December 6 – This Day in Boxing History: Historic Fights and Championship Nights

From dramatic upsets to title unifications, from hometown heroes under pressure to rising stars claiming their first belts, December 6 has repeatedly delivered nights that shift divisions and define careers. The bouts that follow offer a selective yet telling snapshot of how one date can reflect boxing’s changing eras, global reach, and high stakes.

1975 — John H. Stracey upsets José Nápoles, ending a legendary reign (Mexico City)

John H. Stracey’s upset of José Nápoles on December 6, 1975 marked both a career breakthrough and the closing chapter of one of boxing’s great championship runs. Fighting at the Plaza de Toros, Stracey was knocked down in the opening round yet showed impressive composure against a champion who had dominated the welterweight division for years. As the fight progressed, Stracey targeted Nápoles’ eyes with steady pressure and disciplined combinations, gradually worsening the damage. By the sixth round, the swelling had become too severe to continue, and the referee halted the fight. Nápoles retired that night, ending his championship tenure, while Stracey returned to Britain as the unlikely new welterweight titleholder.

1985 — Donald Curry unifies the welterweight division vs. Milton McCrory (Las Vegas)

Donald Curry’s second-round knockout of Milton McCrory remains one of the defining performances of his career and one of the more emphatic unifications of the 1980s. The fight matched Curry’s WBA and IBF titles against McCrory’s WBC belt, with the winner becoming the first undisputed welterweight champion since Sugar Ray Leonard. Curry opened the fight with composed aggression, using crisp counters to disrupt McCrory’s rhythm. Late in the first round, Curry had the WBC champion staggered. In the next round, Curry lead with a short half-jab, half-hook which dropped McCrory. After a count of eight by Mills Lane, Curry finished him with a straight right hand at 1:53 of the second round. The clarity of the stoppage and Curry’s poise underlined his standing as one of the best technicians of his era. The victory unified the division across the WBA, WBC, and IBF, giving Curry control of one of boxing’s flagship weight classes.

1997 — Oscar De La Hoya vs. Wilfredo Rivera (WBC Welterweight Title, Las Vegas, Nevada)

On December 6, 1997, Oscar De La Hoya defended his WBC welterweight title against Wilfredo Rivera at the Thomas & Mack Center. Rivera pressed the champion aggressively in the early rounds, landing meaningful shots, but a severe cut above his eye ultimately led the ringside doctor to stop the fight in the eighth round, giving De La Hoya a technical knockout victory. The bout underscored De La Hoya’s tactical adaptability and poise under pressure, while Rivera’s willingness to engage despite adversity earned him respect from fans and analysts alike.

2008 — Carl Froch wins the vacant WBC super-middleweight title vs. Jean Pascal (Nottingham)

Carl “The Cobra” Froch’s twelve-round victory over Jean Pascal produced one of the decade’s most physical and compelling super-middleweight contests. Fighting for the vacant WBC title, both men engaged at a pace rarely sustained at 168 pounds, exchanging heavy shots throughout the fight. Froch relied on a disciplined jab and long right hands to control distance, while Pascal countered with athletic, explosive bursts that kept the fight competitive from the opening bell. Over time, Froch’s consistency and output separated him on the scorecards, earning unanimous scores of 118–110, 117–111, and 116–112. The win secured Froch his first world title and propelled him into the Super Six Tournament, where he would become one of the defining fighters of the division. For Pascal, the loss was a foundation he later built on, eventually becoming a world champion at light heavyweight. The fight remains a fan favorite for its sustained intensity and elite-level exchanges.

December 6th

These December 6 fights demonstrate that some of boxing’s most meaningful fights can come at any time, in any weight class, anywhere in the world. A single date on the calendar can link generations, unify belts, dethrone legends, and crown new champions

Interesting Facts:

John H. Stracey vs. José Nápoles — 1975

The fight took place in a bullring in Mexico City in front of an estimated 60,000 spectators.

Nápoles, the Cuban-born boxer who had made Mexico his adopted home, was widely regarded as one of the best welterweights in the world. He was definitely the fan favorite in what initially felt like a hostile, near-impossible night for the British challenger on enemy soil.

For José “Mantequilla” Nápoles, the loss marked his final fight. He retired that night, closing a storied career that included more than a dozen world title fights.

Donald Curry vs. Milton McCrory — 1985

The fight was billed “The Toss Up,” a unification bout for the WBA, WBC, IBF and lineal welterweight titles — the biggest fight at 147 lb. in years. Both Donald “Lone Star Cobra” Curry and Milton “Ice Man” McCrory earned guaranteed purses of US$ 750,000 for the fight.

For a time after, Donald Curry was widely regarded as among the best pound‑for‑pound fighters in the world, his performance that night cited as perhaps the most dominant welterweight performance of the 1980s.

Oscar De La Hoya vs. Wilfredo Rivera — 1997

The fight, held in Atlantic City, carried a significant purse disparity: Oscar “Golden Boy” De La Hoya, the established champion and a major draw, reportedly made around US$ 6,000,000, while Rivera earned a much smaller purse, reportedly around US$ 350,000. For Rivera, the fight was a major opportunity: he came in as a legitimate contender with a good record (27–2–1). Facing De La Hoya on December 6 placed him on a global stage.

Carl Froch vs. Jean Pascal — 2008

The fight is remembered for its sustained intensity at 168 lbs., with both men exchanging heavy blows across 12 rounds. For a weight class not always associated with non-stop action, the bout stood out for its pace and physicality.

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