Michael Nunn vs. Sumbu Kalambay
{{Short description|1989 boxing match in Nevada, US}}
{{Infobox boxing match
| Fight Name = Premier Battle
| image = 230px
| caption =
| fight date = March 25, 1989
| location = Las Vegas Hilton, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
| titles = IBF and The Ring middleweight titles
| fighter1 = Michael Nunn
| nickname1 = Second to (Nunn)
| hometown1 = Davenport, Iowa, U.S.
| purse1 = $1,100,000
| record1 = 32–0 (22 KO)
| age1 = {{age in years and months|April 14, 1963|March 25, 1989}}
| height1 = 6 ft 2 in
| weight1 = 160 lb
| style1 = Southpaw
| recognition1 = IBF
Middleweight Champion
The Ring
No. 1 Ranked Middleweight
| fighter2 = Sumbu Kalambay
| nickname2 = Patrizio
| hometown2 = Chiaravalle, Marche, Italy
| purse2 = $400,000
| record2 = 46–3–1 (26 KO)
| age2 = {{age in years and months|April 10, 1956|March 25, 1989}}
| height2 = 5 ft 9 in
| weight2 = 159 lb
| style2 = Orthodox
| recognition2 = The Ring
Middleweight Champion{{cite news |title=The Ring Magazine ratings through March 2 1989 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YOdaAAAAIBAJ&dq=ring+ratings&pg=PA27&article_id=6155,460066 |access-date=1 December 2024 |work=The Victoria Advocate |agency=Associated Press |publisher=The Ring Magazine |date=2 March 1989 |location=New York}}
IBF
No. 1 Ranked Middleweight{{cite news |title=The International Boxing Federation official ratings as of March 1989 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nJlGAAAAIBAJ&dq=ibf+ratings&pg=PA7&article_id=6222,435380 |access-date=1 December 2024 |work=Gadsden Times |agency=Associated Press |publisher=International Boxing Federation |date=4 April 1989 |location=Richmond, Virginia}}
Former WBA middleweight champion
| result = Nunn wins via 1st-round KO
}}
Michael Nunn vs. Sumbu Kalambay, billed as Premier Battle, was a professional boxing match contested on March 25, 1989, for the IBF middleweight title.{{cite web |title=Michael Nunn vs. Sumbu Kalambay |url=https://boxrec.com/wiki/index.php/Mic |website=boxrec.com |publisher=BoxRec |access-date=7 September 2024}} The fight won The Ring magazine's inaugural knockout of the year award for 1989.[https://www.ringtv.com/636641-on-this-day-michael-nunn-scores-spectacular-ko-1-win-over-sumbu-kalambay/ On this day: Michael Nunn scores spectacular KO 1 win over Sumbu Kalambay], The Ring article, 2022-03-25 Retrieved on 2024-09-04
Background
In January 1989, promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank announced his intentions to create a middleweight unification series in order to crown an undisputed middleweight champion.[https://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/11/sports/sports-people-boxing-arum-makes-big-plans.html Arum Makes Big Plans], NY Times article, 1989-01-11 Retrieved on 2024-09-04 Arum's initial plans called for Michael Nunn, the IBF middleweight middleweight champion, to face WBA middleweight champion Sumbu Kalambay in a unification bout that March and then move on to face the winner of the Iran Barkley–Roberto Durán fight that would take place one month before the Nunn–Kalambay fight for Barkley's WBC middleweight champion.[https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/01/10/Promoter-Bob-Arum-Tuesday-outlined-a-series-of-fights/2480600411600/ Promoter Bob Arum Tuesday outlined a series of fights...], UPI article, 1989-01-10 Retrieved on 2024-09-06 These plans were derailed almost immediately when the WBA refused to sanction the Nunn–Kalambay fight, instead mandating that Kalambay face their number-one ranked contender Herol Graham, though Kalambay decided to go through with facing Nunn leading to the WBA to strip him of their title.[https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/03/24/Nevada-commission-says-Kalambay-not-champion/5680007610689/ Nevada commission says Kalambay not champion], UPI article, 1989-03-24 Retrieved on 2024-09-06 Angered by the WBA's decision, Arum criticized the organization, stating that the WBA was "extorting sanctioning fees" and acting "unlawfully" by stripping Kalambay.