On This Day in Boxing History… March 9th

1979: Wilfredo “Bazooka” Gómez Punishes in New York

The legendary Puerto Rican Wilfredo Gómez continued his historic streak of knockout defenses by stopping Colombia’s Néstor Jiménez in just 5 rounds at Madison Square Garden. Gómez, one of the most dominant WBC Super Bantamweight champions in history (often referred to as Bantamweight in historical records), delivered another display of power that solidified his status as the island’s greatest idol of that era.

1984: Carlos De León Asserts His Authority in Las Vegas

Puerto Rico’s Carlos “Sugar” De León proved why he was the first true benchmark of the Cruiserweight division by successfully defending his WBC world title. In a display of technical and forceful boxing at the Las Vegas Convention Center, he defeated American challenger Tony Davis. This victory was key to maintaining the prestige of the then-young 190-pound division.

1984: Tim Witherspoon Reaches Heavyweight Glory

In a clash of titans in Las Vegas, Tim “Terrible” Witherspoon captured the prestigious WBC Heavyweight title by defeating Greg Page via majority decision. In a division that has always been the “crown jewel” of boxing, Witherspoon showcased superior conditioning and a powerful right hand to claim the Green and Gold belt.

1985: Milton McCrory Conquers Paris

In an all-American duel brought to the Palais Omnisports in Paris, Milton “Ice Man” McCrory successfully defended his WBC Welterweight crown by defeating Pedro Vilella via unanimous decision. McCrory, a fighter with great reach and refined technique, brought world-class boxing to French soil, making it clear he was the undisputed king of the 147-pounders at the time.

1989: “Jíbaro” Pérez Shines at the Inglewood Forum

The lanky Mexican champion Raúl “Jíbaro” Pérez defended his WBC Bantamweight title by defeating the brave Argentine Lucio “Metrallita” López in Los Angeles. Pérez utilized his height advantage and a persistent jab to dominate the contest, reaffirming himself as one of Tijuana’s most solid champions on the international stage.

2019: Shawn Porter Survives the Ugás Challenge

In one of the closest and most exciting fights in recent years in Carson, California, Shawn “Showtime” Porter retained his WBC Welterweight title by defeating Cuba’s Yordenis Ugás via split decision. Porter imposed his frantic pace and constant pressure to overcome the refined technique of the Olympic medalist in a battle that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final bell.