John Conteh vs Mate Parlov

On June 17, 1978, the Red Star Stadium in Belgrade, Serbia, hosted a thrilling WBC World Light Heavyweight Title bout between champion Mate Parlov and challenger John Conteh. The fight, promoted by Stevan Pavlovic and televised on CBS, saw Parlov making his second title defence against the former titleholder who had been stripped of the title for not facing his then mandatory challenger, Argentina's Miguel Ángel Cuello. Parlov took the opportunity and knocked out Cuello in nine rounds to win the title.

With an impressive record of 31-1-0, Conteh weighed in at 173 lbs, while Parlov, 21-1-1, weighed in at 175 lbs. The stadium was packed to capacity (40,000), creating an electric atmosphere for this high-stakes encounter.

The 15-round contest was closely fought, with both fighters showcasing their skills and determination. As the final bell rang, the outcome hung in the balance. The judges' scorecards revealed a split decision: referee Rudy Ortega scored it 141-147 for Parlov, Tony Perez had it 145-141 for Conteh, and Dick Young's card read 143-140 in favour of Parlov.

With this razor-thin victory, Mate Parlov dethroned John Conteh to become the new WBC World Light Heavyweight Champion. The win was particularly significant for Parlov, who had previously claimed Olympic gold in Munich.

This bout marked a turning point in both fighters' careers. For Conteh, it was the beginning of a challenging period, as he would unsuccessfully attempt to regain the title in subsequent fights. Parlov, on the other hand, cemented his place in boxing history with this hard-fought triumph in front of his home crowd.