December 2, 1978 Sports Palace - Sicily WBC Light-Heavyweight Championship WBC Champion - Mate Parlov (Yugoslavia) was making the '2nd-Defense' of his 175 lb. Championship. The 30 year-old - Mate Parlov, a strong 6' 1" southpaw, was a very smart boxer who possessed a hard right hand, both in jabs and crosses. Mate was not only 'strong', but was 'well-schooled' and extremely durable. Not only physical in the ring, Mate has great endurance, a granite chin and fights at a 'steady pace'. But one the great attributes that Mate possessed, his mental focus of positive thoughts. Mate had tremendous will, and has a great desire to win. His background had also included a 'great amateur career', including winning the Gold Medal at Light-Heavyweight at the 1972 Summer Olympics. As well as the 1971 and 1973 European Championships, and the 1974 World Championships, to go along with an incredible 310-13 amateur record. Bringing in a 22-1-1 (11 KO's) record, his only 'blemishes on his mark' were to Philadelphia Heavyweight - Matt Franklin, by an 8-Round Decision Loss (May 1976) and a 10-Round Draw (December 1976). The Champion was a 'solid' 2-1 Betting-Favorite over American - Marvin Johnson, and was looking forward to 'what he thought' would be an 'easy' title defense and nice pay-day. Mate Parlov This content is protected
December 2, 1978 Palazzetto dello Sport - Marsala, Sicily A nice venue for 5000 Sicilians on a Saturday Night. This content is protected
Marvin Johnson The 24 1/2 year-old 'hard-swinging' southpaw from Indiana, with a record of 21-2-0 (16 KO's). Marvin knows only one gear, 'fourth-gear and all-out'. At 5' 10", and thin-waisted, Marvin carries his power in his broad-shoulders and lower-trunk. His right-hand is used as more of a bothersome 'range-finder', to set up his booming left hands. In his 5+ years as a professional, Marvis has lost only 'twice'. Once by a (TKO 12) to Matt Frankin (July 1977), and the other to the 'talented' Lotte Mwale by a disputed 8-Round Decision in {July 1978}. The 'pre-fight analysis'; Marvin will come out fast, and will most likely start off by 'bombing away'. If he doesn't stop or hurt the 'tough' Parlov by Round 8, Marvin could be in 'big trouble' in the later rounds, where the Champion is at his 'strongest'. This content is protected
As i recall Marv carried right on where Conteh left off, working Parlov's body, Conteh left it a bit late, but still seemed to have done enough to win, but the early rounds Amateur Fiddle-Faddle was awarded to Mate, even so the points Verdict was decried as a Robbery in some quarters, (Britains Fight weekly has this as a front page Headline ) When Marvin Challenged he didnt try anything Slick or Arty, Just some old fashioned Panel-beating on his flanks...Mate was not his Mate on this night.
The Fight Marvin 'Pops' Johnson went out fast, just like he said he would, and went right after the Champion's eye's. By Round 2, Marvin opened small cuts over both of Mate Parlov's eye's, which seemed to take away his heart. Marvin put together a steady rampage of hard body punches in Rounds 3 thru 7, which really had the Champion looking for a hiding place. Mate Parlov had done nothing through 7 Rounds, but the Champion did put together a brief rally in Round 8, which was his last 'gasp'. In Round 9, Marvin went 'balls-out', and battered the now 'weary' Champion all over the ring, clearly winning the round 'big'. In the 10th, Marvin pounded a 'tired and battered' Mate with heavy rights and lefts, forcing Referee - Roland Dakin to administer 'two' 'Standing 8-Counts' in the middle portion of the Round. At the 2:25 mark, Marvin moved in and landed a heayy left, and then a crushing right-hook to the head, forcing Referee - Roland Dakin to halt the 'one-sided' bout at 2:33 of Round 10. This content is protected
