Boxing in the 1990s
Encyclopedia
As in the 1980s, the 1990s in boxing's popularity focused on all divisions. When 80s legends Sugar Ray Leonard
, Thomas Hearns
, as well as others retired, newer superstars filled the void: Pernell Whitaker
, Julio César Chávez
, in the early 90s, Oscar De La Hoya
, Félix Trinidad
, Roy Jones Jr.
, and Floyd Mayweather, Jr., in the mid to late 90s.
As for the heavyweight division, Mike Tyson
's reign ends prematurely with the upset loss to Buster Douglas. Former cruiserweight champion, Evander Holyfield
took over as the undisputed champion of the division, and later build a rivalry against former Olympic silver medalist, Riddick Bowe
. The later 90s was dominated by Lennox Lewis
who unified the division in 1999.
The 90s also saw the emergence of the battles between the British super middleweight fighters Chris Eubank
, Michael Watson
and Nigel Benn
, all of whichs careers ended in tragedy.
Sugar Ray Leonard
Sugar Ray Leonard is an American retired professional boxer and occasional actor. He was named Ray Charles Leonard, after his mother's favorite singer, Ray Charles...
, Thomas Hearns
Thomas Hearns
Thomas "Hitman" Hearns is a retired American boxer. Nicknamed the "Motor City Cobra" and more famously "The Hitman", Hearns became the first boxer in history to win world titles in four divisions. He would also become the first fighter in history to win five world titles in five different divisions...
, as well as others retired, newer superstars filled the void: Pernell Whitaker
Pernell Whitaker
Pernell Whitaker , nicknamed "Sweet Pea", is a professional boxing trainer and retired American professional boxer...
, Julio César Chávez
Julio César Chávez
Julio César Chávez is a retired Mexican professional boxer.He is a six-time world champion in three weight divisions, and for several years he was considered the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world...
, in the early 90s, Oscar De La Hoya
Oscar de la Hoya
Oscar De La Hoya is a retired American boxer of Mexican descent. Nicknamed "The Golden Boy", De La Hoya won a gold medal at the Barcelona Olympic Games shortly after graduating from Garfield High School. De La Hoya comes from a boxing family. His grandfather Vicente, father Joel Sr., and brother...
, Félix Trinidad
Félix Trinidad
Félix 'Tito' Trinidad, Jr. is a Puerto Rican professional boxer, considered one of the best in Puerto Rico's history. After winning five National Amateur Championships in Puerto Rico, he debuted as a professional when he was 17. He won his first world championship when he defeated Maurice Blocker...
, Roy Jones Jr.
Roy Jones Jr.
Roy Jones, Jr. is an American boxer. As a professional he has captured numerous world titles in the middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight divisions...
, and Floyd Mayweather, Jr., in the mid to late 90s.
As for the heavyweight division, Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson
Michael Gerard "Mike" Tyson is a retired American boxer. Tyson is a former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and holds the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles, he was 20 years, 4 months and 22 days old...
's reign ends prematurely with the upset loss to Buster Douglas. Former cruiserweight champion, Evander Holyfield
Evander Holyfield
Evander Holyfield is a professional boxer from the United States. He is a former undisputed world champion in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions, earning him the nickname "The Real Deal"...
took over as the undisputed champion of the division, and later build a rivalry against former Olympic silver medalist, Riddick Bowe
Riddick Bowe
Riddick Lamont Bowe is a retired American boxer. He is a two-time heavyweight champion and a former undisputed heavyweight champion...
. The later 90s was dominated by Lennox Lewis
Lennox Lewis
Lennox Claudius Lewis, CM, CBE is a retired boxer and the most recent British undisputed world heavyweight champion. He holds dual British and Canadian citizenship...
who unified the division in 1999.
The 90s also saw the emergence of the battles between the British super middleweight fighters Chris Eubank
Chris Eubank
Chris Eubank, Lord of the Manor of Brighton is a retired British boxer who held world titles at middleweight and super middleweight...
, Michael Watson
Michael Watson
Michael Watson, MBE is a retired British boxer whose career ended prematurely as a result of near-fatal injury sustained in a WBO super-middleweight title fight defeat by Chris Eubank in September 1991....
and Nigel Benn
Nigel Benn
Nigel Benn , known as "The Dark Destroyer", is a British former boxer who held world titles in the middleweight and super middleweight divisions....
