35 years ago

Date: 4th February 1989

Venue: Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada

Title: WBC World Welterweight Title

Promoter: Cedric Kushner Productions, Main Events

Tv: BBC

Lloyd Honeyghan
( 33 - 1 - 0 )
Weight: 146 1/2 lbs

Marlon Starling
( 43 - 4 - 1 )
Weight: 146 lbs

Lloyd Honeyghan defended his WBC world welterweight title for the second time against Hartford, Connecticut's Marlon Starling at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Starling had previously held the WBA belt which he won in a shock 11th round stoppage of Mark Breland in August 1987.

Against Honeyghan, Starling was dominant from the start and battered the British fighter throughout. In the 9th round, an exhausted Honeyghan dropped to the canvas after a Starling right hand thudded into the side of his head. Although he got to his feet, the respite was momentary, the challenger attacked again, forcing the champion to the ropes where referee Mills Lane stepped in to save him from any further punishment.

This was the end of Honeyghan's second reign as WBC world welterweight champion, having won the title the first time around against Don Curry and losing and regaining it from Mexican Jorge Vaca.