This day in boxing. A look back.

[Carlos Gracia]

i still remeber a year ago i've started my boxing classes near my home, my first ever boxing gloves is Elitesports and on the first day at my class I've got broke my nose i can't forget that day, i was bleeding very badly

[Memphis]

On this day 04 June 2005 Ricky Hatton put in a super human effort to dethrone IBF light welterweight champion Kostya Tszyu. 11 rounds of will versus skill, brilliant stuff from Hatton. Never been a big fan of Ricky but he just wouldn't be denied that night and you've got to applaud that.

[Master]

On this day 1999: Joe Calzaghe retains WBO super-middleweight title

Joe Calzaghe still had plenty to prove when he stepped into the ring to face little-known Australian Rick Thornberry in the fourth defence of his WBO super-middleweight title in Cardiff.

The unbeaten Calzaghe had squeezed a contentious verdict over former WBC champion Robin Reid in his previous bout in Newcastle, and was banking on a conclusive finish against his opponent.

But the curse of Calzaghe’s hand injuries struck again, effectively negating his power from the third round onwards, and allowing Thornberry to survive to the final bell, where the Welshman gained an unsatisfactory verdict.

It was a tough time in Calzaghe’s career, and questions would continue to be asked after another dull points win over David Starie in his subsequent bout, as he struggled to gain the plaudits his skills deserved.

Arguably they did not arrive until his stunning win over highly-fancied American Jeff Lacy in 2006 – setting Calzaghe on his way to true boxing superstardom, and ultimately retirement with his unbeaten record proudly intact.

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/day...050000089.html

[Master]

Monday, 8 June is the 35th anniversary of one of boxing's most memorable nights.

On a cool evening in early summer 1985, at Loftus Road football ground in London, Barry McGuigan deposed the mighty Eusebio Pedroza to win the WBA world featherweight title.

It was the culmination of a remarkable journey for the charismatic young man from Monaghan in the Republic of Ireland. His sporting triumph was seen as a story which somehow brought the divided communities north of the border together.

The fight took place against a backdrop of dark and troubled days in Northern Ireland. Headlines and stories about hatred, violence, death and destruction abounded.

Tragedy piled upon tragedy as bombs and bullets spoke for the opposing sides of Unionists and Republicans.



It was a time of sporting tragedy too, as the Heysel Stadium disaster and Bradford City fire had recently occurred.

But 1985 was a year during which sporting triumph found a path through the gloom and despair for the people of Northern Ireland.

It was the year Dennis Taylor, from Coalisland, potted the most famous black ball ever to beat Steve Davis in that memorable late-night world snooker final.

At the time, Joey Dunlop was the TT Formula One motorcycling champion and Billy Bingham's Northern Ireland were qualifying for a second successive World Cup finals.

However, 1985 will be remembered by many for McGuigan's sensational world boxing triumph.

The Clones Cyclone was seen not just as a supreme fighter but a popular figure who united Northern Ireland's communities.

McGuigan, 24, had enjoyed a successful amateur career, competing at the 1978 Commonwealth Games and the Moscow Olympics two years later. As a pro he won British and European titles and then got his big chance when Pedroza agreed to defend his WBA world featherweight title.

The Panamanian was a legend among featherweights. The man from Panama City was the longest-reigning champion at the time, having held the WBA belt for seven years. Against McGuigan, he would be making a record 20th defence of the title.

The 29-year-old had been a pro since 1973 and, at 5ft 9in, was tall for his weight division.

The fight was staged at the west London home of Queens Park Rangers football team. There were 27,000 people there on that Saturday night and it seemed as if all of them were Irish.

Such Northern Irish sporting royalty as George Best, Norman Whiteside, Willie John McBride and Mary Peters were among those at the ground.

McGuigan's planned route to the ring had to be abandoned as fans swarmed around their hero. The challenger had to clamber through seats and it took him 12 minutes to get to the ring. Pedroza made it relatively unnoticed. The fight was live on BBC television and also on ABC in America.

McGuigan was seen not just as a great boxer, but also as a beacon of peace in Northern Ireland and beyond.

McGuigan said: "It was a very hostile time and there was a lot of craziness going on. I just did not want to get involved in it - there was enough sadness and hatred everywhere we looked.

"I deliberately took a stance of neutrality and wore the United Nations flag of peace on my shorts."



