On This Day in Boxing History… March 2nd
1971: Bob Foster vs. Horace “Cal” Carroll
In Scranton, Pennsylvania, one of the most feared light heavyweights in history, Bob Foster, successfully defended his WBC crown. Known for his immense reach and a devastating left hook, Foster showed no mercy toward his compatriot Horace Carroll. The fight was an exhibition of pure power; Foster dismantled Carroll in just four rounds, reaffirming his dominance over the 175-pound division—a reign that lasted nearly seven years.
1996: Thulane Malinga vs. Nigel Benn
In one of the biggest super-middleweight upsets of the 1990s, South Africa’s Thulane “Sugar Boy” Malinga traveled to England to dethrone the local favorite and legendary warrior, Nigel Benn. Malinga, a 40-year-old veteran at the time, delivered a masterclass in ring intelligence and technique, overcoming “The Dark Destroyer” via split decision. With this triumph, Malinga became the first South African to win a WBC world title in this category, defying all odds.
2001: Pongsaklek Wonjongkam vs. Malcolm Tunacao
In Pichit, Thailand, one of the greatest legends of the flyweight division was born. Thai southpaw Pongsaklek Wonjongkam captured the WBC title by starching the Philippines’ Malcolm Tunacao in the very first round. It was a lightning-fast victory that launched one of the longest and most prolific reigns in the organization’s history, as Wonjongkam went on to become a titan of Asian boxing with a record-breaking number of defenses.
2012: Sonny Boy Jaro vs. Pongsaklek Wonjongkam
Exactly 11 years after winning his title, fate dealt Wonjongkam a cruel hand. In Chonburi, Thailand, Filipino challenger Sonny Boy Jaro pulled off the upset of the year by knocking out the historic Thai champion in the sixth round. Jaro halted Pongsaklek’s impressive unbeaten streak, capturing the WBC flyweight crown in a bout marked by relentless physical punishment until the final outcome.
2017: Shinsuke Yamanaka vs. Carlos Carlson
At Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan, undefeated Japanese champion Shinsuke Yamanaka made the twelfth successful defense of his WBC bantamweight title against Mexican challenger Carlos Carlson. True to form, Yamanaka utilized his famous left hand, nicknamed “The God Left,” to floor Carlson multiple times before securing a technical knockout in the seventh round. This victory placed Yamanaka just one defense away from tying the all-time Japanese record (held at the time by Yoko Gushiken).
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