Barry McGuigan vs Eusebio Pedroza - boxing - WBA featherweight world title
- 6 months ago
Eusebio Pedroza, WBA world featherweight champion, defended his title against the number one-ranked challenger, Barry McGuigan
Date: June 8, 1985
Venue: Loftus Rd Stadium, London (Queens Park Rangers football ground)
Pedroza stance: orthodox
McGuigan stance: orthodox
Eusebio Pedroza turned pro in 1973, and after 17 fights he had a relatively modest record of 14-3, with all three losses coming by knockout. In his 16th bout, he challenged for the WBA world bantamweight title, and only lasted two rounds. And yet, on his 21st fight, he won the WBA world featherweight title in 1978. For the next seven years, Pedroza defended his title 18 times - a record for the featherweight division. His world tour of defences even included a trip to Papua New Guinea. In some ways, his career is defined by the fight that never happened, against WBC featherweight champion Salvador Sanchez. There were talks about a unification fight, but thaqt all came to an end when Sanchez died in a car crash in 1982.
The challenger entered the ring with a record of 27-1, and his biggest win to date had been a 10 rounds points decision over Juan Laporte just over three months earlier. A total of 23 of those wins came by stoppage. His only loss was a somewhat controversial points decision against Peter Eubank (brother of Chris Eubank). McGuigan was an exciting fighter to watch, applying pressure while staying disciplined, and he was one of the most popular British boxers (he was actually born in Eire, very close to the border with Northern Ireland, and became a British citizen) of the mid 1980s.
Barry McGuigan very nearly didn't make it very far as a pro because shortly after he won his 12th fight by stoppage, his opponent - Young Ali - died of his injuries. This tragedy very nearly convinced the Irishman to give up his career. Fortunately, he regrouped, and was the reigning British and European featherweight champion at the time he faced Pedroza.
For an in depth look at their respective records, visit:
Eusebio Pedroza - https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/9013
Barry McGuigan - https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/12746
Date: June 8, 1985
Venue: Loftus Rd Stadium, London (Queens Park Rangers football ground)
Pedroza stance: orthodox
McGuigan stance: orthodox
Eusebio Pedroza turned pro in 1973, and after 17 fights he had a relatively modest record of 14-3, with all three losses coming by knockout. In his 16th bout, he challenged for the WBA world bantamweight title, and only lasted two rounds. And yet, on his 21st fight, he won the WBA world featherweight title in 1978. For the next seven years, Pedroza defended his title 18 times - a record for the featherweight division. His world tour of defences even included a trip to Papua New Guinea. In some ways, his career is defined by the fight that never happened, against WBC featherweight champion Salvador Sanchez. There were talks about a unification fight, but thaqt all came to an end when Sanchez died in a car crash in 1982.
The challenger entered the ring with a record of 27-1, and his biggest win to date had been a 10 rounds points decision over Juan Laporte just over three months earlier. A total of 23 of those wins came by stoppage. His only loss was a somewhat controversial points decision against Peter Eubank (brother of Chris Eubank). McGuigan was an exciting fighter to watch, applying pressure while staying disciplined, and he was one of the most popular British boxers (he was actually born in Eire, very close to the border with Northern Ireland, and became a British citizen) of the mid 1980s.
Barry McGuigan very nearly didn't make it very far as a pro because shortly after he won his 12th fight by stoppage, his opponent - Young Ali - died of his injuries. This tragedy very nearly convinced the Irishman to give up his career. Fortunately, he regrouped, and was the reigning British and European featherweight champion at the time he faced Pedroza.
For an in depth look at their respective records, visit:
Eusebio Pedroza - https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/9013
Barry McGuigan - https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/12746