December 3rd, This Day in Boxing History: Classic Clashes and Career-Defining Fights

December 3 has been a date of notable milestones across boxing history, offering a mix of high-profile championship clashes, career-defining wins, and generational shifts. From Thomas Hearns’ tactical masterclass against Wilfred Benítez to the fierce super-bantamweight war between Wilfredo Gómez and Lupe Pintor, the date has seen fighters etch their names into the sport’s record books. Later eras brought Riddick Bowe’s measured comeback against Larry Donald and the defining middleweight showdown between Jermain Taylor and Bernard Hopkins. Across decades and weight classes, December 3 has served as a stage for legacy-defining fights, career resets, and moments that shaped boxing’s narrative.

Thomas Hearns vs Wilfred Benítez — 1982

The main event of the Louisiana Superdome’s 1982 “Carnival of Champions” card pitted Thomas Hearns against Wilfred Benítez for the WBC and The Ring light-middleweight titles. Hearns dropped Benítez with a clean right hand in round five, staggered him again in the sixth, and maintained control throughout the fight, despite an injured right hand in the later rounds. Two judges awarded Hearns the decision, with a third scoring it even. The victory marked the emergence of Hearns as a multi-division threat and showcased his adaptability in the face of adversity.

Wilfredo Gómez vs Lupe Pintor — 1982

The co-main event featured Gómez defending his WBC super-bantamweight title against Mexican rival Lupe Pintor. The fight unfolded as a relentless, back-and-forth battle. Pintor applied constant pressure and landed powerful combinations early, but Gómez weathered the storm, countering with precise hooks and body shots. The fight reached its climax in the 14th round when Gómez dropped Pintor twice, forcing the referee to stop the fight and awarding Gómez a TKO victory. The bout remains one of the most celebrated in the storied Mexico–Puerto Rico boxing rivalry and a landmark in super-bantamweight history.

Riddick Bowe vs Larry Donald — 1994

Twelve years later, Bowe sought to rebuild his career after previous turbulent bouts. Facing the unbeaten Larry Donald at Caesars Palace, Bowe controlled the fight with a steady jab, effective combinations, and superior ring presence. The bout ended in a wide unanimous decision, marking a career-reset victory for Bowe and giving Donald his first test against a world-class opponent.

Jermain Taylor vs Bernard Hopkins II — 2005

In 2005, Jermain Taylor defended his middleweight titles against former undisputed champion Bernard Hopkins in a high-stakes rematch at Mandalay Bay. The bout followed Taylor’s controversial split-decision victory over Hopkins five months earlier. The rematch was tactical, with Taylor using his jab and movement to control early rounds while Hopkins applied pressure and landed more power punches overall. After 12 rounds, all three judges scored the bout 115–113 in Taylor’s favor, allowing him to retain the WBA, WBC, WBO, and The Ring middleweight titles. The victory solidified Taylor’s legitimacy as a champion, confirmed the generational shift in the middleweight division, and effectively ended Hopkins’ reign at 160 pounds.

Across decades, December 3 has proven itself to be a crossroads where champions are made, reputations are solidified, and rising stars stake their claim. From Hearns’ measured dominance and Gómez’s relentless TKO over Pintor, to Bowe’s comeback and Taylor’s affirmation over Hopkins, the day encapsulates the full spectrum of boxing history.

Interesting Facts:

The Carnival of Champions 1982

The 1982 Superdome show, headlined by Thomas Hearns vs. Wilfred Benítez and co-main between Wilfredo Gómez and Lupe Pintor, had originally hoped to draw roughly 40,000 fans. Instead, actual attendance was closer to 12,000–15,000. That shortfall forced pay cuts: both Hearns and Benítez reportedly took a $250,000 reduction from their original purses, and Gómez and Pintor had theirs cut as well.

Damage to Hearns’ right hand in the eighth round forced him to rely almost entirely on his left jab for the remainder of the fight, yet he still secured the decision over Benítez. For Hearns, it was his first 15-round fight as previous championship bouts had ended at 14.

The co-main between Gómez and Pintor earned widespread acclaim. Many regard it as one of the greatest super-bantamweight fights ever, and a landmark in the longstanding boxing rivalry between Puerto Rico and Mexico.

Riddick Bowe vs Larry Donald — a comeback marred by controversy and modest crowd

Their fight at Caesars Palace Sports Pavilion was attended by a modest crowd of just 3,574 spectators. This was despite the fact that the press-conference build-up had already generated headlines: five days before the fight, Bowe reportedly sucker-punched Donald during a promotional event. The fight itself was one-sided; Bowe dominated the ring, landing more than twice as many punches as Donald (219 vs 103) according to CompuBox stats.

At the time, Bowe was trying to resurrect his fighting trajectory; his prior bout against Buster Mathis Jr. had ended in a no-contest following an illegal blow by Bowe of his downed opponent. Though the win over Donald didn’t carry a major world title, it set the stage for Bowe’s return to form. Within months, Bowe would claim the WBO Heavyweight Championship.

Taylor vs. Hopkins II

 “No Respect” wasn’t just a billing; it reflected real tension between the fighters. In the build-up to their fight, Hopkins taunted Taylor harshly: he publicly derided Taylor as a “phony champion” and mocked Taylor’s speech impediment. In response, Taylor showed up at the final press conference carrying a doll labeled with Hopkins’ name; a pointed, provocative image meant to underline the disrespect felt by Taylor’s camp. The psychological warfare added stakes beyond the ring — for Hopkins, a chance to reclaim dominance; for Taylor, a fight to earn respect, not just retain titles

For the rematch, Taylor’s disclosed purse was US$ 2,000,000, while Hopkins’ was US$ 10,000,000. The large purse gap underscored Hopkins’ long-term status and star power, even though he entered the fight as the challenger. At 40 years old, Hopkins was still one of boxing’s biggest draws.

According to punch-stat records for the rematch: Taylor landed 64 jabs to Hopkins’ 29, while Hopkins landed 101 power punches vs. Taylor’s 60. This stylistic clash played into debates over who really won, as the boxing world analyzed the contrast between Taylor’s jab-heavy, volume-based strategy and Hopkins’ power-punch, pressure-oriented style

The rematch generated around 410,000 pay-per-view buys (cable and satellite).

Reports at the time indicated Hopkins planned to retire after reclaiming the belts, wanting “one last majestic night” akin to how legends exit the sport. The loss, however, extended his career — though many view the December 3 bout as the effective end of his time atop the middleweight division.

Growing up in a challenging Little Rock, Arkansas neighborhood dominated by gangs, Taylor lacked escape routes: he didn’t excel in team sports, and his community offered limited opportunities. At around age 12, he walked into a gas-station-turned-boxing-gym run by a local bricklayer — a gym that ultimately provided him a path out, steering him toward pro boxing and away from street life.

In the first fight (July 2005), many observers (including media and ringside writers) believed Hopkins had done enough to retain. After the split-decision, there was a widespread sense of injustice among Hopkins’ fans and some boxing insiders. The December 3 rematch, ending in a unanimous decision for Taylor, helped solidify his legitimacy — especially since he avoided the late-round fade that many critics cited in the first bout.

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