Revenge: The Rematches

Revenge: The Rematches

Date	May 7, 1994
Venue	MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.

Revenge: The Rematches was a boxing card that took place on May 7, 1994, when a quartet of rematch bouts took place at the MGM Grand in Paradise, Nevada. The Don King promoted event was one of the largest boxing pay-per-view events ever staged. It has been called the best pay-per-view card ever and began the tradition of holding major boxing events featuring Mexican or Mexican-American fighters on the Cinco de Mayo weekend.

The fights

Undercard

The card also included a WBC strawweight title bout between Kermin Guardia and Ricardo Lopez, which Lopez won by 12 round unanimous decision.

Nelson vs. Leija II

Azumah Nelson vs. Jesse James Leija II for the WBC super featherweight title (Leija won by unanimous decision in 12)

Brown vs. Norris II

Revenge: The Rematches: Simon Brown vs. Terry Norris II

Title(s) on the line	WBC super welterweight title
Tale of the tape
Boxer Simon Brown Terry Norris Nickname "Mantequilla" "Terrible" Hometown May Pen, Middlesex, Jamaica Lubbock, Texas, U.S. Pre-fight record 41–2 (30 KO) 37–4 (23 KO) Age 30 years, 8 months 26 years, 10 months Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) Weight 154 lb (70 kg) 153 lb (69 kg) Style Orthodox Orthodox Recognition WBC Super Welterweight Champion 2-division world champion WBC No. 1 Ranked Super Welterweight
Result
Norris defeats Brown via unanimous decision

The second rematch saw Simon Brown face former champion Terry Norris for the WBC super welterweight title.

Background

Going into their first fight in Dec 1993, Norris was viewed as one of the best pound for pound boxers in the world. However Brown would shock the champion, knocking him down with a jab in the first round before stopping him in the fourth round, upsetting plans for Norris to face Pernell Whitaker. Since then Brown had made one successful defence against Troy Waters before facing Norris again.

Norris would be highly critical of his performance in their first fight saying during the build up to the rematch that when reviewing the fight "What I see most of all is the points where I kept dropping my hands, letting him catch me with that right hand. Watching the fight now, that’s all I see me making all the mistakes and him capitalizing on them." He would also admit that he was no longer concerned by the pound for pound dissuasion saying "I don't care about that anymore. I was just saying I was the best because everyone else was saying it. Now, I just want to be the best I can to win my title back. Everybody was pumping me, saying I was the best pound-for-pound fighter, I was walking through fights, knocking guys out. I was in the invincible mode, which I'm not. I'm human. I was in a (Mike) Tyson mode, trying to knock my opponent out even though normally I'm not a knockout puncher, Simon Brown didn't beat me. I beat myself. He was just in the right place at the right time."

Brown meanwhile declined to declare himself one of the best in the world saying "I won't say like Terry did that I was the best, I'll let the public and writers decide. But I think I'm right there." He would also criticize Norris' comments that he beat himself saying "I never saw a guy complain as much as this guy. He's a crybaby. He's finding every excuse in the world to think he didn't lose that fight. I knocked him out."

The fight

In stark contrast to the first fight Norris would outbox Brown using a stick-and-move gameplan. In the 2nd round Norris hurt Brown early on with a straight left hand on the chin and followed it with three chopping right hands to the forehead. Brown would the rock the challenger in the 3rd with a right to the chin but Norris withstood the blow. Brown was sent against the ropes by a big left hook in the 4th. As the fight progressed a frustrated Brown would unsuccessfully goad Norris into overcommitting but the challenger remained disciplined.

At the end of 12 round Norris was awarded a unanimous decision victory with scores of 119–109, 117–111 and 116–112.

Aftermath

Speaking after the bout a victorious Norris said "I thought the difference was I was able to move, I boxed superbly. I think I surprised Simon Brown more than anybody by my ability to box, and I’m pleased with my performance.”

