On This Day In Boxing History!

Joey Giardello vs Rubin "Hurricane" Carter

December 14th, 1964 

WBA/WBC World Middleweight Title

Convention Hall, Philadelphia, PA.

Hollywood Controversy

The Movie's Portrayal: This fight gained significant notoriety years later due to the 1999 film "The Hurricane," starring Denzel Washington. The movie depicted the decision a 72-66, 70-67, 71-66 win for Giardello as a blatant, racially-motivated robbery, implying Carter was cheated out of the title.

Giardello's Lawsuit: Joey Giardello successfully sued the filmmakers for defamation over the false portrayal of the fight's result, reaching a settlement. Boxing historians and most ringside reports support the view that Giardello won the fight legitimately, though many agree it was a competitive bout.

December 14th

1894: George "Kid" Lavigne KO18 of 25 Andy Bowen, 

Billed for American Lightweight. The 27-year-old Bowen hit his head on the wooden canvas when Lavigne knocked him down in the 18th round. Bowen never regained consciousness and died the following morning.

1920: Jack Dempsey KO12 Bill Brennen

1942: Willie Pep TKO7 Jose Aponte Torres

1959: Jorge Vaca is born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

Sugar Ray Robinson KO2 Bob Young

1964: Joey Giardello W15 Rubin Hurricane Carter

Carlos Ortiz TKO1 Dick Divola

1965: Lawrence Clay-Bey born

1967: Hiroshi Kobayashi KO12 Yoshiaki Numata

Raul Rojas W15 Antonio Herrera

1968: Nino Benvenuti W 15 Don Fullmer

Pedro Adigue W15 Adolph Pruitt

1970: Andrew Lewis born

1971: Jose Napoles W15 Hedgemon Lewis

Ruben Olivares KO11 Jesus Pimentel

Dick Tiger, 42, dies of cancer.

1973: José Luis Castillo is born in Empalme, Sonora, Mexico

1974: Jose Napoles KO3 Horacio Saldano

1983: Wilfredo Gómez KO2 Eladio Santana

1986: Jung Koo Chang KO 5 Hideyuki Ohashi

1996: Riddick Bowe WF9 Andrew Golota

Ray Mercer W10 Tim Witherspoon

2001: Rosendo Alvarez KO3 David Torres

2002: Chris Byrd W12 Evander Holyfield

Joe Calzaghe TKO2 Tocker Pudwill

2013: Marcos Maidana W12 Adrien Broner

Keith Thurman TKO 9 Jesus Soto Karass

Leo Santa Cruz W12 Cesar Seda

Beibut Shumenov TKO3 Tamas Kovacs

Juergen Braehmer W12 Marcus Oliveira

Fernanda Alegre TKO5 Darys Pardo

Mari Ando SD10 Jasseth Noriega

2016: Thammanoon Niyomtrong W12 Shin Ono        

2019: Teófimo López TKO2 Richard Commey

Terence Crawford TKO9 Egidijus

2021: Naoya Inoue TKO8 Aran Dipaen

Thammanoon Niyomtrong TKO5 Robert Paradero