, all of whichs careers ended in tragedy.
1990
- February 10 Buster Douglas upsets Mike TysonMike TysonMichael Gerard "Mike" Tyson is a retired American boxer. Tyson is a former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and holds the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles, he was 20 years, 4 months and 22 days old...
by 10th-round KO in Tokyo, to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. Douglas was a 42–1 underdog. - March 31 – Thunder Meets LightningThunder Meets LightningThe boxing world championship fight held on March 17, 1990 between WBC Jr Welterweight world champion Julio César Chávez of Mexico and IBF world champion Meldrick Taylor of the United States in Las Vegas, Nevada was a historic boxing match...
: Julio César ChávezJulio César ChávezJulio César Chávez is a retired Mexican professional boxer.He is a six-time world champion in three weight divisions, and for several years he was considered the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world...
defeats Meldrick TaylorMeldrick TaylorMeldrick Taylor is a former Olympic gold medalist and world boxing champion in two weight classes.-Amateur career:...
by 12th-round KO, for the WBC-IBF light welterweight unification. There was controversy as referee Richard SteeleRichard Steele (referee)Richard Steele is a former member of the United States Marine Corps and famous boxing referee. Steele was a teammate of future world Heavyweight champion Ken Norton in the Marines. He began his career as an amateur boxer while with the Marines, compiling a record of 12 wins and 3 losses before...
stops the contest with 2 seconds left in the bout and Taylor ahead on the scorecards. - August 11 Pernell WhitakerPernell WhitakerPernell Whitaker , nicknamed "Sweet Pea", is a professional boxing trainer and retired American professional boxer...
defeats Juan NazarioJuan NazarioJuan Nazario is a former professional boxer. During his career, which lasted from 1982 to 1993, Nazario won the WBA world lightweight title. His first world title challenge came in 1987 when he fought fellow Puerto Rican Edwin Rosario for the WBA belt, Roasario won the fight by an eighth round...
by first-round knockout to unify the WBA,WBC,IBF belts and becomes the undisputed lightweight champion of the world. - October 25 Buster Douglas's short reign as heavyweight champion ends as he loses to Evander HolyfieldEvander HolyfieldEvander Holyfield is a professional boxer from the United States. He is a former undisputed world champion in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions, earning him the nickname "The Real Deal"...
by third-round KO. Douglas was very noticeably out of shape, despite being in pinnacle shape in the Tyson fight, six months before. - November 11 Julian JacksonJulian JacksonJulian Jackson is a retired professional boxer and former three-time world champion in the light middleweight and middleweight divisions...
wins by stunning knockout over Herol GrahamHerol GrahamHerol 'Bomber' Graham was born in Nottingham, England on 13 September 1959 and is generally acknowledged as one of the best British boxers of the post-war era never to have won a world title....
by a devastating 4th-round KO for the vacated WBC middleweight title. Graham, ahead in the fight, was knocked out by Jackson by a devastating right hand and was out for five minutes. - November 18 Chris EubankChris EubankChris Eubank, Lord of the Manor of Brighton is a retired British boxer who held world titles at middleweight and super middleweight...
wins the WBO middleweight title by beating Nigel BennNigel BennNigel Benn , known as "The Dark Destroyer", is a British former boxer who held world titles in the middleweight and super middleweight divisions....
by 9th round TKO.
1991
- February 9 Terry NorrisTerry NorrisTerry Wayne Norris is a retired American boxer and a three-time world champion in the light middleweight division. Originally from Lubbock, Texas, he fought out of San Diego.-Early boxing career:...
soundly defeats Sugar Ray LeonardSugar Ray LeonardSugar Ray Leonard is an American retired professional boxer and occasional actor. He was named Ray Charles Leonard, after his mother's favorite singer, Ray Charles...
by 12-round unanimous decision, and successfully defends his WBC super welterweight title. - April 19 In his first defense as undisputed heavyweight champion, Evander HolyfieldEvander HolyfieldEvander Holyfield is a professional boxer from the United States. He is a former undisputed world champion in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions, earning him the nickname "The Real Deal"...
defeats George ForemanGeorge ForemanGeorge Edward Foreman is an American two-time former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Olympic gold medalist, ordained Baptist minister, author and successful entrepreneur...
by unanimous decision. Foreman was surprisingly valiant in defeat despite being 41 years of age. - June 1 in Palm Springs, CaliforniaPalm Springs, CaliforniaPalm Springs is a desert city in Riverside County, California, within the Coachella Valley. It is located approximately 37 miles east of San Bernardino, 111 miles east of Los Angeles and 136 miles northeast of San Diego...
