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Night of the Undisputed
The Night of the Undisputed, was the billing of a professional boxing event, contested on December 13, 2003.[2][3] BackgroundPromoted by veteran promoter Don King, the pay-per-view section of the bill was to feature five world title bout (two of which for undisputed championships), with eight championship bouts in total. It drew comparisons to the Revenge: The Rematches card in 1994. Bob Goodman, the veteran V.P. of boxing operations and matchmaker for Don King Productions claimed it broke the record for the most world championship bout on a single card saying "This is history. The most world championships ever on a card were six and that was Don's record. He's breaking his own record."[4] Actor Denzel Washington was one of the 12,000 people who attended the event.[5] The fightsUndercardThe first of the televised bouts saw Zab Judah easily defend his Light welterweight title against Jaime Rangel, before Alejandro Garcia lost his Light middleweight belt to Travis Simms. Rahman vs Ruiz
After WBA Heavyweight champion Roy Jones Jr., opted to return to the Light Heavyweight division to face Antonio Tarver,[6][7] the WBA confirmed that he had until 20 February 2004 to decide to either defend the title or be stripped. In the meantime WBA ordered a bout for an "Interim" title, between their top ranked contenders David Tua and Hasim Rahman,[8][9] who had fought to a somewhat controversial draw in March, after the previously top ranked Vitali Klitschko opted to face WBC champion Lennox Lewis in June.[10] However after Tua's estranged management team took him to the High Court, King brought in John Ruiz to replace him.[11][12] This was Rahman's first bout with new trainer Roger Mayweather.[13] Most expected Rahman to win.[14] The fightRuiz staggered Rahman with a hard right hand midway though the second round. Rahman spend much of the eighth round kept against the ropes by Ruiz's combinations. There was boos from the crowd during the non-eventful championship rounds.[15] Ruiz won a Unanimous Decision with the cards reading 118–110, 116–112 and 115–114. Speaking after the bout Ruiz would say "I can't always look good. Some fights are gruelling. I need an easier fight to look pretty." Mayorga vs Spinks
The penultimate bout would see the first Undisputed welterweight champion since Lloyd Honeyghan dumped his WBA belt in 1987.[16] There were talks of Mayorga facing unified light middleweight champion Shane Mosley should he beat Spinks.[17] Mayorga was the comfortable favourite entering the ring. The fightMayorga lost 2 points during the bout, one in the 5th for hitting after the bell, and another in the 11th for hitting behind the head. After 12 rounds, one judge scored it 114–114, the other two had 114–112 and 117–110 both in favour of Spinks, giving him a Majority Decision victory. Spinks joined his father Leon and uncle Michael as an undisputed champion.[18] Had Mayorga not lost those two points, the fight would have been a draw (tie) with scores of 116-114 for Mayorga, 114-114 and 117-112 for Spinks instead. Hopkins vs JoppyIn the final bout, Undisputed middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins faced former two time middleweight champion William Joppy. During a pre-fight press conference, Hopkins bet Joppy $50,000 that he would knock him out.[19][20] The fightJoppy was unable to out-box Hopkins who dominated the bout. Joppy's left cheek face was bruised in the 3rd round, by the 10th, a welt had grown on his right temple. At the final bell, his face was heavily swollen.[21] Hopkins won a lopsided Unanimous Decision with scores of 119–109, 118–109 & 119–108.[22] AftermathOn 24 February 2004 Roy Jones Jr. confirmed his full time return to Light heavyweight, prompting the WBA to elevate John Ruiz to their champion, making him a two time Heavyweight champion of world. UndercardConfirmed bouts:[23]
Broadcasting
References
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