Includes entire HBO pre-fight program up through the end of the fight. Hosted by Jim Lampley, Larry Merchant, and Sugar Ray Leonard. Recorded on VHS March 1989.
Nunn and Kalambay were both terrific middleweight champions who beat multiple other champions during their careers. Gil Clancy mentioned during other broadcasts about Nunn stepping to the side of his opponents so well and he did it here with a step outside of Kalambay's foot which set up the big knockout punch.
I was just sorta...marveling, I guess(?) at that myself now. Played the sequence over and over again and I am glad to have come across your comment here right away without having to go through too many. If I've seen other fighters use this move I must not really be noticing it as this here looks very personalized/individual. I think what I mean is that the sequence/setup etc all stand out so much cause it isn't common, or at least to me personally I haven't seen many other fighters do it as noticeable as Nunn pulls off here
Nunn could have been the best middle weight champion ever to cccky arrogant , last but not least a damn fool how can you be so blessed and curse yourself but there's always a light at the end of the tunnel !!
Cant believe this man did almost 20 years in the pen. He was Special. He beat former or current champs,Tate,Kalambay,Starling,Curry, Barkley (thought that one was a draw) Córdoba. Hope hes well now. He gave me nice memories. Even losing the title. To hall of famer Toney, had him winning that fight. 97-93. Till the ko in 11.
Nunn's career seemingly went wayward after leaving the Goossen camp for Don King. After that, Nunn tried to start his own organization by hiring his hometown friends -- that's always a recipe for disaster. Nunn said it himself, "I think when I left the Goossens, I lost my focus." He was notorious for struggling to make weight and taking training lightly, but that never seemed the case during his meteoric rise during the Frank Tate and Sumbu Kalambay fights. The Goossens kept him grounded, but fame and fortune got the best of him. If I am not mistaken, Nunn and the Goossens reunited at some point in the mid-1990s following his defeat to Frankie Liles. The goal was to get him a Light Heavyweight title fight against Roy Jones to help him get the money back he had squandered, but we all know that never happened.
The Middleweight division from 1988 to 1993 was perhaps the most talented and deepest of all time from: Jones Jr, Nunn, Toney, Benn, Kalambay, Eubank, 'G-Man' McClellan, Hopkins, Jackson, Collins, Parks, Watson, Barkley and the Body snatcher McCallum.
This was a big surprise as Nunn was known as a slick boxer. He was in great shape for this fight. This was the only knockout suffered by Kalambay during his boxing career. Kalambay won several good fights after this defeat too so it did not damage his boxing career too much.
This was the fight that after watching it, I wanted to box. As a matter of fact, I stopped my opponent in the very first bout with a straight left hand right down the middle in the second round almost identical to this one. This was a sensational KO!
Nunn is my favourite Middleweight of late 80's as skilled as any I've seen with amazing speed and slickness while powerful. Kalambay inflicted the 1st defeat on Errol Bomber Graham. Only one of the best of a special bunch could do that , Bomber was 37-0 at the time. So don't ever underestimate his win over Sambu K.
What a Performance What a Knockout by Michael Second To Nunn Over a Tough Good Fighter a Champion in Sumbu Kalambay This Knockout Started The Ring Magazine s Knockout of The Year Nunn s KO was Pitch Perfect Amazing
Kalambay was sorely underrated, I don't know why Kalambay was stripped of his WBA title going into this fight. Both Kalambay and Mike McCallum are heavily underrated.
An incredible mw era 1988-93. Kalambay was an exceptional boxer who on today's standards of selection deserves a HOF induction. It does annoy and grate that 30 year old hearns and 33 year old srl keep being referred to as the seniors tour along with hagler and Duran.fuck that they were still the best.why shit on a souffle.what a mix the 4 legends,jones jnr,toney,mclellan,graham,kalambay,nunn,barkley jackson,benn,eubank,curry.......the division had it all
Funny but you're right. After Hagler retired the division just opened up. Such a rich weight class in the early to mid 1990s. [You forgot Mike McCallum though. :-) ]
"Second to nunn" what a fighter really reminded me of a middleweight Chris bird, both extremely classy boxers. James Toney is my favourite fighter his win over nunn is still extremely impressive, nobody did that to Michael nunn
Ironic how Jim Lampley mentions Nunn's clean living during the pre-fight coverage -- when all the while Nunn was a cokehead. He had so much friggin' talent -- and pissed it all away. Such a damn shame.