A defeated Brown meanwhile said "He outmoved me and he outboxed me. He moved a lot. I expected that, but he just wouldn’t stand still at all."

McClellan vs. Jackson II

Revenge: The Rematches: Gerald McClellan vs. Julian Jackson II

Title(s) on the line	WBC middleweight title
Tale of the tape
Boxer Gerald McClellan Julian Jackson Nickname "The G-Man" "The Hawk" Hometown Freeport, Illinois, U.S. Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands Pre-fight record 30–2 (28 KO) 49–2 (45 KO) Age 26 years, 6 months 33 years, 7 months Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) Weight 160 lb (73 kg) 160 lb (73 kg) Style Orthodox Orthodox Recognition WBC Middleweight Champion WBC No. 2 Ranked Middleweight 2-division world champion
Result
McClellan defeated Jackson by 1st round KO

The penultimate bout on the card, saw WBC middleweight champion Gerald McClellan face former champion Julian Jackson.

Background

The pair had faced off almost exactly a year earlier, with McClellan stopping the favoured Jackson in the fifth round. Since then McClellan had made two defences, both ending in 1st-round knockouts. Since his last bout he had parted from his long-term trainer Emanuel Steward and had replaced him with Willie Brown.

After initially weighing in 1/4 lb over the 160 lb middleweight limit, before returning an hour later at the limit, McClellan stated that this would be his last fight at middleweight.

Speaking before the bout McClellan staked his claim to the pound from pound number one status by saying "I look at myself as the best fighter in the world. This is going to be the fight where I make my name. This will be the best performance I have ever given."

The fight

Shortly after the opening bell McClellan landed an early strong jab to the chin and followed with a straight right that sent Jackson staggering. McClellan followed up with a furious barrage of punches, with Jackson barely able to respond. Eventually Jackson fell into the ropes prompting an 8 count from referee Joe Cortez. Jackson attempted to fight back but McClellan soon sent Jackson down again and this time he did not beat the count, ending the bout after only 83 seconds.

Aftermath

In his interview after the bout McClellan said "What separates me from the rest is that I'm mean. When Gerald McClellan gets a fighter hurt and in trouble, he's dead."

In January it was announced that McClellan move up to super middleweight to challenge WBC champion Nigel Benn. Shortly after, he vacated his belt.

Randall vs. Chávez II

Main article: Frankie Randall vs. Julio César Chávez II

Frankie Randall vs. Julio César Chávez II for the WBC super lightweight title (Chavez won by technical decision in 8)

Aftermath

The event was named Ring Magazine event of the year for 1994.

Full card

Confirmed bouts:

Winner	Loser	Weight division/title belt(s) disputed	Result
Julio César Chávez	Frankie Randall	WBC World Super Lightweight title	8th round TD-S
Gerald McClellan	Julian Jackson	WBC World Middleweight title	1st round KO
Terry Norris	Simon Brown	WBC World Super Welterweight title	Unanimous decision
Jesse James Leija	Azumah Nelson	WBC World Super Featherweight title	Unanimous decision
Ricardo López	Kermin Guardia	WBC World Strawweight title	Unanimous decision
Preliminary bouts
Christy Martin	Laura Serrano	Lightwweight (6 rounds)	Unanimous Draw
Meldrick Taylor	Chad Broussard	Welterweight (10 rounds)	2nd round KO
Giovanni Parisi	Richie Hess	Light welterweight (10 rounds)	2nd round KO
Calvin Grove	Ángel Aldama	Lightweight (8 rounds)	Unanimous decision
James Stanton	Anthony Willis	Heavyweight (8 rounds)	Unanimous decision

Broadcasting

Country	Broadcaster
United States	Showtime

External links

• Jackman, Phil (1994-05-10). "If Chavez is judge, boxing's in trouble". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
• Weinberg, Rick (1994-05-07). "Boxing; Revenge Is on the Card In Four Championships". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 June 2021.