This Day in Boxing History: Milestones, Comebacks, and Controversies

November 25 has quietly carved out a place as a transformative date in boxing. It’s a day where legends were born, champions fell, and careers took dramatic turns. Across more than a century of prizefighting, this date has delivered moments that reshaped narratives, fueled debates, and defined legacies.

Bob Fitzsimmons Wins the Light-Heavyweight Title (1903)

On this date in 1903, Bob “Ruby Robert” Fitzsimmons defeated George Gardner on points in a fight that lasted over 20 rounds in San Francisco. With this victory, he became the world light-heavyweight champion and the first boxer in history to win recognized world titles in three weight divisions (middleweight, heavyweight, and light-heavyweight).He was 40 years old at the time which was a remarkable feat, especially in that era.

Thomas “The Hitman” Hearns Makes His Pro Debut (1977)

On November 25, 1977, a fresh-faced 19-year-old Thomas Hearns, who would come to be known as “The Hitman,” stepped into the professional ring for the first time. Fighting Jerome Hill at Cobo Hall in Detroit, Hearns backed up years of amateur promise with a second-round knockout that signaled he belonged in the big leagues.

It was more than just a debut — it kicked off a career defined by explosive power, reach, and knockout artistry. Under the tutelage of Emanuel Steward, Hearns would go on to become one of the most feared punchers of his generation.

The Infamous “No Más” Fight: Leonard vs. Durán II (1980)

By far the most iconic November 25 moment in boxing came three years later, on November 25, 1980, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. This was the second fight between Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto “Manos de Piedra” Durán, later immortalized as the “No Más” fight.

Leonard, having lost to Durán earlier that year in Montreal, switched tactics. Rather than slug it out toe-to-toe, he danced, jabbed, slipped, and frustrated Durán for seven rounds. As the eighth round drew to a close, Durán turned his back, waved his glove, and apparently uttered the now-legendary words: “No más” (“no more”).

The result: Leonard won via TKO, reclaiming the WBC Welterweight title. But the legacy of that night extends well beyond a belt. It’s a fight that has been endlessly dissected for what Durán said, what he meant, and whether he “quit” or was genuinely in distress.

In his later interviews, Durán has claimed that he never said “No más” , instead, he blamed cramps, dehydration, and poor weight management, amongst other things. Leonard, meanwhile, embraced the psychological victory: “To make a man quit … was better than knocking him out,” he later said.

That moment changed both their careers. For Leonard, it was vindication, a crowning moment of smart boxing over brute force. For Durán, it became a complicated chapter: a loss that haunted him, debated by fans, pundits, and historians to this day.

Sergey Kovalev Reclaims Light-Heavyweight Glory (2017)

Fast-forward to November 25, 2017, at the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York — Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev re-enters the ring after back-to-back losses and makes a statement. Facing Vyacheslav Shabranskyy, Kovalev dominated: he dropped his opponent twice in the first round and again in the second before the referee stepped in at 2:36 of Round 2 to stop things.

With that win, Kovalev captured the vacant WBO (and IBA) Light-Heavyweight title, marking a major redemption moment in his career. The result underscored not just his punching power, but his mental resilience after career setbacks.

Katie Taylor vs. Chantelle Cameron II (2023)

On this day two years ago, Katie Taylor reclaimed the WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO super-lightweight (140 lb) titles by beating Chantelle Cameron via majority decision. Taylor also became a two-weight undisputed world champion.

November 25th

From Fitzsimmons’ historic achievement to Taylor’s modern greatness, the stories born on November 25 show boxing at its most human — brave, flawed, powerful, and unforgettable. It’s a day that reminds us why the sport continues to captivate generation after generation.

Fun Facts:

Bob Fitzsimmons vs. George Gardner (Nov 25, 1903)

Despite winning a heavyweight title earlier in his career, Fitzsimmons often weighed only ~167 pounds. He remains the lightest man ever to claim the heavyweight crown.

Before boxing success, Fitzsimmons worked as a blacksmith alongside his father. That early physical labor built the powerful arms and shoulders he used to devastating effect.

Fitzsimmons’ 1897 heavyweight knockout of James “Gentleman Jim” Corbett was the first world title fight to be captured on film (an early motion picture), a landmark in sports media history.

Thomas Hearns (Pro debut: Nov 25, 1977)

Hearns had compiled a stellar amateur career (reportedly 155–8) before turning professional under legendary trainer Emanuel Steward at Detroit’s Kronk Gym

Hearns was first known as “The Motor City Cobra” due to his long snapping jab and slick venomous style in the late 1970’s. “The Hitman” became the more famous nickame later, especially as he moved into his destructive welterweight peak and started starching people with his right hand.

Hearns later became the first boxer ever to win world titles in five different weight divisions.

Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Roberto Durán II (Nov 25, 1980)

The rematch cemented Leonard and Durán as two of the defining opponents of the “four kings” generation (Leonard, Hagler, Hearns, Durán). Their bouts remain essential chapters in boxing lore.

Katie Taylor vs. Chantelle Cameron II (Nov 25, 2023)

Despite being the underdog and fighting a naturally bigger, younger opponent, Taylor delivered under immense pressure in front of her home crowd at Dublin’s 3Arena. The fight was brutal and closely contested, with both women trading heavy punches, clinching, head clashes, and blood within the final rounds.

This victory avenged Taylor’s only professional defeat (her loss to Cameron six months earlier).

With Taylor’s win on Nov 25, 2023, she added the undisputed super-lightweight titles (140 pounds) to her existing lightweight undisputed crown. That made her only the second female boxer ever (after Claressa Shields) to hold undisputed belts in two weight classes.