On This Day… December 10th

Emile Griffith vs. Manuel Gonzalez (December 10, 1965)

Result: Victory for Emile Griffith by Unanimous Decision (Dec 15).

Division: Welterweight (We).

Location: New York, U.S.A.

Review: The great champion Emile Griffith successfully defended his world welterweight crown against Manuel Gonzalez. It was a 15-round bout where Griffith, known for his technical skill, timing, and defensive ability, controlled most of the action. Although Gonzalez was a tough opponent who fought hard, Griffith’s superior class and precision in boxing from a distance and in the clinch were enough for the judges to see him win convincingly.

Joe Frazier vs. Oscar Bonavena (December 10, 1968)

Result: Victory for Joe Frazier by Unanimous Decision (Dec 15).

Division: Heavyweight (He).

Location: Philadelphia, U.S.A.

Review: This was the rematch between two of the toughest heavyweights of the era, contested for the lineal Heavyweight World Title. In their first encounter, Bonavena was the first man to send Frazier to the canvas. In this rematch, “Smokin’ Joe” demonstrated his unbreakable heart and stamina. Frazier, the relentless aggressor who constantly pressed forward, dominated the center of the ring and punished Bonavena during the middle and late rounds. Although Bonavena showed his famous toughness, Frazier took the victory by unanimous decision, a crucial step towards title unification.

Alfredo Escalera vs. Svein Erik Paulsen (December 10, 1975)

Result: Victory for Alfredo Escalera by Technical Knockout (TKO 9).

Division: Super Featherweight (Sfe).

Location: Oslo, Norway.

Review: The Puerto Rican Alfredo “El Salsero” Escalera traveled to cold Norway to defend his world super featherweight title. His opponent, local fighter Svein Erik Paulsen, had massive public support. Escalera proved to be too powerful and experienced for the challenger. The champion set a strong pace, punishing Paulsen with effective combinations that wore down his resistance. Escalera’s superiority became evident, forcing the stoppage of the fight in the ninth round.

Carlos Palomino vs. Jose Palacios (December 10, 1977)

Result: Victory for Carlos Palomino by Knockout (KO 13).

Division: Welterweight (We).

Location: Los Angeles, U.S.A.

Review: Carlos Palomino, the world welterweight champion, defended his title against Nicaragua’s Jose Palacios. It was a tough, grueling fight, typical of the welterweight division of that era. Palacios remained competitive, absorbing punishment and fighting back. However, Palomino, known for his constant pressure and late-round punching power, finally broke Palacios’ will with a devastating knockout in the thirteenth round, securing a successful title defense.

J. B. Williamson vs. Prince Muhammad (December 10, 1985)

Result: Victory for J. B. Williamson by Decision (Dec 12).

Division: Light Heavyweight (Lh).

Location: Inglewood, U.S.A.

Review: In a 12-round light heavyweight contest, J. B. Williamson defeated Prince Muhammad by decision. The fight was a tactical and physical encounter, characteristic of this division. Williamson managed to be the more effective and consistent boxer in his attacks, maintaining the initiative and landing the clearer punches that impressed the judges.

Sot Chitalada vs. Gabriel Bernal (December 10, 1986)

Result: Victory for Sot Chitalada by Decision (Dec 12).

Division: Flyweight (Fl).

Location: Bangkok, Thailand.

Review: This was the third fight between the Thai champion Sot Chitalada and Mexico’s Gabriel Bernal. The two fighters knew each other perfectly. The fight, held in Bangkok, was a true war of attrition and skill in the flyweight division. Chitalada, leveraging the home advantage and his speed, managed to outperform Bernal in key moments to take the victory by decision, ending this memorable trilogy.

Samart Payakarum vs. Juan Meza (December 10, 1986)

Result: Victory for Samart Payakarum by Technical Knockout (TKO 12).

Division: Super Bantamweight (Sb).

Location: Bangkok, Thailand.

Review: In another important fight in Thailand, the extraordinary Samart Payakarum, a Muay Thai legend who successfully ventured into boxing, defended his world super bantamweight title against Mexico’s Juan Meza. Payakarum displayed refined technique and millimeter precision. The punishment and frustration Payakarum inflicted on Meza culminated in the fight being stopped in the final, twelfth round, in an impressive display of Samart’s class.

Azumah Nelson vs. Sidney Dal Rovere (December 10, 1988)

Result: Victory for Azumah Nelson by Knockout (KO 3).

Division: Super Featherweight (Sfe).

Location: Accra, Ghana.

Review: The great African champion Azumah Nelson had a quick and dominant defense of his super featherweight title in his homeland, Ghana. Nelson, known as “The Professor,” gave no chance to challenger Sidney Dal Rovere. With his characteristic power and aggression, Nelson ended the fight devastatingly in the third round, proving why he was considered one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world.

Julio Cesar Chavez vs. Tony Lopez (December 10, 1994)

Result: Victory for Julio Cesar Chavez by Technical Knockout (TKO 10).

Division: Super Lightweight (Sl).

Location: Monterrey, Mexico.

Review: The Mexican idol Julio Cesar Chavez returned home to defend his super lightweight crown against Tony Lopez. True to his style, Chavez imposed relentless pressure from the start. His body work and constant advance wore down Lopez, who showed courage but could not match the champion’s power and pressure. The referee stopped the punishment in the tenth round, securing another successful defense for Chavez in front of his passionate fans.

Ricardo Lopez vs. Yamil Caraballo (December 10, 1994)

Result: Victory for Ricardo Lopez by Knockout (KO 1).

Division: Strawweight/Mini Flyweight (St).

Location: Monterrey, Mexico.

Review: On the same card as Chavez, the undefeated Mexican champion Ricardo “El Finito” Lopez delivered an electrifying knockout. Lopez wasted no time, dominating Yamil Caraballo from the opening bell, ending the fight with a devastating knockout in the first round. This quick victory highlighted Lopez’s unusual punching power and precision, establishing him as one of the most dominant champions in the history of the lighter divisions.

Oleg Maskaev vs. Peter Okhello (December 10, 2006)

Result: Victory for Oleg Maskaev by Decision (Dec 12).

Division: Heavyweight (He).

Location: Moscow, Russia.

Review: Heavyweight champion Oleg Maskaev successfully defended his title against Peter Okhello in the Russian capital. Maskaev, using his experience and size advantage, controlled the fight overall. Although Okhello showed toughness and went the distance, Maskaev was the more effective and accurate puncher, landing the harder blows to take the victory by unanimous decision from the judges.