Terry NorrisTerry NorrisTerry Wayne Norris is a retired American boxer and a three-time world champion in the light middleweight division. Originally from Lubbock, Texas, he fought out of San Diego.-Early boxing career:...
knocks out Donald CurryDonald CurryDonald Curry is a retired boxer from Fort Worth, Texas, United States. Nicknamed the "Lone Star Cobra," Curry was the Undisputed World Welterweight Champion and the WBC Super Welterweight Champion.-Amateur career:...
in the 8th round and successfully defends the WBC super welterweight championship.
1992
- June 19 Evander HolyfieldEvander HolyfieldEvander Holyfield is a professional boxer from the United States. He is a former undisputed world champion in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions, earning him the nickname "The Real Deal"...
successfully defends his undisputed heavyweight championship by unanimous decision over Larry HolmesLarry HolmesLarry Holmes is a former professional boxer. He grew up in Easton, Pennsylvania, which gave birth to his boxing nickname, The Easton Assassin....
. - November 13 Riddick BoweRiddick BoweRiddick Lamont Bowe is a retired American boxer. He is a two-time heavyweight champion and a former undisputed heavyweight champion...
defeats Evander HolyfieldEvander HolyfieldEvander Holyfield is a professional boxer from the United States. He is a former undisputed world champion in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions, earning him the nickname "The Real Deal"...
by 12-round unanimous decision to become the undisputed champion of the world.
1993
- March 13 Michael Carbajal wins by KO against Humberto GonzálezHumberto GonzalezHumberto González is a Mexican former world boxing champion. Nicknamed Chiquita, he earned many admirers during his professional boxing career...
to unify the IBF and WBC Flyweight belts. Carbajal got knocked down twice during the fight and came back to knock out Gonzalez late in the seventh round. - May 22 Roy Jones Jr.Roy Jones Jr.Roy Jones, Jr. is an American boxer. As a professional he has captured numerous world titles in the middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight divisions...
defeats Bernard HopkinsBernard HopkinsBernard Hopkins Jr, known as The Executioner is an American boxer and the current Ring Magazine and WBC light heavyweight champion...
by unanimous decision to win the vacated IBF middleweight title. - September 10 Julio César ChávezJulio César ChávezJulio César Chávez is a retired Mexican professional boxer.He is a six-time world champion in three weight divisions, and for several years he was considered the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world...
and Pernell WhitakerPernell WhitakerPernell Whitaker , nicknamed "Sweet Pea", is a professional boxing trainer and retired American professional boxer...
's fight for the WBC welterweight title ends in a controversial draw, despite Whitaker seemingly dominating the fight. - Lennox Lewis beats Frank BrunoLennox Lewis vs. Frank BrunoLennox Lewis vs. Frank Bruno, also known as the Battle of Britain, was a boxing match that took place on 1 October 1993, at the National Stadium, Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff, Wales...
in the seventh round by a technical knockout. LewisLennox LewisLennox Claudius Lewis, CM, CBE is a retired boxer and the most recent British undisputed world heavyweight champion. He holds dual British and Canadian citizenship...
was defending his WBC Heavyweight title. It was the first time that two British-born boxers had fought for the world heavyweight title. - November 6 Evander HolyfieldEvander HolyfieldEvander Holyfield is a professional boxer from the United States. He is a former undisputed world champion in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions, earning him the nickname "The Real Deal"...
defeats Riddick BoweRiddick BoweRiddick Lamont Bowe is a retired American boxer. He is a two-time heavyweight champion and a former undisputed heavyweight champion...
by majority decision in their rematch for the WBA and IBF heavyweight titles. A man parachutes to the corner of the ring during the fight and starts a mini riot, the fight is later labelled the Fan Man Fight.
