On This Day… December 2

Sandro Mazzinghi vs. Ralph Dupas (1963)

• Date and Location: 12/02/1963, Sydney, Australia

• Category: Super Welterweight (SW)

• Result: Mazzinghi won by TKO in Round 13.

This bout marked a crucial moment for Italian boxing. The challenger, Sandro Mazzinghi, faced the American champion, Ralph Dupas. In an intense, long-lasting fight, Mazzinghi demonstrated his strength and resilience, managing to stop the champion in the 13th round. This victory not only earned him the Super Welterweight World Title but also cemented his status as a sports hero in Italy.

Salvatore Burruni vs. Rocky Gattellari (1965)

• Date and Location: 12/02/1965, Sydney, Australia

• Category: Flyweight (FL)

• Result: Burruni won by KO in Round 13.

 The Italian champion Salvatore Burruni traveled to Australia to defend his Flyweight title against local idol Rocky Gattellari. The fight was a fierce battle that extended into the championship rounds. Burruni, a solid and experienced fighter, managed to land a definitive blow in the 13th round, silencing the Australian crowd and retaining his belt by way of knockout.

Bruno Arcari vs. Everaldo Costa (1972)

• Date and Location: 12/02/1972, Turin, Italy

• Category: Super Lightweight (SL)

• Result: Arcari won by Unanimous Decision in 15 rounds.

The Italian champion Bruno Arcari successfully defended his Super Lightweight title in an old-school contest scheduled for 15 rounds. He faced Brazil’s Everaldo Costa in his homeland. Arcari, known for his methodical boxing and great physical condition, effectively controlled the action throughout the strenuous rounds, securing the victory by decision and solidifying his reign in the division.

Carlos Zárate vs. Juan Francisco Rodríguez (1977)

• Date and Location: 12/02/1977, Madrid, Spain

• Category: Bantamweight (BA)

• Result: Zárate won by TKO in Round 5.

The legendary Mexican champion Carlos “El Cañas” Zárate made one of his numerous title defenses, this time on Spanish soil. Zárate, a relentless puncher with one of the most feared knockout streaks in boxing history, gave the local challenger, Juan Francisco Rodríguez, no chance. Zárate unleashed his punching power, forcing the referee to stop the fight in the fifth round, reaffirming his status as one of the greatest Bantamweights of all time.

Marvin Johnson vs. Mate Parlov (1978)

• Date and Location: 12/02/1978, Marsala, Italy

• Category: Light Heavyweight (LH)

• Result: Johnson won by TKO in Round 10.

 This was a battle for the Light Heavyweight World Title in Italy. American Marvin Johnson, known for his aggressive style and punching power, faced the formidable Yugoslav champion and Olympic Gold Medalist Mate Parlov. Johnson applied relentless pressure that began to wear down Parlov, achieving a technical knockout victory in the 10th round and capturing the crown in one of the most notable fights of his career.

Tsuyoshi Hamada vs. Ronnie Shields (1986)

• Date and Location: 12/02/1986, Tokyo, Japan

• Category: Super Lightweight (SL)

• Result: Hamada won by Decision in 12 rounds.

In a highly anticipated title defense in Japan, local champion Tsuyoshi Hamada squared off against the American challenger Ronnie Shields. The bout was a technical and strategic contest that went the full 12 rounds. Hamada used his speed and precision to neutralize Shields’ offense and ultimately convinced the judges, retaining his Super Lightweight World Title by decision.

Wayne McCullough vs. Johnny Bredahl (1995)

• Date and Location: 12/02/1995, Belfast, Northern Ireland

• Category: Bantamweight (BA)

• Result: McCullough won by TKO in Round 8.

Northern Ireland’s “Pocket Rocket,” Wayne McCullough, an Olympic champion and a beloved figure in his homeland, defended his Bantamweight title against Denmark’s Johnny Bredahl. Before a passionate crowd, McCullough showcased his characteristic style of high pressure and high volume punching. The punishment accumulated on Bredahl, forcing the referee to intervene in the eighth round to award McCullough the technical knockout victory.

Rey Vargas vs. Oscar Negrete (2017)

• Date and Location: 12/02/2017, New York, U.S.A.

• Category: Super Bantamweight (SB)

• Result: Vargas won by Unanimous Decision in 12 rounds.

The Mexican champion Rey Vargas defended his Super Bantamweight World Title against Colombia’s Oscar Negrete at Madison Square Garden. Vargas, a fighter with great height and reach for the division, utilized his jab and distance control to dominate much of the contest. Although Negrete was a brave opponent who constantly pressed, Vargas demonstrated his technical superiority and took the victory by unanimous decision.