25 years ago

Date: 9th October 1999

Venue: Koenig Pilsener Arena, Oberhausen, Germany

Title: WBO World Heavyweight Title

Promoter: Klaus Peter Kohl

Vitali Klitschko
( 25 - 0 - 0 )
Weight: 246 lbs

Ed Mahone
( 21 - 0 - 2 )
Weight: 229¼ lbs

Undefeated WBO heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (25-0) made his first title defence against undefeated WBO NABO heavyweight champion Ed "The Hammer" Mahone (21-0-2). This was Mahone's first bout outside the United States, as all of his previous fights had taken place in California and Nevada.

Klitschko, fighting in his adopted home country of Germany, dominated the contest from the start, utilising his size, reach, and power advantage. After two rounds of Klitschko's dominance, Mahone succumbed to the champion's brutal combinations in the third round.

Klitschko floored Mahone twice in the third round, prompting referee Rudy Battle to stop the fight after the second knockdown at 1:45.

The loss to Klitschko marked the beginning of a steep decline in Mahone's career. After amassing an impressive undefeated record of 21 wins in his first 23 fights, Mahone secured only three more victories over the next decade. He suffered defeats against notable opponents such as Henry Akinwande, Eddie Chambers, and Alexander Povetkin, ultimately retiring with a record of 24-10-2.

Klitschko, on the other hand, continued his dominance in the heavyweight division, solidifying his status as one of the world's top boxers at the time.

This fight was Vitali Klitschko's first WBO title defence after winning Herbie Hide's belt in June 1999. It was also the 17th WBO heavyweight title fight and the 53rd heavyweight title fight of the 1990s. Klitschko's victory over Mahone further established his presence as a force to be reckoned with in the heavyweight division.