This Day in Boxing History: Undercards, Upsets & Power Punchers

This Day in Boxing History: Undercards, Upsets & Power Punchers

From fierce flyweight scraps in Seoul to eye-popping knockouts in Spain and classic rivalries in New York, this date has showcased the sport’s technical finesse, raw power, and old-school heart.

Sot Chitalada vs. Jung-Koo Chang (1990)

On November 24, 1990, in Seoul’s Olympic Park Gymnasium, Sot Chitalada defended his WBC flyweight title against South Korea’s boxing legend Jung-Koo Chang, winning by majority decision. Chitalada, born Chaovalit Wongcharoean, is one of Thailand’s greatest exports to the boxing world — a two-time WBC and Lineal Flyweight champion known for his calm composure and clever in-ring adaptability. That night in Seoul was grueling: one judge called it a draw, while two others gave Chitalada the nod by just one point. The narrow margin reflected not only Chang’s hometown advantage but also the razor-thin lines that separate victory from defeat.

Julian Jackson KOs Herol Graham (1990)

On that same date in Benalmádena, Spain, Julian “The Hawk” Jackson delivered one of boxing’s most dramatic finishes. He faced Herol “Bomber” Graham, a slick British southpaw who’d outboxed Jackson through nearly every round. Jackson, though, was a famously hard puncher. In the fourth round, despite having his left eye swollen badly (a result of Graham’s precision punching), he landed a perfectly-timed right hand — a knockout blow that left Graham motionless on the canvas. The KO was so brutal and clean that it remains in highlight reels decades later, and it earned Jackson the vacant WBC middleweight title that night.

Tony Canzoneri vs. Kid Chocolate (1933)

Rewind to November 24, 1933, and you land amid vintage boxing’s golden era: Tony Canzoneri stopped Kid Chocolate in the second round at Madison Square Garden. Kid Chocolate, born Eligio Sardinas, had built a reputation as one of Cuba’s most graceful, smooth boxers. By 1933, however, Canzoneri was already a multi-division champion. The fight ended in explosive fashion: about 2 minutes and 30 seconds in, Canzoneri landed a thunderous right that put Kid Chocolate down for the count. It was a pivotal moment — a reminder that skill and strategy were always at risk of being blown away by raw, brutal power.

November 24

The date highlights what makes boxing compelling: the juxtaposition of styles (surgical technique vs. raw punching), the international reach of the sport, and the way a fighter’s destiny can pivot on a single round — or a single moment.

Fun Facts:

Sot Chitalada vs. Jung-Koo Chang (Nov 24, 1990)

Chitalada started as a Muay Thai fighter before switching to boxing; his early Muay Thai background contributed to his toughness and footwork. He was nicknamed “The Ali of the Orient” for his style — fast, fluid, with a sharp jab and a dangerous right hand. Despite being a flyweight champion, Chitalada had ongoing trouble making weight, particularly later in his career. After retiring from boxing, he earned a university bachelor’s degree (something uncommon for fighters of his era) and worked for Thai Airways in public relations.

Julian Jackson vs. Herol Graham (Nov 24, 1990)

Jackson had eye surgery the previous year to repair detached retinas in both eyes. Due to licensing concerns, the fight had to be moved to Spain, where regulatory oversight was more lenient. The British Boxing Board of Control had refused to sanction the bout in the UK.

Tony Canzoneri vs. Kid Chocolate (Nov 24, 1933)

Tony Canzoneri and Kid Chocolate are both hall of famers and were as good as it gets in terms of skill and courage in the history of the fight game.

Canzoneri is one of the rare boxers to have held world titles in three different weight divisions — featherweight, lightweight and junior welterweight.

Canzoneri and Kid Chocolate battled for the first time two years prior; after fifteen rounds the fight ended in a split decision.

The stoppage of Kid Chocolate by Canzoneri was the first time he had been stopped in his career. The only other stoppage experienced by Kid Chocolate in his career of 152 fights was in December of that same year, just one month later.

Kid Chocolate’s moniker was “The Cuban Bon Bon”.