1994
- January 29 – Frankie RandallFrankie Randall-External links:...
causes Julio César ChávezJulio César ChávezJulio César Chávez is a retired Mexican professional boxer.He is a six-time world champion in three weight divisions, and for several years he was considered the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world...
his first defeat in 91 professional bouts, winning the WBCWorld Boxing CouncilThe World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
world Jr. Welterweight title in the process, by a split decision in 12 rounds. - September 24 Lennox LewisLennox LewisLennox Claudius Lewis, CM, CBE is a retired boxer and the most recent British undisputed world heavyweight champion. He holds dual British and Canadian citizenship...
loses his WBC championship and undefeated record after getting knocked out by Oliver McCallOliver McCallOliver "The Atomic Bull" McCall is an American professional Heavyweight boxer best known for winning the WBC Heavyweight Championship in 1994 after scoring an upset knock out victory over Lennox Lewis, in Lewis' home town of London, England, followed by his infamous in-ring meltdown in the rematch...
in front of his home crowd in London - November 5 George ForemanGeorge ForemanGeorge Edward Foreman is an American two-time former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Olympic gold medalist, ordained Baptist minister, author and successful entrepreneur...
at 45 years old becomes the oldest heavyweight champion defeating Michael MoorerMichael MoorerMichael Lee Moorer is a retired American boxer who is a former light heavyweight and heavyweight World Champion.-Biography:Moorer is a native of Monessen, Pennsylvania, which is in Southwestern Pennsylvania.-Professional career:...
by knockout in round 10, with Foreman behind in all the scorecards. - November 18 Roy Jones Jr.Roy Jones Jr.Roy Jones, Jr. is an American boxer. As a professional he has captured numerous world titles in the middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight divisions...
defeats James ToneyJames ToneyJames Nathanial Toney is an American professional boxer who has held world titles in the middleweight, super middleweight, and cruiserweight divisions. Toney currently fights in the heavyweight division in boxing and also now competes in mixed martial arts.-Boxing career:Toney's amateur boxing...
by a lopsided unanimous decision to win the IBF super middlweight championship.
1995
- February 15 Nigel BennNigel BennNigel Benn , known as "The Dark Destroyer", is a British former boxer who held world titles in the middleweight and super middleweight divisions....
defeats Gerald McClellanGerald McClellanGerald McClellan is a former boxer from the United States of America, who was the WBO and WBC middleweight champion. McClellan's record as a professional boxer was 31 wins and 3 losses with 29 wins by knockout...
by a tenth round TKO for the WBC super middleweight title after being knocked through the ropes in the first round, and knocked down again in the eighth round. McClellan is counted on his knees, then loses consciousness in the ring and is transported to hospital, where he falls into a coma and suffers extensive brain damage, losing his eyesight and becoming 80 percent deaf. - May 6 Oscar De La HoyaOscar de la HoyaOscar De La Hoya is a retired American boxer of Mexican descent. Nicknamed "The Golden Boy", De La Hoya won a gold medal at the Barcelona Olympic Games shortly after graduating from Garfield High School. De La Hoya comes from a boxing family. His grandfather Vicente, father Joel Sr., and brother...
unifies the WBO and IBF Lightweight titles in his victory against Rafael RuelasRafael RuelasRafael Ruelas is a former professional boxer. Ruelas was a very popular Mexican fighter, best known for his devastating knockout loss to Oscar De La Hoya; a loss which left Oscar somewhat scorned by the Mexican community due to his ruthless destruction of a hero.Shortly after a TKO in 10 over the...
. - August 19 Mike TysonMike TysonMichael Gerard "Mike" Tyson is a retired American boxer. Tyson is a former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and holds the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles, he was 20 years, 4 months and 22 days old...
defeats Peter McNeeleyPeter McNeeley"Hurricane" Peter McNeeley is a former heavyweight boxer, best known for his 1995 fight with Mike Tyson in which McNeeley had famously vowed to wrap Tyson in a "cocoon of horror." McNeeley fought aggressively and was knocked down twice within the first two minutes as a result...
in his first comeback fight.
