42 years ago
Leroy Haley vs Saoul Mamby II
Date: 13th February 1983
Venue: Public Hall, Cleveland, OhioTitle: WBC World Super-lightweight Title
Promoter: Don King Productions
Referee: Richard Steele
Tv: CBS Sports
Leroy Haley
(
46
-
2
-
2
)
Weight: 139½ lbs
Saoul Mamby
(
33
-
13
-
5
)
Weight: 138¼ lbs
On February 13, 1983, the Public Hall in Cleveland, Ohio, hosted the highly anticipated rematch between Leroy Haley and Saoul Mamby for the WBC World Super-lightweight Title. This bout marked Haley's second title defence, following his initial victory over Mamby eight months prior. The first encounter between the two fighters ended in a split decision favouring Haley, setting the stage for a closely contested rematch.
In the lead-up to the fight, Haley successfully defended his title once before, defeating Juan Jose Gimenez by unanimous decision. For Mamby, this rematch represented an opportunity to reclaim the title he had lost to Haley in their first meeting. The stage was set in Cleveland, the hometown of prominent promoter Don King, who was instrumental in organizing the event through Don King Productions. The fight was broadcast on CBS Sports, ensuring a broad audience for the contest.
The rematch was a closely fought affair, with both fighters giving their all in the ring. However, unlike their first encounter, which was decided by a split decision, the judges were unanimous in their verdict this time. The scores reflected the tight nature of the contest: Arlen Bynum and Henry Elespuru scored the fight 115-114 in favour of Haley, while Chuck Minker had it slightly wider at 115-113. Despite the close margins, Haley's performance was deemed superior, securing him a unanimous decision victory and retaining his title.
Saoul Mamby, known for his perseverance and ability to adapt, had previously enjoyed a successful reign as WBC super lightweight champion. He won the title in 1980 by defeating Sang-Hyun Kim in South Korea and made five successful defences. However, his career trajectory began to decline after he lost the title to Haley. Mamby continued to fight well into his 50s, eventually being forced into retirement by the California State Athletic Commission following his last bout in 2000.
Leroy Haley's victory over Mamby set him up for his next title defence, which would prove to be his last as champion. In his subsequent bout, Haley faced Bruce Curry, the brother of Donald Curry, and lost the title. Despite this setback, Haley's win over Mamby cemented his place as a formidable champion during his reign.