From the archive · April 23, 1993
Michael Nunn vs Crawford Ashley
WBA World Super-middleweight Title · The Pyramid, Memphis, Tennessee
Record 40-1-0 · 167½ lb
Record 18-4-1 · 163 lb

The fight
On Friday, April 23, 1993, Michael Nunn defended his WBA World Super-middleweight Title against Crawford Ashley at The Pyramid in Memphis, Tennessee. The fight was promoted by Don King Productions and aired on Showtime Championship Boxing. Nunn, boasting an impressive record of 40-1-0, faced Ashley, who held an 18-4-1 record and was the reigning British Light Heavyweight Champion.
The bout was a competitive contest, with both fighters showcasing their skills in the ring. However, it was in the fifth round when Nunn began to take control. He managed to knock down Ashley twice, demonstrating his power and precision. Ashley, hailing from Leeds, England, had previously challenged Yawe Davis for the EBU European Title in Italy, earning a controversial draw.
Entering the sixth round, Nunn continued his dominance, knocking down Ashley three more times. This led to the referee, Julio Cesar Alvarado, enforcing the three-knockdown rule and stopping the fight. Consequently, Michael Nunn emerged victorious by TKO at 2:59 of the sixth round.
This fight marked Nunn's third successful defense of his WBA World Super-middleweight Title.