Murph at least he seized some of his moments to the point we know who he is becuz of his achievements. I’m still on my quest, hope you’ve made it or still striving. Peace
In McCallum's defense, that was his first fight at the weight class, he redeemed himself in the rematch but yeah Kalambay was a master technician who was heavily avoided quiet as kept.
When you look at Nunn here with the world at his feet and now know he's served 18 years of a 24 year sentence for drugs charges you could cry for him.what a waste of a life that could have been so prosperous and successful.
Jim Lampley had a bad hair day on this broadcast no doubt. Lot of gossip back then when Ray ran into Nunn at the Shark Club and cough cough the two had to be separated . Rumor was Ray wanted to kick his ass that night. Love old Vegas. Great times, great stories, great Fighters.
Kalambay made a major risk and got punished for it, he tried to align his lead hand to jab by stepping inside Nunn but it also had the risk of Nunn landing the straight left
Interesting HBO 'prefight' commentary which showcases the origins of both these fighters. Did Kalambay have a 'glass chin' in this fight -- or was he just........*cough*........somehow caught with a solid punch that he didn't see?
Listening to Michael Nunn, I simply was flabbergasted that his life took a turn for the worse with drugs involvement. How did it go so wrong? He has been released after 24 years or so, as his best years are gone with old age to look forward too. Hopefully he can enjoy the latter part of his life.
His life didn't go wrong, it just caught up with him. Nunn was an enforcer for a street gang from when he was a teenager. He continued doing that stuff after he turned pro. He never made excuses or denied it but don't be fooled by the gloss that the media placed on him.
Nunn was a super star on the rise..Notice when they was talking about maybe one Ray Leonard fighting Michael. Ray never said a word about fighting him that's just how good Nunn was..Him and Hearns would been a great fight ,Nunn and Duran would have been a great fight at the time,But Nunn,Mike McCallum,Donald Curry and my his soul rest Aron Pryer never got a chance to fight the big fights sometimes,I believe when a fighter can't get the big fights they loose focus and loose and can't get back in the swing of things..
Since Hagler 1987, it took eight year 1995 for the coming of a new legend in the middleweight, Bernard Hopskin who defended his title nineteen times, a record, and won the light heavyweight title at the age of 48, a new record, beating the Foreman record of 45 .Amazing career 28 years of fighting 1988- 2016.Is toe to toe with the great Sugar Ray Robinson.
Nunn was snaked by an undercover cop and is currently perhaps, 50% through a 25yr sentence? Nunn was a top flight light-heavyweight, at the point of incarceration. A bent cop deprived the world of Toney v Nunn 2 and possibly 3?
Nunn was arrested in 2002 by which point James Toney was a Crusierweight and soon to be Heavyweight. 1993 was the last time Nunn held a legit world title. Toney Nunn II never would've happened.
I feel like Kalambay hands got stuck he just left himself open for whatever reason ! His guard just froze maybe he seen the punch but couldn't react to it !
The standards for the Boxing Hall of Fame should be(and obviously are) too high for someone of Michael Nunn's accomplishments, after James Toney took his soul and his middleweight title in Davenport Iowa, Nunn's chances of making it into the Hall of Fame ended, the Hall of Fame should be for truly special Fighters ie Roy Jones,James Toney,Floyd,Manny
Michael Nunn has been in prison for years for dealing drugs. He has a history of drug dealing and they nailed him the last time. He's got 24 years. He started his sentence in 2002
Gatti wasn't a bum, God Rest his soul. He may not been at all time great but hardly a bum. He always came to fight and his fights were never boring! His trilogy with Mickey Ward was amazing! Nunn is serving a 24 year prison sentence for drug trafficking.
Gatti was one of the most exciting fighters of all time. Most notably, his first fight with Micky Ward. Although Gatti lost, his performance, along with Mickys left a permanent impact on boxing as a whole. I can respect anybody's opinion, since this is just mine. I dont mean to continue an argument.
