Did You Know? Today in Boxing History

By Carlos “The Boxing Man” Ortenblad

Today is the 115-year anniversary of when (due to World Featherweight Champion “Terrible” Terry McGovern no longer being able to make the division´s then-maximum weight limit of 122 pounds) Abe Attell and George Dixon fought each other for the third time. Both weighed in at 116 pounds. Attell prevailed by points after 15 rounds and staked a claim to the featherweight title and won recognition from The Police Gazette as World Featherweight Champion, but the public, by and large, still lent its recognition to McGovern.

Also it’s the 10-year anniversary of when Trevor Berbick was murdered. Berbick was Muhammad Ali´s final opponent, beating “The Greatest”by a 10-round unanimous decision on December 11, 1981. Berbick was WBC World Heavyweight Champion from March 22, 1986 until November 22, 1986. He won the title from Pinklon Thomas (12-round unanimous decision) and lost it to Mike Tyson (TKO in the second round). Berbick was 52 years old when he was killed.

Long Live Boxing!