The crafty Pedroza had the better of things in the early rounds.

"He was freakishly tall and skilful," recalled McGuigan. "I knew technically he was far superior to me, and that the only way to beat him was to beat him for pace. If you stood off him he would just box your ears off all night long."

The turning point was the seventh round when Pedroza was caught by a right to the head and went down. He survived a count to eight and the contest continued.

McGuigan had never been beyond 10 rounds but the fight went the distance to 15 with the man from Monaghan crowned the new champion on a unanimous points verdict.

Pedroza died in March 2019 one day short of his 63rd birthday but speaking on the 30th anniversary in 2015, he reflected with admiration on the man who brought his long reign to an end.

"What I always remember is that Barry McGuigan was a sportsman who came looking for the world title," said the Panamanian.

"It was a hard fight. He came looking for that title and got what he wanted.

"I gave the opportunity to him and he knew how to make the most of that. He was a true champion of the world."

McGuigan, with trainer and mentor Barney Eastwood by his side, was welcomed by an estimated 75,000 in Belfast city centre two days after his victory.

"It was absolute madness, but great," said McGuigan who later sparked similar scenes in Dublin as he made a celebratory parade in O'Connell Street.

McGuigan's achievement landed him the BBC Sports Personality of the Year title for 1985 - he was the first person from outside the United Kingdom to receive the honour.

He made two successful defences of the title before it all turned sour in the searing heat of an outdoor arena in Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas in June 1986 when American Steve Cruz took a unanimous decision.

Costly legal battles followed in an acrimonious split with manager Eastwood, who died earlier this year. McGuigan went on to be promoted by Frank Warren for two fights before losing a third to Jim McDonnell and quitting the ring.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/52966159

[Master]

Lennox Lewis beat Mike Tyson with an eighth-round knockout on this day in 2002.

Victory at the Pyramid Stadium in Memphis saw Lewis retain his status as the undisputed WBC, IBF, IBO heavyweight champion.

The fight had originally been scheduled for Las Vegas, but Nevada refused Tyson a license after he sparked a brawl at a New York press conference to publicise the event, biting Lewis’ leg amid the scuffle.

Once the real fight got under way, Tyson started well and had the better of the opening round, getting in a powerful left hook to the jaw which left the Briton struggling. But the tide turned in the second round and Lewis inflicted a cut above his opponent’s right eye in the third, during which the American headbutted his opponent.



Tyson went down in the fourth round but it was ruled a slip and Lewis was penalised for a push.

Lewis eventually ended the bout in the eighth round with a heavy right-hander.

The bout was the highest-grossing event in pay-per-view history at the time, bringing in 106.9million US dollars.

Though Lewis retained his titles, within a month he would lose his IBF crown after declining to face mandatory challenger Chris Byrd.

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/pic...050000428.html

[NoSavingByTheBell]

German boxer Max Schmeling beats Jack Sharkey by disqualification in 4 rounds in NYC for vacant NBA, NYSAC, The Ring and lineal heavyweight titles; first time title won on a foul

[Master]

British boxer Danny Williams knocked out Mike Tyson

British fighter Danny Williams caused one of the biggest upsets in boxing history when he knocked out Mike Tyson in Louisville.

Former undisputed world heavyweight champion Tyson was left on the canvas towards the end of the fourth round in what proved to be the penultimate fight of his career.

It was only the fifth time the 38-year-old had been beaten.

Londoner Williams, a 9-1 outsider who was largely written off before the fight in Kentucky, said: “This is the greatest feeling in the world and by far my biggest moment in boxing.

“I proved people wrong – they have to take me seriously now.”

Tyson began well, landing a couple of heavy blows, but later had no answer to his 31-year-old opponent.

According to the American’s manager, Shelly Finkel, he tore a ligament in his left knee during the bout and became unable to throw meaningful right-handed punches.

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/day...050000546.html



Tyson announced his retirement the following year after failing to appear for the seventh round of his fight with Irishman Kevin McBride in Washington DC.

[Spicoli]

Crazy to think Williams was still 15 long years from bowing out for good. I'm a bit fuzzy but what was the story behind he and Tyson fighting in Kentucky of all places. You see what's going on today with Mike about to gimmick PPV and there he was with some dime store promotion company and 2,3 fights down on a Showtime card. Weird how somethings always return in this back asswards sport.