I did another thread on Christmas Day/Boxing Day (Dec. 26, the Canadian version) fights and not a whole lot had happened on those days historically — apart from Balboa-Drago in their epic fight in Russia that basically ended the Cold War (as we all know). What about these holidays? Of course, Balboa had a thing for holiday fights — his first, unsuccessful, challenge of Apollo Creed happened on New Year’s Day 1976. In Philadelphia, the birthplace of America, it was billed as the first major sporting event of the Bicentennial year. Have there been any other memorable Dec. 31/Jan. 1 fights in history? Or just any semi-significant title fights? I have a nagging memory of a major card planned for Miami some year on New Year’s Eve or Day that didn’t come off for some reason, but I can’t put my finger on it … and there’s also something else nagging alongside it that maybe that was on the eve of a Super Bowl there instead (the Orange Bowl historically would have been played on New Year’s Day in Miami). Maybe someone can help me out with that one. So whatcha got? And here’s wishing you all a wonderful 2026 filled with boxing delights present and past.
