On This Day in Boxing History… March 18th
1978.- Mexican standout Carlos Palomino successfully defended his WBC World Welterweight title. Palomino showcased his power by scoring a ninth-round technical knockout over Moroccan challenger Mimoun Mohatar. The bout, held at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, further established Palomino as one of the most dominant champions of the division during that era.
1983.- In a historic unification battle at the Atlantic City Convention Center, Michael Spinks became the undisputed light heavyweight monarch by defeating Dwight Muhammad Qawi via 15-round unanimous decision. With this victory, Spinks added the WBC Green and Gold belt to his collection in a duel that featured two of the most skilled technical exponents at 175 pounds.
1990.- Australian Jeff Harding, renowned for his relentless stamina, successfully defended his WBC World Light Heavyweight championship by knocking out Argentina’s Nestor Giovannini in the 11th round. The contest took place in Atlantic City, New Jersey, where Harding had to dig deep to overcome the spirited resistance of the South American challenger.
1991.- The legendary Mexican champion Julio César Chávez put on an exhibition of power and precision at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas. Chávez defended his WBC World Super Lightweigh title by dispatching American John Duplessis via technical knockout in just four rounds. This victory was yet another testament to the absolute dominance “El César del Boxeo” held on the global stage.
1991.- In a high-impact unification clash, Jamaica’s Simon Brown defeated American Maurice Blocker by knockout in the 10th round. With this victory in Las Vegas, Brown claimed the WBC World Welterweight title, ending a highly competitive bout that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
2000.- A young and talented Floyd Mayweather Jr. continued his meteoric rise to stardom by defending his WBC World Super Featherweight championship. “Pretty Boy” defeated the gritty Mexican Gregorio “Goyo” Vargas via a wide unanimous decision at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Despite Vargas’s heart and bravery, Mayweather’s speed and defense were the defining factors of the night.
2006.- In a heavyweight clash in Atlantic City, champion Hasim Rahman and challenger James Toney fought to a majority draw after 12 rounds of non-stop action. The result allowed Rahman to retain his WBC World Heavyweight title in a clash of styles where Rahman’s power met Toney’s defensive wizardry and counter-punching.
2017.- In one of the biggest upsets of the year, Thailand’s Srisaket Sor Rungvisai captured the WBC World Super Flyweight title by defeating the then-consensus pound-for-pound king, Nicaragua’s Román “Chocolatito” González, via majority decision. The fight, held at New York’s Madison Square Garden, was an all-out war that ended the legendary Central American boxer’s undefeated streak.
