This Day in Boxing History: A Date Built on Tough Fights and Turning Points

This Day in Boxing History: A Date Built on Tough Fights and Turning Points

November 28^th is a date that goes back over a century of recorded bouts.

1912 — Willie Ritchie Claims Lightweight Title in a Chaotic Finish

One of the earliest significant entries tied to November 28 comes from 1912, when Willie Ritchie won the lightweight championship from Ad Wolgast at Coffroth’s Mission Street Arena in Daly City, outside San Francisco. Wolgast, one of the era’s most rugged champions, was known for rough fighting; fouls were a recurring part of his style. In the 16^th round, he was disqualified for repeated low blows. It was one of the few world titles in the era that was decided by disqualification.

For Ritchie, it wasn’t simply a stroke of luck — it launched a legitimate title reign. He defended the lightweight crown multiple times and later played a role in shaping the sport as chief inspector for the California State Athletic Commission.

1941 — Tony Zale Restores Middleweight Order Against Georgie Abrams

Fast-forward nearly three decades to Madison Square Garden, 1941, where Tony Zale and Georgie Abrams met for a version of the world middleweight title. It remains the most consequential November 28 bout of its era.

Abrams floored Zale in the first round and seemed poised for a breakthrough. But a gloved thumb to the eye in Round 2, followed by a cut over the other eye, left Abrams fighting with severely impaired vision for most of the night. Despite that, he stayed competitive in what became a long, bruising fight. His injury-plagued effort remains one of the tougher-luck losses of that time.

Zale, who built his style around body attacks and steadiness under fire, slowly took control. After 15 rounds, the judges awarded him a unanimous decision and, with it, recognition as middleweight champion. That victory helped re-establish a clear middleweight championship lineage after years of fragmentation.

1966 — Carlos Ortiz Stops Flash Elorde in a Late-Round Statement

On November 28, 1966, lightweight champion Carlos Ortiz returned to Madison Square Garden to defend his title against Filipino legend Flash Elorde. Ortiz had already established himself as a complete fighter; a technician with a professional’s understanding of pace and timing. Elorde was a national hero in the Philippines; bringing major global attention to the fight.

Elorde boxed well through the middle rounds, but Ortiz steadily broke him down. In the 14th round, Ortiz closed the show with a knockout that underlined both his precision and his underrated finishing ability. For a champion known more for craft than power, Ortiz had nearly a 50% KO rate.  The stoppage reinforced his reputation as one of the lightweight division’s most reliable and adaptable titleholders. Ortiz is widely ranked among the top 10–15 lightweights of all time.

1974 — Ishimatsu Suzuki Wins Lightweight Title in Osaka

Another November 28 title shift occurred in 1974, when Ishimatsu Suzuki stopped Rodolfo González in Osaka to win the lightweight crown. Suzuki is often overlooked outside Japan, but the win was significant: González was a respected and established champion, and Suzuki’s late-round knockout marked one of Japan’s notable championship victories of the decade. In Japan, he remains a significant figure: a world champion who later became a TV actor and comedian.

A Date That Reflects Boxing’s Changing Identity

November 28^th reflects how the sport of boxing has matured from rough-edged brawling to technical mastery. Another important trend is the gradual decentralization of major fights. The date carried high stakes long before global broadcast networks and pay-per-view. By the 1970s, the date already hosted world-title fights in the U.S., Japan, the Philippines, and Latin America, showing how boxing spread beyond its U.S.–U.K. lineage.