I agree with you and despite Nunn incarceration he deserved to be in the Hall of Fame. I am glad Curry and McGirt are getting considerations this year.
Nunn belongs in the hall of fame no doubt . Arturo's heart alone put him in the hall of fame no doubt . Both fighters that had different but special talents that you see once every 50 years .
Nunn and McCallum never fought, but it would've been a great unification bout in say 1990 or 1991. Middleweight from 1988 to 1994 was phenomenal and maybe the greatest Middleweights ever assembled together.
The old HBO music, took me back to when I was a kid watching fights with my dad and his friends. Great post.
I love the theme music from the late 80s to mid 90s.
@@claystevenson1821 I loved the 80's and 90's opening theme music too!
my dad and i never missed a show
I feel the same.
Second II NUNN!
Nunn and Kalambay were both terrific middleweight champions who beat multiple other champions during their careers. Gil Clancy mentioned during other broadcasts about Nunn stepping to the side of his opponents so well and he did it here with a step outside of Kalambay's foot which set up the big knockout punch.
I was just sorta...marveling, I guess(?) at that myself now. Played the sequence over and over again and I am glad to have come across your comment here right away without having to go through too many. If I've seen other fighters use this move I must not really be noticing it as this here looks very personalized/individual. I think what I mean is that the sequence/setup etc all stand out so much cause it isn't common, or at least to me personally I haven't seen many other fighters do it as noticeable as Nunn pulls off here
Nunn could have been the best middle weight champion ever to cccky arrogant , last but not least a damn fool how can you be so blessed and curse yourself but there's always a light at the end of the tunnel !!
Gil Clancy is my favourite boxing analyst of all time. Larry Merchant, on the other hand, was a pile of shit.
This was the only ko of Kulumbay's career? Was Nunn effective because he was a southpaw. How didn't he see the punch?
@@mariosanchez8236 Roy use to do it, but it looked so subtly strange because Nunn was a quick south paw?
Cant believe this man did almost 20 years in the pen. He was Special. He beat former or current champs,Tate,Kalambay,Starling,Curry, Barkley (thought that one was a draw) Córdoba. Hope hes well now. He gave me nice memories. Even losing the title. To hall of famer Toney, had him winning that fight. 97-93. Till the ko in 11.
This was a fight that looked almost certain to go 12 rounds. What a KO by Nunn.
Nunn's career seemingly went wayward after leaving the Goossen camp for Don King. After that, Nunn tried to start his own organization by hiring his hometown friends -- that's always a recipe for disaster. Nunn said it himself, "I think when I left the Goossens, I lost my focus." He was notorious for struggling to make weight and taking training lightly, but that never seemed the case during his meteoric rise during the Frank Tate and Sumbu Kalambay fights. The Goossens kept him grounded, but fame and fortune got the best of him. If I am not mistaken, Nunn and the Goossens reunited at some point in the mid-1990s following his defeat to Frankie Liles. The goal was to get him a Light Heavyweight title fight against Roy Jones to help him get the money back he had squandered, but we all know that never happened.
Don King , Boxing's black eye
@@rafaelramirez1507Nunn should of never joined Don King , he fell from there on
Kalambay was an exceptionally tough and talented fighter which puts into perspective just how impressive this KO actually was.
Exactly. He fought McCallum twice, Barkley and Steve Collins and never hit the deck one time.
@@joeblow2069Graham too
Despite Nunn incarceration he deserved to be in the Hall of Fame. I hope he get released soon.
He came and I hope walks the right path. May God guide and grant him a second chance? He was a great fighter dispite of his past and adversity.
In 2004, Nunn was sentenced to 24 years in prison for drug trafficking; he was released in February 2019
He's out and doing well. He lived in my hometown of Davenport Iowa. He recently had a exhibition bout for charity with former MMA champ Pat Miletich.
The Middleweight division from 1988 to 1993 was perhaps the most talented and deepest of all time from:
Jones Jr, Nunn, Toney, Benn, Kalambay, Eubank, 'G-Man' McClellan, Hopkins, Jackson, Collins, Parks, Watson, Barkley and the Body snatcher McCallum.
