On This Day in Boxing… June 25
1966: In Seoul, South Korea, local fighter Ki-Soo Kim made history by defeating the legendary Italian Nino Benvenuti via split decision, capturing the WBC World Super Welterweight Championship.
1977: Puerto Rican idol Esteban de Jesús successfully retained his WBC World Lightweight title with a dominant performance, stopping Mexican challenger Vicente Mijares via 11th-round knockout at a packed Loubriel Stadium in Bayamón, Puerto Rico.
1983: In an emotional card celebrated in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the charismatic Boricua champion Juan Laporte successfully defended his WBC World Featherweight title by securing a unanimous decision victory over Johnny De La Rosa.
1988: The legendary Ghanaian “Professor,” Azumah Nelson, showcased his devastating power in Atlantic City, New Jersey, retaining his WBC World Super Featherweight crown by stopping a gritty Lupe Suárez in the ninth round.
1989: Displaying his trademark warrior spirit, Mexico’s Humberto “Chiquita” González traveled to Chungju, South Korea, to successfully defend his WBC World Light Flyweight championship, defeating local challenger Yul-Woo Lee by unanimous decision.
1992: Highly skilled American James “Buddy” McGirt traveled to Naples, Italy, to defend his WBC World Welterweight title, earning a unanimous decision victory over the local hero and former Olympic champion, Patrizio Oliva.
2000: In Takasago, Japan, brilliant Thai champion Veeraphol Sahaprom (Nakhonluang) defended his WBC World Bantamweight crown by defeating formidable Japanese challenger Toshiaki Nishioka via unanimous decision.
2005: In one of Atlantic City’s most memorable nights, undefeated American superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr. captured the WBC World Super Lightweight championship, delivering a boxing masterclass to stop the beloved warrior Arturo Gatti in six rounds.
2011: Against the beautiful backdrop of Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico’s Humberto “Zorrita” Soto successfully defended his WBC World Lightweight title, dominating and defeating Japan’s Motoki Sasaki via unanimous decision.
2022: In a breakthrough, career-defining performance, young American prodigy Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez retained his WBC World Super Flyweight title by stopping the historic and dangerous two-time Thai world champion Srisaket Sor Rungvisai via eighth-round technical knockout in San Antonio, Texas.
