Alfredo Escalera vs. Ray Lunny III

Alfredo Escalera 130 lbs beat Ray Lunny III 129 lbs by RTD at 3:00 in round 12 of 15

• Date: 1976-09-18
• Location: Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Referee: Waldemar Schmidt

"Alfredo Escalera, WBC junior lightweight champion, kept his crown with a 13th round TKO of Ray Lunny III. Lunny, who announced his retirement from the ring in his dressing room after the match, took a beating from Escalera for 12 rounds and did not come out for the 13th. His father and manager, Ray Lunny, Jr., signaled referee Waldemar Schmidt that the bout was over. From the start, the match was all Escalera. The challenger tried to keep away from the champion's left jab, dancing around him, but without much success. Escalera's right hand also landed frequently to his opponent's head and body, and when the champion sensed that Lunny was hurt, he hammered away with both hands. Despite Escalera's hammering, there were no knockdowns but Lunny was cut on the right eye in the 5th round and under the chin in the 10th." -Associated Press

Post-fight comment

• "I had promised myself to retire if I did not win the title. Well, I am keeping that promise. I missed my chance and now there is nothing more for me to do in boxing. My father did not have anything to do with my decision. It's all mine." -Ray Lunny III