On This Day in Boxing: Norris and Miura won titles on August 17

August 17 produced two notable WBC title victories, separated by 22 years. Terry Norris successfully defended the WBC super welterweight championship in 1991, while Takashi Miura retained the WBC super featherweight title in 2013.

Norris made his defence at the Sports Arena in San Diego, California. The American champion faced fellow American Brett Lally and needed only one round to settle the contest.

The result came by technical knockout, giving Norris a swift victory over Lally. Norris was known for his defensive ability and accurate punching, and those qualities were reflected in a title defence that ended before the fight could develop.

Miura’s defence took place at the Plaza de Toros in Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico, in 2013. The Japanese champion met Mexican mandatory challenger Sergio “Yeyo” Thompson in a contest that lasted the full 12 rounds.

The fight included a knockdown against Miura, but he recovered and completed the distance. The judges awarded him a unanimous decision, allowing him to keep the WBC super featherweight championship.

The two August 17 victories showed contrasting routes to retaining a WBC belt. Norris finished his defence in the opening round against Lally, while Miura had to withstand Thompson across 12 rounds after being knocked down. Both champions left the ring with their titles intact, but by very different methods.