The first fight in many decades involving titles in two different categories and the WBC world Super Middleweight championship sees Sugar Ray Leonard become boxing’s second four division world champion….and its first five division world champion when he knocks out WBC world Light Heavyweight champion Donnie Lalonde in the ninth round, also winning the WBC’s vacant Super Middleweight championship, at Las Vegas.
Donny Lalonde (born March 12, 1960) is a retired professional boxer….who was nicknamed “Golden Boy,” after the Golden Boy statue atop the Manitoba Legislative Building in his boxing home town of Winnipeg, Canada. Donny Lalonde held the WBC Light Heavyweight Championship from 1987 to 1988.
On November 7, 1988, Lalonde fought Sugar Ray Leonard at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was by far the biggest fight of his career….as Lalonde’s purse was six million dollars….when they fought for Lalonde’s WBC Light Heavyweight Championship and the newly created WBC Super Middleweight Championship….which meant that Lalonde had to make 168 lbs. Some were concerned that moving down from the light heavyweight limit of 175 lbs would weaken Lalonde….but he told HBO’s Larry Merchant after the fight that he had no trouble making weight, and he felt great on the night of the fight.
This video provides an enjoyable preview to the fight by HBO’s boxing commentators Larry Merchant and Jim Lampley…..as they guide the pre-fight all the way to the introduction of the fighters.
