44 years ago

Date: 31st March 1980

Title: WBC World Welterweight Title

Promoter: Top Rank

Tv: ABC

Ray Leonard
( 26 - 0 - 0 )
Weight: 147 lbs

Dave 'Boy' Green
( 33 - 2 - 0 )
Weight: 147 lbs

Ray Leonard successfully defended his WBC World Welterweight Title against British boxer Dave 'Boy' Green on March 31, 1980. The fight was held at Capitol Center in Landover, Maryland, and was promoted by Top Rank. Referee Arthur Mercante oversaw the fight, which ended with Leonard knocking out Green at 2:27 of the fourth round. Green, who hailed from Chatteris, England, had a record of 33-2-0 going into the fight, while Leonard, from Palmer Park, Maryland, had an undefeated record of 26-0-0.

The fight was part of a telecast on ABC, which also featured three other world title fights. In the first two fights, Eddie Gregory and Mike Weaver won the WBA Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight Titles, respectively, in Knoxville, Tennessee. Larry Holmes then defended his WBC Heavyweight Title against Leroy Jones in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Green had previously attempted to win the WBC Welterweight Title but was stopped by Carlos Palomino in eleven rounds in his first title try in 1977. He was ranked tenth by the WBC, while Leonard was a 6 to 1 favourite. Leonard earned $1.4 million for the fight, which was attended by around 12,000 spectators.

Leonard delivered a devastating left hook to Green in the fourth round, which knocked him out and resulted in several minutes of recovery time. With this win, Leonard maintained his undefeated record and continued his reign as the WBC World Welterweight Champion.