Undefeated IBF World Middleweight Champion, Michael "Second To" Nunn, makes his second title defense against former WBA World Middleweight Champion, Sambu Kalambay. This fight should of been a unification match for the IBF and WBA titles but Kalambay was stripped of his title for refusing to fight the WBA's number one contender, Herol Graham. More info below...
Michael Nunn won his IBF World title back in July of 1988 when he stopped undefeated Frank Tate by TKO in Rd 9, an impressive victory over his old amateur rival. Nunn's first defense was another impressive stoppage win against veteran and former World title challenger, Juan Domingo Roldan. Roldan retired from the sport after the loss, his 3rd failed attempt at the World Middleweight title. Nunn was seen as the future of the division, and had been for a couple years even before his World title win. Entering the fight with Kalambay, Nunn held a very impressive 32-0 record with 22 wins by way of KO, but he had yet to face somebody who was arguably still in their prime with that much experience.
Sumbu Kalambay is one of those boxers who is often long forgotten these days but he was once a serious force in the middleweight division during the late 1980's. Born in The Congo but residing in Italy, Kalambay turned pro in Oct 1980. After his first 3 months as a pro, Kalambay built a less than impressive 2-1-1 record but from Feb 1981 through to March 1985 he went undefeated and racked up 32 wins in a row! His 2nd loss eventually came in April 1985 against USBA Super Welterweight Champion, Duane Thomas. Kalambay bounced back a couple fights later when he won the Italy Middleweight title from undefeated Giovanni De Marco, by split decision. In Dec 1985 Kalambay attempted to add the European Middleweight title to his waist but lost a split decision to Ayub Kalule. Kalambay was successful in his second attempt at the European title however in May 1986 when he scored a unanimous decision against undefeated Herol Graham. The win against Graham earned Kalamaby the opportunity to compete for the vacant WBA World Middleweight title against Iran Barkley. Kalambay would have an easy night imitating his idol Muhammad Ali as he danced and jabbed his way to a 15 round unanimous decision against Barkley, also marking the last time the WBA Middleweight title would be contested over 15 rounds. Kalambay defended the title successfully 3 times against undefeated Mike McCallum, Robbie Sims and Doug DeWitt before having the title stripped from him for refusing to face the WBA No.1 Contender, Herol Graham (whom he had already beaten in 1987). Instead, Kalambay pursued the IBF World Middleweight title and headed in against Nunn with a 46-3-1 record. Nunn had the youth and size advantages, but Kalambay had the experience and defensive skills along with a solid jaw... or so they thought!
Although Nunn was the 5-1 favourite, the end was still very unexpected. A left hook to jaw, instantly ended the fight. Kalambay went down hard and was out before he hit the ground cementing Nunn's status as one of the top fighters of the division. The loss against Nunn for some signalled the end of Kalambay, but that's unfair. Kalambay remained relevant to the division right up until his retirement in 1993. Kalambay would win the European Middleweight title in 1990 and 1991 while also competing for the WBA and WBO versions of the World Middleweight titles in 1991 and 1993 respectively. Kalambay finally called it quits on his career after his close but unsuccessful WBO title shot against Chris Pyatt in May of 1993. He retired with a 57-6-1 record with the loss to Nunn being the only time he was ever stopped.
22 авг 2020