1996
- March 16 – Mike TysonMike TysonMichael Gerard "Mike" Tyson is a retired American boxer. Tyson is a former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and holds the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles, he was 20 years, 4 months and 22 days old...
defeats Frank BrunoFrank BrunoFranklin Roy Bruno MBE is an English former boxer whose career highlight was winning the WBC Heavyweight championship in 1995. Altogether, he won 40 of his 45 contests...
by third round KO to win the WBC heavyweight title. - June 7 – Oscar De La HoyaOscar de la HoyaOscar De La Hoya is a retired American boxer of Mexican descent. Nicknamed "The Golden Boy", De La Hoya won a gold medal at the Barcelona Olympic Games shortly after graduating from Garfield High School. De La Hoya comes from a boxing family. His grandfather Vicente, father Joel Sr., and brother...
defeats Julio César ChávezJulio César ChávezJulio César Chávez is a retired Mexican professional boxer.He is a six-time world champion in three weight divisions, and for several years he was considered the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world...
by fourth round KO to win the WBC light welterweight title. - July 11 – Andrew Golota gets disqualified during the seventh round of a fight against Riddick BoweRiddick BoweRiddick Lamont Bowe is a retired American boxer. He is a two-time heavyweight champion and a former undisputed heavyweight champion...
at Madison Square GardenMadison Square GardenMadison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
for striking low blows against Bowe. A massive riot ensues, in which many civilians are injured. - September 7 – Mike TysonMike TysonMichael Gerard "Mike" Tyson is a retired American boxer. Tyson is a former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and holds the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles, he was 20 years, 4 months and 22 days old...
defeats Bruce SeldonBruce SeldonBruce Samuel Seldon is a retired American boxer and former world champion, having won the World Boxing Association heavyweight title in 1995.-Amateur career:...
in one round for the WBA heavyweight title, unifying it with the WBC heavyweight title he already holds. - September 24 – Mike TysonMike TysonMichael Gerard "Mike" Tyson is a retired American boxer. Tyson is a former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and holds the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles, he was 20 years, 4 months and 22 days old...
is stripped of the WBC heavyweight title. - November 9 – Evander HolyfieldEvander HolyfieldEvander Holyfield is a professional boxer from the United States. He is a former undisputed world champion in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions, earning him the nickname "The Real Deal"...
wins by technical knockout against Mike TysonMike TysonMichael Gerard "Mike" Tyson is a retired American boxer. Tyson is a former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and holds the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles, he was 20 years, 4 months and 22 days old...
to win the WBA heavyweight title. - December 14 – Andrew Golota gets disqualified again against Riddick BoweRiddick BoweRiddick Lamont Bowe is a retired American boxer. He is a two-time heavyweight champion and a former undisputed heavyweight champion...
for low blows in their rematch.
1997
- February 7 Lennox LewisLennox LewisLennox Claudius Lewis, CM, CBE is a retired boxer and the most recent British undisputed world heavyweight champion. He holds dual British and Canadian citizenship...
regains the now vacant WBC heavyweight title against his only conqueror Oliver McCallOliver McCallOliver "The Atomic Bull" McCall is an American professional Heavyweight boxer best known for winning the WBC Heavyweight Championship in 1994 after scoring an upset knock out victory over Lennox Lewis, in Lewis' home town of London, England, followed by his infamous in-ring meltdown in the rematch...
, in a bizarre bout, where McCall refuses to fight after the third round and begins to cry in the ring forcing the referee to stop the fight in the fifth round - March 1 Sugar Ray LeonardSugar Ray LeonardSugar Ray Leonard is an American retired professional boxer and occasional actor. He was named Ray Charles Leonard, after his mother's favorite singer, Ray Charles...
returns to the ring after a six-year layoff at the age of 41, but loses a fifth round TKO against Héctor CamachoHéctor CamachoHéctor Camacho , nicknamed "Macho Camacho", is a Puerto Rican professional boxer. His son, Héctor Camacho Jr., is also a boxer.- Early life and amateur career :...
and retires for good after the fight. - March 21 Roy Jones Jr.Roy Jones Jr.Roy Jones, Jr. is an American boxer. As a professional he has captured numerous world titles in the middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight divisions...
loses his WBC light heavyweight title by disqualification to Montell GriffinMontell GriffinMontell Julian Griffin is an American boxer. He is best known for his two bouts at Light Heavyweight with Roy Jones Jr.- Professional career :...
for hitting after the fighter was down, suffering the first loss in his career, Jones Jr. was behind on two score cards. - June 28 Evander HolyfieldEvander HolyfieldEvander Holyfield is a professional boxer from the United States. He is a former undisputed world champion in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions, earning him the nickname "The Real Deal"...
wins by disqualification over Mike TysonMike TysonMichael Gerard "Mike" Tyson is a retired American boxer. Tyson is a former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and holds the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles, he was 20 years, 4 months and 22 days old...
