Oscar De La Hoya successfully defends the WBC Welterweight title by overwhelming challenger Wilfredo Rivera over eight rounds. De La Hoya opens a bad cut over Rivera's eye with a left hook in the second round and puts him on the seat of his pants with a right hand in the fourth. With seconds to go in the eighth round, the ringside doctor decides that the cut is too dangerous to allow Rivera to continue.

Title Wave: Oscar De La Hoya vs. Wilfredo Rivera

In an immediate rematch of their first controversial fight, WBC Welterweight Champion Pernell Whitaker defeats Wilfredo Rivera in much clearer fashion. Opting to stand and fight the challenger, Whitaker builds a points lead behind some powerful left hands before being sent to the canvas during an exchange in the fifth round. Although no real damage is done, Whitaker falls to a knee while trading with Rivera, which Referee Frank Santore Jr. rules a knockdown. After losing a point for a low blow, Rivera runs into a huge straight left hand in the sixth that floors him for a clean knockdown. From that point on, Whitaker edges a number of competitive rounds by landing one or two more telling blows and ends up winning a unanimous decision.

Pernell Whitaker vs. Wilfredo Rivera II

WBC Welterweight Champion Pernell Whitaker gets the toughest fight of his career to date against undefeated Wilfredo Rivera in front of a small crowd of 1,000 on Sint Maarten. Rivera suffers a nasty cut from a clash of heads in the third round and fights large stretches of the bout as a southpaw to protect the injury. He gives Whitaker all he can handle in a bout full of toss-up rounds, with Whitaker seeming to control the early rounds and Rivera coming on late. After twelve, Whitaker just edges the victory via split decision.

Pernell Whitaker vs. Wilfredo Rivera I

Undefeated Shane Mosley jumps two weight classes to 147 pounds and takes on tough veteran Wilfredo Rivera. Mosley starts strong, letting Rivera taste his power in the opening round, but Rivera withstands the storm and lands some hard shots of his own in the second. With Mosley seemingly tiring in the middle rounds, Rivera takes advantage, tightening the fight up on the scorecards; however, Mosley lights him up just before the bell to end the ninth. In the tenth and final round, Mosley closes the show, hurting Rivera with a right hand and toppling him with an uppercut. Rivera rolls over and tries to get up, but Referee Robert Byrd can see he is in no shape to continue and stops the fight.

Title Wave: Oscar De La Hoya vs. Wilfredo Rivera

Pernell Whitaker vs. Wilfredo Rivera II

Pernell Whitaker vs. Wilfredo Rivera I

Shane Mosley vs. Wilfredo Rivera

Carlos Palomino vs Wilfredo Rivera

Fernando Vargas vs Wilfredo Rivera

On this Day