I'd throw Herrol Graham in there as well.
This was a big surprise as Nunn was known as a slick boxer. He was in great shape for this fight. This was the only knockout suffered by Kalambay during his boxing career. Kalambay won several good fights after this defeat too so it did not damage his boxing career too much.
Is so difficult find complete program of HBO.. Thanks so much
This was the fight that after watching it, I wanted to box. As a matter of fact, I stopped my opponent in the very first bout with a straight left hand right down the middle in the second round almost identical to this one. This was a sensational KO!
This was my single favorite sports moment ever! Mostly because it was most unexpected…everyone was settling in for a 12 round majority decision.
Nunn is my favourite Middleweight of late 80's as skilled as any I've seen with amazing speed and slickness while powerful. Kalambay inflicted the 1st defeat on Errol Bomber Graham. Only one of the best of a special bunch could do that , Bomber was 37-0 at the time. So don't ever underestimate his win over Sambu K.
Larry merchant was old in the 80s lol
Yes he was! Lol!😂🤣
And full of shit
Thank you for sharing! I did a piece on this fight yesterday and included your link! This is my favorite KO ever!
After all These Years im Still in awe 😮 in Michael Nunn s Stunning Devastating KO over Sumbu Kalambay
About this time Sugar decided he wanted none of Nunn
Leonard?
@@oozy814no … Robinson 🙄
Larry been old all his life wtf ? 😂
He can be seen less old in the famous pic from Ali/Liston II. He looks fat and drunkenly unshaven, reacting in horror to Ali dropping Liston.
One thing for sure he’s annoyed the shit out me all these years with his bullshit
@@andyaim4764 He is the best part of the show
😂😂😂😂😂😂 I'm saying
What Larry?
Sensational Knock Out!!!
What a Performance What a Knockout by Michael Second To Nunn Over a Tough Good Fighter a Champion in Sumbu Kalambay This Knockout Started The Ring Magazine s Knockout of The Year Nunn s KO was Pitch Perfect Amazing
Sometimes you get caught in the spot, kalambay won titles after this and was never down again, James Toney ko'd Nunn aswel
Kalambay was sorely underrated, I don't know why Kalambay was stripped of his WBA title going into this fight. Both Kalambay and Mike McCallum are heavily underrated.
An incredible mw era 1988-93. Kalambay was an exceptional boxer who on today's standards of selection deserves a HOF induction. It does annoy and grate that 30 year old hearns and 33 year old srl keep being referred to as the seniors tour along with hagler and Duran.fuck that they were still the best.why shit on a souffle.what a mix the 4 legends,jones jnr,toney,mclellan,graham,kalambay,nunn,barkley jackson,benn,eubank,curry.......the division had it all
Funny but you're right. After Hagler retired the division just opened up. Such a rich weight class in the early to mid 1990s. [You forgot Mike McCallum though. :-) ]
But Leonard and maybe Hearns wanted no part of Nunn. Nunn was too young, too fast, too dangerous.
raja kiyani yes
Mike McCallum?
Hopkins, Parks, Watson, and McCallum of course
Nunn was the picture of ease
That was unexpected, I didn't think Nunn had power like that back in the day
"Second to nunn" what a fighter really reminded me of a middleweight Chris bird, both extremely classy boxers. James Toney is my favourite fighter his win over nunn is still extremely impressive, nobody did that to Michael nunn
Ironic how Jim Lampley mentions Nunn's clean living during the pre-fight coverage -- when all the while Nunn was a cokehead. He had so much friggin' talent -- and pissed it all away. Such a damn shame.
Murph at least he seized some of his moments to the point we know who he is becuz of his achievements. I’m still on my quest, hope you’ve made it or still striving. Peace
And was bi-curious
@@uameamalositagatanofoalii7226 I've followed Nunn for 30 years. never heard that one before. where's your source?
