Headline NewsOn This Day

On This Day: August 31st

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1995: Prince Nassem Hamed defended his WBO featherweight title for the third time at Dublin’s point depot. The unorthodox Sheffield fighter defeated Mexican Manuel Medina, who had previous held the IBF and WBC 126lbs crowns and would later go on to win the WBO and IBF (twice) belts. However, on that night in Dublin Medina succumbed to an eleventh round retirement.

Possibly the most high-quality card to ever take place in Ireland, the undercard featured two World title bouts, with Nate Miller stopping James Heath in the seventh to retain his WBA cruiserweight crown, and future Hamed foe Tom Johnson defending his IBF belt with a one-sided knockdown-filled win over Ramon Guzman.

Also appearing that night were 1992 Olympic gold medalist Michael Carruth who knocked out Mark Brannon, 1991 European gold medalist Paul Griffin who outpointed Ervine Blake, 1994 Commonwealth bronze medalist John Winters who outpointed John Smith, current Celtic Warriors chief Paschal Collins who outpointed John Duckworth, and there was a debut win against Andy Martin for 1994 Commonwealth bronze medalist Martin Renaghan.

From a non-Irish point of view there was also wins for Robin Reid (who won the WBC 168lbs title in his next fight), future WBO light middleweight champ Harry Simon, Mike Tyson-defeater Danny Williams, as well as Chris Davies.

Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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