Michael Nunn (born April 14, 1963) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1984 to 2002….and was a two-weight world champion….after having held the IBF middleweight title from 1988 to 1991….and the WBA super middleweight title from 1992 to 1994. During both those reigns, he also held the lineal championship.
Nunn turned professional in 1984….and after winning his first 30 fights….he fought IBF middleweight title-holder Frank Tate….who was 23-0….as the fight took place on July 28, 1988 at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas….which Nunn won the title by a 9th-round knockout.
In his first title defense, he knocked out Juan Roldan in the eighth round….while his second defense was a stunning first-round knockout of Sumbu Kalambay to capture the vacant lineal middleweight championship. Nunn’s next two title defenses were twelve-round majority decision wins over Iran Barkley and Marlon Starling. For his fifth defense, Nunn went to France and knocked out Donald Curry in ten rounds….then on May 10, 1991, in his hometown of Davenport, Iowa….Nunn lost his title in a big upset to James Toney….as Nunn was well ahead on points after ten rounds….but was knocked out after being dropped by a left hook in the eleventh round.
After the loss, Nunn moved up a weight division to super middleweight and won the NABF title with a tenth-round stoppage against Randall Yonker….then on September 12, 1992, Nunn won the WBA and lineal super middleweight titles with a controversial twelve-round split decision over Victor Cordoba….to which the WBA ordered a rematch….which took place on January 30, 1993….as Nunn fought much better in the rematch…while winning by a one-sided twelve-round unanimous decision.
In his fifth title defense, Nunn lost the title to Steve Little by a twelve-round split decision on February 26, 1994 in another huge upset….so, on December 17, 1994, Nunn traveled to Ecuador to fight Frankie Liles in an attempt to regain the lineal and WBA super middleweight titles….and in a very close fight….Liles, who had defeated Little in his previous fight to win the title, defeated Nunn by a twelve-round unanimous decision.
In this 10 round middleweight boxing match seen herewith….CBS boxing commentators Tim Ryan and Gil Clancy provide the highlights and background to this fight….as Michael Nunn takes on Charles Campbell….who was 18 – 3 coming into this fight at Caesars’ Palace in Las Vegas.