@@davidgoulden5956 Parler
Stupid that Kalambay who beat Prime Mccallum, Herol Graham, beat Sims, Barkley and Doug De witt is not in the Hall of Fame, likewise with Michael Nunn
He also beat steve Collins
In McCallum's defense, that was his first fight at the weight class, he redeemed himself in the rematch but yeah Kalambay was a master technician who was heavily avoided quiet as kept.
The pre fight promo is longer than the actual fight itself
Little Jacob. Lol.
Sugar Ray Leonard called it "Nunn is going to come out explosive"
When you look at Nunn here with the world at his feet and now know he's served 18 years of a 24 year sentence for drugs charges you could cry for him.what a waste of a life that could have been so prosperous and successful.
Man, he looked talented. Perfect size for middleweight.
Second To: One of the great nicknames in a sport full of them.
Jim Lampley had a bad hair day on this broadcast no doubt. Lot of gossip back then when Ray ran into Nunn at the Shark Club and cough cough the two had to be separated . Rumor was Ray wanted to kick his ass that night. Love old Vegas. Great times, great stories, great Fighters.
lot of people talkin about Larry's age in these comments for some reason he is almost 100 years old of course he looks old in the 80s and 90s
Add to that Terry norris on the fringes and talented top 20 guys like olajide,tate the olympian,watson,collins,lindell holmes and robbie sims
That was the quickest extraction of the mouthpiece ive ever seen.
Kalambay made a major risk and got punished for it, he tried to align his lead hand to jab by stepping inside Nunn but it also had the risk of Nunn landing the straight left
Interesting HBO 'prefight' commentary which showcases the origins of both these fighters.
Did Kalambay have a 'glass chin' in this fight -- or was he just........*cough*........somehow caught with a solid punch that he didn't see?
Ray did say it would be an explosive start. 🔥
Listening to Michael Nunn, I simply was flabbergasted that his life took a turn for the worse with drugs involvement. How did it go so wrong? He has been released after 24 years or so, as his best years are gone with old age to look forward too. Hopefully he can enjoy the latter part of his life.
His life didn't go wrong, it just caught up with him. Nunn was an enforcer for a street gang from when he was a teenager. He continued doing that stuff after he turned pro. He never made excuses or denied it but don't be fooled by the gloss that the media placed on him.
Drugs
Money , the root of all evil
Nunn was a super star on the rise..Notice when they was talking about maybe one Ray Leonard fighting Michael. Ray never said a word about fighting him that's just how good Nunn was..Him and Hearns would been a great fight ,Nunn and Duran would have been a great fight at the time,But Nunn,Mike McCallum,Donald Curry and my his soul rest Aron Pryer never got a chance to fight the big fights sometimes,I believe when a fighter can't get the big fights they loose focus and loose and can't get back in the swing of things..
Roy jones vs michael numb?
Man! I have always liked and admired Michael Nunn , but greed ruined him
Dude beat the double Mike McCallum and was good this was one of those moments nobody expected this wow
Nunn at his best was great
Does anybody say me the Michael Nunn music entrance please???
Its tough you can't hear it clearly . But sounds like some obscure cover girls or Lisa Lisa cult jam song .
@@Lmkarimi thanks I try to find it I'm à 30 old years french boy practicing boxing and I like so Michael Nunn style!!!
@@alm6353 Well not a bad guy to choose to like or practice his style . Probably a top 5 best defensive fighter all time . Best of luck .
That shot sounded like a bomb 💣 🥊
Since Hagler 1987, it took eight year 1995 for the coming of a new legend in the middleweight, Bernard Hopskin who defended his title nineteen times, a record, and won the light heavyweight title at the age of 48, a new record, beating the Foreman record of 45 .Amazing career 28 years of fighting 1988- 2016.Is toe to toe with the great Sugar Ray Robinson.
this was off ,kalamby looked very tense ,maybe fighting out of italy
I agree. Everyone knows Nunn didn’t have this kind of power and Kalambay too way harder punches than this. Nunn got lucky.
Nunn was snaked by an undercover cop and is currently perhaps, 50% through a 25yr sentence? Nunn was a top flight light-heavyweight, at the point of incarceration. A bent cop deprived the world of Toney v Nunn 2 and possibly 3?
manos3790 lol
Nunn is current incarcerated at Federal correctional institution ,Oxford,and is scheduled for release in 2019!
manos3790 ;I did not know that, sad.
