36 years ago

Date: 9th April 1988

Venue: Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada

Title: WBC, WBA & IBF World Cruiserweight Titles

Promoter: Dan Duva, Shelly Finkel, Don King

Tv: Showtime Championship Boxing

Evander Holyfield
( 17 - 0 - 0 )
Weight: 190 lbs

Carlos De Leon
( 44 - 4 - 0 )
Weight: 188 lbs

On April 9, 1988, Evander Holyfield made history by unifying the cruiserweight division, capturing Carlos De Leon's WBC title to add to his WBA and IBF belts with a TKO victory at 1:08 in the eighth round. This bout, held at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada, was Holyfield's last at cruiserweight, setting the stage for his ascent to the heavyweight ranks. Under the lights of Caesars Palace Sports Pavilion, Holyfield, weighing in at 190 pounds, showcased his dominance over De Leon, who entered the ring at 188 pounds.

Holyfield, 17-0 at the time, was relentless from the outset, cornering De Leon with precision strikes. Despite Holyfield's barrage, De Leon, a seasoned fighter with a 44-4 record before the fight, showcased his resilience, never hitting the canvas. However, Holyfield's persistence paid off by the eighth round when referee Mills Lane had seen enough, halting the fight as Holyfield unleashed a 20-punch flurry that left De Leon defenceless against the ropes.

The judges' scores reflected Holyfield's control, with Larry O'Connell and Bob Watson having Holyfield winning every round and Dalby Shirley scoring a wide margin in Holyfield's favour. Holyfield's performance cemented his status as the undisputed cruiserweight champion and raised questions about his power to challenge the heavyweight elites, including Mike Tyson.

Post-fight, Holyfield's trainer, Lou Duva, addressed concerns about Holyfield's punching power, suggesting that De Leon's resilience was a testament to his toughness rather than a deficiency in Holyfield's capabilities. The fight's strategic plan, executed flawlessly by Holyfield, involved aggressive attacks and caution, acknowledging De Leon's potential threat from the ropes.

De Leon conceded post-bout that he deviated from his intended strategy due to unforeseen circumstances in training. These circumstances affected his mobility and forced him to fight off the ropes, from which he struggled to mount an effective offence.

This victory marked Holyfield's departure from the cruiserweight division as he set his sights on heavyweight glory, planning a debut against James "Quick" Tillis. With Tyson in attendance, the stage was set for Holyfield's eventual heavyweight endeavours, despite their anticipated bout not materialising until 1996. Holyfield's triumph over De Leon remains a significant milestone in his career.