[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-03-14-sp-581-story.html Boxing promoter Bob Arum blasted the World...], LA Times article, 1989-03-14 Retrieved on 2024-09-04 At the insistence of Arum, Kalambay was still introduced as the WBA middleweight champion by announcer Michael Buffer during the pre-fight introductions. Kalambay, not largely known in the United States and seven years older than Nunn, was installed as a 4–1 underdog by oddsmakers.[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-03-25-sp-507-story.html Kalambay Is Fighting for Name Recognition], LA Times article, 1989-03-25 Retrieved on 2024-09-06
The fight
The fight would last just over one minute. The two fighters started the fight trying to establish their jabs, though the taller Nunn was having much more success than Kalambay. Than with seventy seconds having gone by, Kalambay threw a jab that missed Nunn, who countered with a big left hand that caught Kalambay flush and sent him down on his back. Kalambay hardly made an attempt to get back up as he was counted out by the referee, giving Nunn the knockout victory after only 1:28 of action.[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-03-26-sp-1091-story.html One Punch, 88 Seconds Are All Nunn Needs to KO Kalambay], LA Times article, 1989-03-26 Retrieved on 2024-09-06\
Fight card
Confirmed bouts:{{cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/event/3784|title=BoxRec - event|publisher=}}
| class="toccolours" style="font-size: 85%;" |
| style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;"| Weight Class
! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;"| Weight ! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;"| ! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;"| vs. ! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;"| ! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;"| Method ! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;"| Round ! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;"| Notes |
|---|
| Middleweight
|160 lbs. |Michael Nunn (c) |def |align=center|KO |align=center|1/12 |{{ref|Michael Nunn vs. Sumbu Kalambay|Note 1}} |
| Cruiserweight
|190 lbs. |Yawe Davis |def |Randy Leaks |align=center|UD |align=center|6/6 |
| Middleweight
|160 lbs. |Dan Sherry |def. |Scott Sharp |align=center|UD |align=center|6/6 |
| Cruiserweight
|190 lbs. |def. |Lorenzo Thomas |align=center|TKO |align=center|3/4 |
| Super Lightweight
|140 lbs. |def |Benjamin Quintero |align=center|TKO |align=center|2/4 |
| Super Bantamweight
|122 lbs. |def. |Charles Hawkins |align=center|TKO |align=center|1/4 |
| Light Heavyweight
|175 lbs. |def. |Rodney Brown |align=center|TKO |align=center|2/4 |
| Super Welterweight
|154 lbs. |def. |Louis Saucedo |align=center|UD |align=center|4/4 |
{{note|Michael Nunn vs. Sumbu Kalambay|Note 1|For IBF middleweight title}}
Broadcasting
References
{{reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-bef | before=vs. Juan Roldán}}
{{s-ttl | title=Michael Nunn's bouts |years=25 March 1989}}
{{s-aft | after=vs. Iran Barkley}}
{{s-bef | before=vs. Doug DeWitt}}
{{s-ttl | title=Sumbu Kalambay's bouts |years=25 March 1989}}
{{s-aft | after=vs. Tony Powell}}
{{s-ach|aw}}
{{s-new|award}}
{{s-ttl|title=The Ring Knockout of the Year|years=1989}}
{{s-after|after={{small|John Mugabi vs. Terry Norris}}
}}
{{s-bef | before={{small|Thomas Hearns vs. Iran Barkley}}
}}
{{s-ttl|title=KO Magazine Knockout of the Year|years=1989}}
{{s-after|after={{small|Michael Dokes vs. Donovan Ruddock}}
}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nunn, Kalambay}}
Category:1989 in sports in Nevada
Category:March 1989 sports events in the United States
Category:Boxing matches at the Las Vegas Hilton