World Boxing Council World Light Heavyweight Title Referee: Carlos Padilla Judges: Harry Gibbs; Charlie Spina Brown, Charlie “Choo Choo” vs. Daniels, Danny Evans, Alonso vs. Roman, Ray II Washington, James vs. Diaz, Nelson (final) Suero, Tony vs. Santiago, Abel Table Ticket
This was the first defense of the title by Matthew Saad Muhammad (USA), who had won it from Marvin Johnson some months earlier. John Conteh (UK), who had lost this title in 1978, had a reputation for “imitating an angry billy goat”, that is, for head-butting. Conteh called it strategic head placement. Conteh seemed as if he might win the match, actually head-butting his opponent in the fifth round (ruled accidental). However, he was knocked down twice in the 14th round. Saad Muhammad came back and claimed victory by unanimous decision after their 15 grueling scheduled rounds.
Controversy occurred after the fight, when Saad Muhammad’s corner men were suspended for using an illegal pumice to stop the bleeding over their boxer’s eye. An immediate rematch was demanded; it took place in March, 1980 (Saad Muhammad also won that match.)
On the undercard that evening: - Charlie Brown (USA) vs. Danny Daniels (USA). Brown won with a technical knockout in the first of six scheduled rounds. He would go on to hold the inaugural IBF lightweight title in 1984.
- Alfonso Evans (USA) vs. Ray Roman (Puerto Rico). Evans won by unanimous decision after six scheduled rounds. Evans would only fight professional twice more after this, Roman only once more.
- James Washington (USA) vs. Nelson Diaz (Dominican Republic?). Washington a split decision after their six rounds. It was Diaz third and final professional bout.
- Tony Suero (USA) vs. Abel Santiago (USA). Suero, in his third professional fight, won by unanimous decision after the four scheduled rounds.
Note: Matthew Saad Muhammad had only been Muslim for four months at the time of this bout. Before his conversion, he was known as Matthew Franklin.
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