He wasn't snaked. Nunn has been busted several times for dealing drugs. He's a loser
Nunn was arrested in 2002 by which point James Toney was a Crusierweight and soon to be Heavyweight. 1993 was the last time Nunn held a legit world title.
Toney Nunn II never would've happened.
I feel like Kalambay hands got stuck he just left himself open for whatever reason ! His guard just froze maybe he seen the punch but couldn't react to it !
This is why your coaches tell you to move to the outside of the foot of a guy with an opposite stance...
13:00 The Storyline for Equalizer III. 😅
The standards for the Boxing Hall of Fame should be(and obviously are) too high for someone of Michael Nunn's accomplishments, after James Toney took his soul and his middleweight title in Davenport Iowa, Nunn's chances of making it into the Hall of Fame ended, the Hall of Fame should be for truly special Fighters ie Roy Jones,James Toney,Floyd,Manny
Upset
Michael Buffer didnt have the "Let's Get Ready to Rummblleeeee" Down Yet!!! Lol
And McCallum!
That one fight ruined Nunn in more ways then one- None of the big name fighters after that would go near him.
07:36 Michael Knight????!!!!! Where's KITT?!
How many amatuer fights
Richard Steel looking shady
Nunn always reminds me of a young #Davidalangrier & #Sugarrayleonard, lol🤣🤣
Wait, there's black people in Iowa?
Hee wosent in the same leug has the fab 4. Nunn had a glass chin. Good boxer
25:12 and that's it
kalamby did not fee; comfortable outside of italy. should have insisted they fight over there
Nunn turned on the guys who helped get him there.
Kalambay era superiore. Col passare dei round l avrebbe distrutto
Nunn threw his life away.
Very explosive hard fuckin shot
Can I buy some some thing bit of a harsh sentence for what was it 300 bucks of whatever
James lights out toney 1988
So similar to Tarver's KO of Jones in their second fight. Brilliant.
Yes and no.
Damn
25:14
Michael Nunn has been in prison for years for dealing drugs. He has a history of drug dealing and they nailed him the last time.
He's got 24 years. He started his sentence in 2002
damn
Parked em
Fight looks dodgy to me. Kalumbay seems to freeze before he gets hit.
Shut the FOOK UP. it's always one person with this stupid shit
Not only that, look at the glove trajectory.
It is obvious then
I Nunn in the Hall of Fame? If a bum like Aururo Gatti is in then why is a legitimate chamion like Nunn not? Boxing is a corrupt joke.
Gatti wasn't a bum, God Rest his soul. He may not been at all time great but hardly a bum. He always came to fight and his fights were never boring! His trilogy with Mickey Ward was amazing! Nunn is serving a 24 year prison sentence for drug trafficking.
Wow! You're calling Gatti a bum? Man, you have balls!
Gatti was one of the most exciting fighters of all time. Most notably, his first fight with Micky Ward. Although Gatti lost, his performance, along with Mickys left a permanent impact on boxing as a whole. I can respect anybody's opinion, since this is just mine. I dont mean to continue an argument.
I agree with you and despite Nunn incarceration he deserved to be in the Hall of Fame. I am glad Curry and McGirt are getting considerations this year.
Nunn belongs in the hall of fame no doubt . Arturo's heart alone put him in the hall of fame no doubt . Both fighters that had different but special talents that you see once every 50 years .
Non mi convince questa sconfitta
Lucky punch by Nunn.
Well, it worked.
@@joeylamuel5828 Thats why it was lucky. Even Nunn was surprised. He acted like he just won super lotto. 😆
Nunn beat Mc Callum and lost with another great ,Toney.
They never fought
Nunn and McCallum never fought, but it would've been a great unification bout in say 1990 or 1991. Middleweight from 1988 to 1994 was phenomenal and maybe the greatest Middleweights ever assembled together.
Lucky random punch for Nunn
Questo è il classico problema che creano i mancini!...Kalambay aveva già problemi nei primi round per scaldarsi, in più ha beccato un mancino....
Damn