The Associated Press reported on August 16, 1987: "Evander Holyfield retained his World Boxing Association junior heavyweight and International Boxing Federation cruiserweight titles Saturday by stopping Ossie Ocasio in the 11th round. . . . The 24-year-old American raised his record to 16-0. Ocasio, 31, is now 32-5. In the middle of the 11th round, Holyfield caught the challenger with a solid right to the cheek. Ocasio staggered back and Holyfield followed up with a left uppercut and another right. Ocasio went down for an eight count. He got up but Holyfield applied more pressure and put Ocasio against the ropes. Holyfield was scoring at will with solid combinations when referee John Coyle of Britain moved in to stop the fight."

Evander Holyfield vs Ossie Ocasio

Undefeated WBC Heavyweight Champion Larry Holmes defends his title against undefeated challenger Ossie Ocasio in an all-time great performance. Ocasio gets in some good punches in the second round, but Holmes stuns him with power shots in the fourth. Holmes then uncharacteristically begins shouting at Ocasio while teeing off on him in the fifth. In the seventh round, Holmes has Ocasio in trouble before absolutely flooring him with a jab. Ocasio beats the count, but Holmes sends him back down twice more with some huge straight right hands. Showing incredible heart, Ocasio beats the count a third time before Holmes drops him with a left hook. As Ocasio rolls over face down on the canvas, Referee Carlos Padilla finally stops the massacre.

Evander Holyfield vs Ossie Ocasio

Star Wars: Larry Holmes vs. Ossie Ocasio

Dwight Muhammad Qawi vs Ossie Ocasio

On this Day