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The year began with the inauguration of former Vice President, and now 41st President of the United States, George H.W. Bush.
On February 25, Heavyweight champion Mike Tyson stopped Frank Bruno inside of five rounds to retain the undisputed crown.
Just eight months later, the world would be mesmerized with the fall of the Berlin Wall. Iconic images were seen around the globe as the wall was chiseled away and removed piece by piece. The Soviet Union and communism was in a freefall.
The year was 1989.
The Las Vegas Hilton, which exactly one month to the day hosted the Tyson-Bruno bout, would again play host as a Middleweight showdown took center stage.
Early on a Saturday night, Michael Nunn and Sumbu Kalambay were set to face off for control of the Middleweight division.
On March 25, Jim Lampley opened HBO’s live broadcast, “The sun has set in the desert and we are here to see if a star is soon to shine.”
Billed as “Premier Battle”, promotional posters looked more like movie posters or a play bill. Both men wore tuxedos with the accompanying headline, “Hollywood’s Champ- His Greatest Test Ever!”
There were high expectations that the 25 year old Nunn, now living in North Hollywood, California, would seize control of the division.
Nunn was making the second defense of his IBF Middleweight crown at a time when Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, and Roberto Duran were still active in the sport.
A slick southpaw, Nunn (32-0, 22 KOs) was undefeated as a professional. He had won the title by stopping Frank Tate, who had twice beaten him as amateur, and proved that he was in fact “second to Nunn.”
Tonight’s opponent, as the promotional banner stated, was viewed by many as his toughest opponent.
Merchant praised Kalambay in the prefight festivities. “Kalambay is a very good fighter. He is a very polished fighter, a very experienced fighter and he’s fought and beaten many more quality fighters than has Nunn. One final footnote. Sumbu means poison. Michael Nunn, take note.”
Kalambay, 32, was born in Zaire, Africa. As an 18 year old amateur, he saw Muhammad Ali win the Heavyweight title from George Foreman. He then moved to Chiaravalle, Italy to pursue his dream and his career.
After winning the Italian and European Middleweight titles, he defeated Iran Barkley to win the vacant WBA Middleweight crown.
After three successful title defenses, the WBA stripped Kalambay (46-3-1, 26 KOs) as he refused to defend his title against Herol Graham, a man he had already beaten just 22 months earlier. Instead, he chose to face the man seen as the heir apparent to the division, a man who owned both the star power and the IBF Middleweight crown.
With the fighters preparing to enter the ring, a crowd of roughly 4,000 fans were on hand to witness the action. Lampley, Leonard, and Merchant were seated ringside to call the action.
Kalambay, coming as the challenger, entered the ring first. The local sportsbooks had him listed as a 5-1 underdog.
The champion entered next. As Nunn climbed into the ring, Lampley pointed out, “Despite the 22 knockouts, many critics and observers still question his punching power.”
Indeed, Nunn’s biggest detractors viewed him as a slap and run boxer.
Ring announcer Michael Buffer introduced referee Richard Steele and then the fighters. The bout, scheduled for 12, quickly got underway.
Nunn, who owned a three inch height and six inch reach advantage over Kalambay, immediately looked to press the challenger right at the opening bell.
While both men wore black boxing gloves, Nunn was outfitted in white trunks with blue trim. After a quick start, he quickly settled in at mid ring and looked to box.
Kalambay, wearing white trunks with red trim, was comfortable looking for opportunities to counterpunch.
Leonard quickly touched on the opening seconds, “This is more of a feeling out process, both men trying to find out what the other one has. Basically just trying to get loose.”
Both men took turns pursuing the other. As Round 1 approached the halfway mark, Kalambay smoothly stepped backward as it was Nunn’s turn to pursue.
As Kalambay flicked a lazy left jab. Nunn immediately countered with a lightening quick, ferocious left hand. The punch landed cleanly just over the top of Kalambay’s right hand, thudding throughout ringside immediately on contact.
As Kalabay’s body stiffened, he fell backward like an old oak tree and slammed to the canvas. Lampley thundered, “And down goes Sumbu Kalambay after a major league left inside by Nunn!”
While Steele counted, a motionless Kalambay lay flat on his back. Nunn danced around the ring pumping his fist. He knew the fight was over.
As Kalambay got to his feet just at the count of ten, he crashed into the ropes. Steele, while waiving off the action, tried to keep Kalambay from crashing back to the mat.
Lampley continued, “And Michael Nunn answers a lot of doubters about his punching power! One solid left hand put Kalambay to sleep!”
The crowd was on its feet exercising as much disbelief as it did excitement. Leonard, too, was stunned, “That was unbelievable! I didn’t expect that!” Michael Nunn had everyone’s attention as he brutally knocked out Kalambay at 1:28 of Round 1.
The Ring named Nunn’s one punch devastation as the “Knockout of the Year” while the bout also achieved status as the third shortest Middleweight title fight in history.
The loss would go down as the as the only knockout defeat of Kalambay’s entire career.
On this night, Nunn proved to be the star attraction.
