The first-ever PRISM-televised boxing event from The Spectrum will be featured on Comcast Classics this month. The card, which took place on Aug. 16, 1976, featured some of the biggest names in Philadelphia boxing during the 1970s, the last Golden Age for the sport in the City of Brotherly Love.
Bad Bennie Briscoe, the legendary gatekeeper of the middleweight division, boxed a southpaw for the first time in his pro career when he took on Mexican Olympian Emeterio Villanueva in one of four scheduled 10-round fights that night.
The main event featured streaking Philly middleweight Willie "The Worm" Monroe, who was riding a five-fight winning streak and a solid 10-round decision over Marvelous Marvin Hagler. Monroe took on David Love, of San Diego, CA, managed and trained by Hall-of-Famer Angelo Dundee.
Other matches included a 10-round junior lightweight contest between Jerome Artis, of Philadelphia, and Jose Fernandez, of the Domincian Republic. Artis, who had beaten Sugar Ray Leonard as an amateur, had lost only once in previous 18 fights, while Fernandez was coming off an unsuccessful world title fight with Alfredo Escalera, of Puerto Rico.
The fourth 10-rounder featured bantamweight Baby Kid Chocolate, of Philadelphia, againt Jose Medina, of Mexico. Chocolate was unbeaten in 15 fights, while Medina held the Mexican bantamweight title.
More than 7,000 fans attended the card and there was not a bad fight on the show. Upsets, sensational knockdowns, toe-to-toe action made it a memorable night for Spectrum Fights.
Now you can relive the entire evening on Comcast Classics, with showings on four nights:
Friday, December 10 – 8 pm (TCN)
Thursday, December 16 – 8 pm (CSN)
Thursday, December 23 – 7 pm (TCN)
Tuesday, December 28 – 7 pm (CSN)
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