, after Tyson tries to bite Holyfield's ear twice, to retaliating to Holyfield's headbutts. - August 7 Roy Jones Jr.Roy Jones Jr.Roy Jones, Jr. is an American boxer. As a professional he has captured numerous world titles in the middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight divisions...
regains his WBC light heavyweight title by first-round knockout in his rematch against Montell GriffinMontell GriffinMontell Julian Griffin is an American boxer. He is best known for his two bouts at Light Heavyweight with Roy Jones Jr.- Professional career :...
.
1998
- October 3 Floyd Mayweather, Jr., aged 21, defeats Genaro HernándezGenaro HernandezGenaro Hernández was a Mexican-American boxer from South Central Los Angeles. Hernández was the former WBC, WBA, & Lineal super featherweight champion.-Pro career:...
to win the Lineal & WBC Super featherweight titles, becoming the first 1996 U.S Olympian to win a world title. - December 12 Fernando VargasFernando VargasFernando Vargas is a retired Mexican American boxer and two-time world champion, who won a bronze medal as an amateur at the 1995 Pan American Games in Mar del Plata. His nicknames include "Ferocious", "The Aztec Warrior" and "El Feroz"...
at 21 years of age, defeats Yori Boy CampasYori Boy CampasLuis Ramón Campas is a Mexican boxer who was the IBF light middleweight champion. He is better known as Yory Boy Campas.-Background:...
to win the IBF light middleweight title
1999
- March 13 WBA and IBF champion Evander HolyfieldEvander HolyfieldEvander Holyfield is a professional boxer from the United States. He is a former undisputed world champion in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions, earning him the nickname "The Real Deal"...
and WBC champion Lennox LewisLennox LewisLennox Claudius Lewis, CM, CBE is a retired boxer and the most recent British undisputed world heavyweight champion. He holds dual British and Canadian citizenship...
meet in a unification heavyweight bout in Las Vegas, but the fight ends in a controversial draw. - August 5 Roy Jones Jr.Roy Jones Jr.Roy Jones, Jr. is an American boxer. As a professional he has captured numerous world titles in the middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight divisions...
defeats Reggie Johnson and successfully unifies the light heavyweight division becoming the undisputed champion of the division. - September 18 In what was billed as the Fight of the millenniumFight of the MillenniumThe Fight Of The Millennium was a boxing match held in Las Vegas, Nevada, on September 18, 1999, to unify the WBC and IBF's world Welterweight championships....
, Félix TrinidadFélix TrinidadFélix 'Tito' Trinidad, Jr. is a Puerto Rican professional boxer, considered one of the best in Puerto Rico's history. After winning five National Amateur Championships in Puerto Rico, he debuted as a professional when he was 17. He won his first world championship when he defeated Maurice Blocker...
defeats Oscar De La HoyaOscar de la HoyaOscar De La Hoya is a retired American boxer of Mexican descent. Nicknamed "The Golden Boy", De La Hoya won a gold medal at the Barcelona Olympic Games shortly after graduating from Garfield High School. De La Hoya comes from a boxing family. His grandfather Vicente, father Joel Sr., and brother...
by a controversial majority decision. The fight generated 1.4 million pay per view buys generating a record for a non heavyweight fight. - November 13 Lennox LewisLennox LewisLennox Claudius Lewis, CM, CBE is a retired boxer and the most recent British undisputed world heavyweight champion. He holds dual British and Canadian citizenship...
becomes the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world in his rematch against Evander HolyfieldEvander HolyfieldEvander Holyfield is a professional boxer from the United States. He is a former undisputed world champion in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions, earning him the nickname "The Real Deal"...
by unanimous decision.