Maurice Hope vs. Rocky Mattioli (1st meeting)

Maurice Hope 154 lbs beat Rocky Mattioli 153 lbs by TKO in round 9 of 15

• Date: 1979-03-04
• Location: Teatro Ariston, San Remo, Liguria, Italy
• Referee: Ray Solis 78-76
• Judge: Jean Deswert 79-74
• Judge: Rudolf Drust 79-76

"A broken wrist has ended Rocky Mattioli's championship reign, but the new king, Maurice Hope, says he plans to give Mattioli, of Italy, a chance to regain his crown. Hope, of Great Britain, dominated their bout Sunday for the WBC junior middleweight title. Mattioli fractured his right wrist during the fight and finally gave up after the 8th round. Hope floored his opponent in the 1st round with a hard left and was the aggressor throughout the fight." -Associated Press

• When Hope decked Mattioli in the 1st round, Mattioli instinctively reached out to break his fall, thus breaking his own wrist.
• Purses: Mattioli - $100,000, Hope - $65,000

Post fight comments

• "I hurt my wrist early in the fight. By the 8th round I was suffering too much pain to continue." -Rocky Mattioli

• "I will offer him a rematch." -Maurice Hope