On This Day… January 16th

Rolando Navarrete vs. Chung-Il Choi

Manila, Philippines WBC Super Featherweight Title

This bout marked the first world title defense for the Filipino idol Rolando “The Bad Boy” Navarrete, held before a packed and roaring crowd at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila. It was an intense and dramatic battle. The South Korean challenger, Chung-Il Choi, proved to be an extremely dangerous opponent who managed to dominate portions of the fight, even sending Navarrete to the canvas in the fifth round.

The Filipino champion, with his pride wounded in front of his home fans, had to dig deep. Gradually, Navarrete began to punish Choi’s body, sapping his endurance. In the 11th round, Navarrete landed a barrage of powerful punches that culminated in a devastating knockout.

Deontay Wilder vs. Artur Szpilka

Brooklyn, New York WBC Heavyweight Title

The “Bronze Bomber” made the third defense of his Green and Gold crown at the Barclays Center, on a night that ended with one of the most spectacular and terrifying knockouts of the decade.

Szpilka, a Polish southpaw with excellent movement, presented challenges for Wilder during the first eight rounds. Utilizing angles and an awkward defense, Szpilka successfully avoided Wilder’s famous right hand while landing shots that kept the fight close on the scorecards.

In the ninth round, Szpilka attempted to lung forward with a reckless attack. Wilder timed him perfectly, landing a short, devastating right cross flush on the jaw. The Pole was knocked unconscious before he even hit the canvas, remaining motionless for several minutes in an image that traveled around the world. With this KO, Wilder reaffirmed that he possessed the most lethal power in the division.