gilgamesh wrote: ↑15 Jan 2026, 14:04
I've always been of the opinion that Ali should be credited with title defenses against Quarry and Bonavena in 1970, because he was still the TRUE World Heavyweight Champion, never having been beaten for his title, and Quarry and Bonavena were both legitimate contenders, they certainly were not soft comeback opponents.
You'll be pleased to know that both of those fights are listed as for the BoxRec Lineal Heavyweight Championship. I volunteered to edit the lineage all the way back to Corbett-Sullivan.
gilgamesh wrote: ↑15 Jan 2026, 14:04
I've always been of the opinion that Ali should be credited with title defenses against Quarry and Bonavena in 1970, because he was still the TRUE World Heavyweight Champion, never having been beaten for his title, and Quarry and Bonavena were both legitimate contenders, they certainly were not soft comeback opponents.
You'll be pleased to know that both of those fights are listed as for the BoxRec Lineal Heavyweight Championship. I volunteered to edit the lineage all the way back to Corbett-Sullivan.
By the end of the year in December 7, 1970, a typically unknown fighter, Carlos Monzon of Argentina, travels to Italy to take the crown from the popular champion Nino Benvenutti.
Benvenutti lost his middleweight crown in front of his countrymen by a shocking 12th round knockout! What a shot by Monzon! Argentina has a new hero in boxing in which King Carlos defended the crown for 7 years with 14 title defenses. Those 14 title defenses were a record at the time until the great Bernard Hopkins broke the record by 1992. Hopkins made 20 title defenses.
Monzon win over Nino was the Ring Magazine Fight of the Year for 1970
Carlos Monzon vs Nino Benvenutti (I)
December 7, 1970
Paleur Stadium
Rome, Italy
Ken Buchanan of Scotland travels to San Juan, Puerto Rico and takes the lightweight crown by split decision against Ismael Laguna of Panama. It was a fast-paced bout even though both fighters were in the ring in a intense heat that reached that afternoon up to about more than 90 degrees. The fight was at the Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan on September 26, 1970.
Buchanan was not received at the airport in Glasgow, Scotland like he thought he would have or should have. It was like nobody there knew who he was. Only his wife and children and a couple of friends were there to receive him.
In the rematch, Buchanan again beat Laguna by decision on September 13, 1971 at New York's Madison Square Garden in New York City. It was the second time that Laguna loses his crown in the same venue and city .
The first time he lost the lightweight crown was to the great Carlos Ortiz in a rematch on November, 1965. In the undercard of Buchanan-Laguna, an unbeaten and rising contender, a twenty-year old Laguna's countryman named Roberto Duran, won by knockout in the first round against top contender Benny Huertas of Puerto Rico. It was the first time that Duran visited the Garden.
Ken Buchanan vs Ismael Laguna (I)
September 26, 1970
Hiram Bithorn Stadium
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Ken Buchanan vs Ismael Laguna (II)
September 13, 1971
Madison Square Garden
New York City
Roberto Duran vs Benny Huertas
September 13, 1971
New York City
At 17 years of age, Wilfred Benitez became the youngest fighter in boxing history to win a boxing world title. That happened on March 6th, 1976 in the Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
On March 8, 1971, Smokin' Joe Frazier became the one Undisputed, Real World Heavyweight Champion by beating Muhammad Ali by decision in 15 rounds at the Madison Square Garden in New York City.
And the great Roberto Duran of Panama, the WBA Lightweight World Champion, defended his crown avenging his only defeat in the decade against challenger and future champion Esteban De Jesus of Puerto Rico.
The fight was on ABC TV Sports on March 16th, 1974 in Panama City, Panama. It was the first time that I saw Duran fight on live television. From thence, he became my favorite fighter.
Duran avenged his ONLY loss at the time by an 11th round knockout. It was an incredible fast-paced bout in which De Jesus dropped Duran on the mat for the second time in Duran's career.
elmersalsa wrote: ↑10 Jan 2026, 12:28
Here's a clip of Smokin' Joe Frazier capturing the Undisputed World Heavyweight Crown against WBA World Champion Jimmy Ellis.
I well remember listening to Frazier-Ellis I on the radio. The great Don Dunphy was on the call. When Ellis went down the first time, I remember Dunphy saying "I don't think he'll get up". But Jimmy did and a few seconds later he took that terrific hook from Joe. It was amazing that Jimmy got up again. A really game fighter was Jimmy Ellis!
Smokin' Joe was something else. My favorite boxer of all-time.
elmersalsa wrote: ↑10 Jan 2026, 12:28
Here's a clip of Smokin' Joe Frazier capturing the Undisputed World Heavyweight Crown against WBA World Champion Jimmy Ellis.
I well remember listening to Frazier-Ellis I on the radio. The great Don Dunphy was on the call. When Ellis went down the first time, I remember Dunphy saying "I don't think he'll get up". But Jimmy did and a few seconds later he took that terrific hook from Joe. It was amazing that Jimmy got up again. A really game fighter was Jimmy Ellis!
Smokin' Joe was something else. My favorite boxer of all-time.
elmersalsa wrote: ↑10 Jan 2026, 12:28
Here's a clip of Smokin' Joe Frazier capturing the Undisputed World Heavyweight Crown against WBA World Champion Jimmy Ellis.
I well remember listening to Frazier-Ellis I on the radio. The great Don Dunphy was on the call. When Ellis went down the first time, I remember Dunphy saying "I don't think he'll get up". But Jimmy did and a few seconds later he took that terrific hook from Joe. It was amazing that Jimmy got up again. A really game fighter was Jimmy Ellis!
Smokin' Joe was something else. My favorite boxer of all-time.
The '70s was indeed a great decade for boxing.
May Joe and Jimmy both rest in peace.
Welcome back Yancey..you been gone for so long??
I check in now and then. Can't stay away from boxing forever.
I well remember listening to Frazier-Ellis I on the radio. The great Don Dunphy was on the call. When Ellis went down the first time, I remember Dunphy saying "I don't think he'll get up". But Jimmy did and a few seconds later he took that terrific hook from Joe. It was amazing that Jimmy got up again. A really game fighter was Jimmy Ellis!
Smokin' Joe was something else. My favorite boxer of all-time.
The '70s was indeed a great decade for boxing.
May Joe and Jimmy both rest in peace.
Welcome back Yancey..you been gone for so long??
I check in now and then. Can't stay away from boxing forever.
Muhammad Ali stunningly lost to contender and future champion Ken Norton on March 31, 1973 by a split decision in San Diego, CA. The fight was televised live on ABC in the Wide World of Sports telecast. Howard Cossell was the announcer.
History is told that Norton broke Ali's jaw in the second round. They fought 3 times and Norton for many fans, won all three. Was Norton Ali's kryptonite?
