Carlos Palomino vs Mimoun Mohatar

Carlos Palomino defended his WBC welterweight title against Mimoun Mohatar at The Aladdin in Las Vegas on March 18, 1978. The bout ended 57 seconds into the ninth round when referee Charley Roth called a halt to the fight, awarding Palomino a technical knockout victory. Although the Moroccan challenger had a strong start, surprising the champion with a solid right hand in the opening round, the momentum quickly shifted.

By the third round, Palomino was dictating the pace, methodically working the body and ending the round with a series of punishing body shots. Palomino's relentless attack paid off in the fourth round as a flurry to the body set up a short left hook that sent Mohatar to the canvas. Mohatar managed to survive the round, retreating to avoid further damage, but the champion's pressure remained consistent.

As the fight continued, Palomino's body attack took a toll on Mohatar, who struggled to mount any effective counter-offence. The ninth round overwhelmed the challenger, with Palomino landing heavy shots until Roth stepped in to prevent further punishment. The victory marked Palomino's sixth successful title defence, solidifying his reign in the welterweight division while earning him a purse of $125,000.