This is a continuing list of the fights I watched on HBO over the years.
26. Pernell Whitaker vs. Juan Nazario. August 11, 1990. Another trip to my sister Lisa’s apartment to see Pernell Whitaker attempt to unify the lightweight titles in Lake Tahoe. It was certainly a shock to me when ‘Sweet Pea’ knocked out Nazario with single left hand as the first round came to a close. He captured Nazario’s WBA belt, and Pernell was now the undisputed lightweight champ. I loved watched Pernell fight, and he is one of the top lightweights of all time, in my opinion.
27. Meldrick Taylor vs. Aaron Davis. January, 19, 1991. Meldrick Taylor had moved up the welterweight division after getting screwed by Richard Steele the previous March. I was thrilled to see him get the opportunity for another championship, and another trip to my sis’s house, who was a bartender and didn’t mind me going over her apartment while she was at work. Mel looked stronger at 147 lbs., and boxed very well for all twelves rounds against Aaron Davis at Atlantic City’s Convention Hall. I was excited he was now a champ again, and it helped erase some of the memories from the previous year, when he was robbed in Vegas, two seconds from glory.
28. Hector Camacho vs. Greg Haugen. February 23, 1991. I went to watch this bout out of boredom more than anything else, because I really didn’t like either guy. As I sat over my sister’s apartment watching this stinkfest, I wished I had stayed home. Haugen won a surprising decision, and I really couldn’t have cared less. I was more interested in stopping at McDonald’s on the way home to get a couple of cheeseburgers for a late night snack.
29. Hector Camacho vs. Greg Haugen 2. May 18, 1991. While Lisa worked, I watched the rematch of the first bout between these two guys. As much as I didn’t like Camacho, I really couldn’t stand Haugen at all. I was glad Hector fought much better in the rematch in Reno, and easily won a unanimous decision. Haugen bitched as normal, one of the reasons I disdained him and was glad he was beltless again.
30. Evander Holyfield vs. Bert Cooper. November 23, 1991. Evander was originally signed to fight Mike Tyson on November 8 in Vegas, but Tyson faked a rib injury to get out of it, knowing he was going to trial for rape in January. Francisco Damiani stepped in as a replacement, but suffered an injury a week or so before fight night. With only six days notice, Bert Cooper, who had been in training, stepped in to challenge Holyfield, and it turned out to be a memorable night. I watched this one with my brother over Lisa’s house, since he had become a huge Evander fan. After the ‘Real Deal’ dropped Cooper with a body shot in the opening round, I actually felt sorry for him. However, Cooper nailed Evander with a sneaky right hand a few rounds later, and dropped him. Holyfield’s tremendous condition saved him, and he rallied and knocked Bert out late in the seventh round. Despite what the critics said for months, Evander did what he had to that night against a gutsy Bert Cooper.
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