On This Day… April 17th

1967. – At Madison Square Garden in New York, Italian Nino Benvenuti defeated Emile Griffith, a native of the Virgin Islands, by decision in the best match of that year. In this fight the WBC middleweight title was at stake.
1979.- At the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow, Scotland, British Jim Watt knocked out Colombian Alfredo Pitalua in the twelfth round. With this victory Jim conquered the WBC lightweight title.
2004.- At Madison Square Garden in New York, Wayne Braithwaite from Guyana, defeated Louis Azille from Dominica, by decision, defending his WBC cruiserweight title.
2010.- Argentine Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez won the WBC middleweight title by defeating American Kelly Pavlik, in a match held in Atlantic City, New Jersey.