him).

 

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Tommy Loughran v Harry Greb - Mechanics Building, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Loughran won on PTS over 10 rounds.

The Pittsburgh Post stated it was a close fight. Loughran won the first two rounds, waging a body attack. Greb dominated the next five rounds. Loughran won the last three rounds. Loughran landed the cleaner blows. It was a good fight. However, the Boston Globe said that many thought that Greb won handily although Loughran got the decision, but he was guilty of rough tactics and Tommy landed the cleaner blows.

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Pro debut of Bernard Hopkins.


Clinton Mitchell v Bernard Hopkins - Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA.

Mitchell gets the nod over Hopkins in what was the pro debut for each of them.

Hopkins was headed for the Hall of Fame. Mitchell would have only 5 pro fights, but importantly, something to tell his grandchildren.

 

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Jeff Fenech's pro debut.


Jeff Fenech v Bobby Williams - Marrickville RSL, NSW.

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Fenech, having been ripped off at the L.A. Olympics, turns pro with a 2nd round KO.