Gary Summerhays vs. Eddie Melo (1st meeting)
Gary Summerhays 174 lbs beat Eddie Melo 170 lbs by KO at 1:13 in round 11 of 12
- Date: 1980-03-11
- Location: Paul Sauve Arena, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Referee: Fred Deegan 48-43
- Canadian Light Heavyweight Title (4th defense of Summerhays)
"Canadian light heavyweight champ Gary Summerhays. Brantford, Ontario, admits he is a slow starter but he may have tried to stretch the point in Tuesday night's title defense against Eddie Melo of Toronto, after a pair of solid right jabs by Melo sent Summerhays to the canvas twice in the 2nd round of the scheduled 12-rounder at the Paul Sauve Centre. But Summerhays collected his wits and went on to gain an 11th round knockout in defense of the crown. But that was Summerhays' last bit of discomfort in the match - other than an accidental bite that the 19 year old Melo inflicted on his neck in the 5th round. Summerhays enjoyed a wide advantage for the rest of the fight, finally forcing Melo to take an eight count in the 10th round when he caught him with a left jab. It then required only 1:13 of the next round to drop Melo to the canvas. Exhaustion, as much as absorbing the repeated blows of Summerhays, finally took its toll on Melo." -Canadian Press
Post-fight comments
- "He was too exhausted to continue. He didn't have any steam left." -Referee Fred Deagan
- "I got sick to my stomach. I'm a little disappointed but at least I put him down twice, and I don't think anyone has done that." -Eddie Melo
- "I wouldn't give up on a kid that's just 19. If they had given up on me when I was that young, I wouldn't be here today." -Gary Summerhays
| Preceded by: Summerhays vs. LeClair |
Canadian Light Heavyweight Title Fight # 35 |
Succeeded by: Summerhays vs. MacDonald I |