How Don King’s ’90s offerings show that stacked cards are nothing new

Last weekend’s Canelo vs. Crawford event stood out not just for its marquee main event, but for a stacked undercard that could have headlined most other boxing shows. With five high-stakes matchups and razor-thin betting lines, it recalled the legendary Don King promotions — marathon fight nights where every bout mattered.

Back in King’s heyday, fans would arrive early, knowing full well that a world champion or top contender might step into the ring by mid-afternoon, often off TV. Say what you will about King, but few promoters packed a fight card quite like he did.

Revenge: The Rematches — A Night of Champions

One of King’s most memorable showcases came in May 1994 at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, with a card aptly titled Revenge: The Rematches. The event featured four world title rematches — and a fifth title bout that wasn’t a sequel.

Headlining the night was Julio Cesar Chavez’s attempt to reclaim his WBC super-lightweight title from Frankie Randall. Unfortunately, the fight ended anticlimactically. After a clash of heads caused a cut, Chavez declined to continue, and under the WBC’s accidental-butt rule at the time, he was awarded a technical decision win — a result that left fans unsatisfied.

But where the main event faltered, the undercard delivered in full.

Terry Norris avenged his earlier knockout loss to Simon Brown with a disciplined performance to reclaim the WBC super-welterweight crown. Brown had hoped for another firefight, but Norris boxed smart, refusing to play into the Jamaican slugger’s hands.

Gerald McClellan stunned in his first title defense, stopping fellow puncher Julian Jackson in just 83 seconds. Their first fight was competitive; the rematch was one-sided. McClellan’s triumph was electric — though tragically, just nine months later, he would suffer a devastating brain injury in his brutal war with Nigel Benn.

Azumah Nelson’s rematch with Jesse James Leija saw Leija rise to the occasion, dropping the Ghanaian in the second round and cruising to a unanimous win in a career-best performance.

Also on the bill, two undefeated fighters — Mexico’s Ricardo “Finito” Lopez and Colombia’s Kermin Guardia — clashed for Lopez’s WBC minimumweight title, with Lopez emerging victorious.

More Fights, More Stars

If that wasn’t enough, the night also featured future Hall of Famers and world champions in non-title bouts. Meldrick Taylor and Calvin Grove appeared, as did Italy’s Giovanni Parisi. After the main event, Christy Martin battled Laura Serrano to a draw in a six-rounder many felt Serrano edged.

A young heavyweight prospect from Philadelphia, James Stanton, also won a forgettable decision. Stanton’s career faded quickly — a footnote to a memorable night.

Undercards That Saved the Day

Sometimes, King’s undercards even salvaged events marred by failed main events. In August 1997 at Madison Square Garden, the headline bout between Felix “Tito” Trinidad and Terry Norris fell apart due to legal disputes. Replacement opponent Laurent Boudouani withdrew with injury, leaving Australia’s Troy Waters to step in on just three weeks’ notice.

Trinidad demolished Waters in a single round, but fans still got their money’s worth thanks to a thrilling undercard.

Julio Cesar Green upset William Joppy to capture the WBA middleweight title in a wild fight that saw both men down multiple times. Joppy, despite an injured hand, would avenge the loss in two later meetings.

Wilfredo Vazquez defended his WBA featherweight title against Roque Cassiani and took shots at Naseem Hamed post-fight, claiming the British star was avoiding him. Hamed later stopped Vazquez in seven.

Finito Lopez returned to score a fifth-round KO over Alex Sanchez in a clash of unbeaten 105-pound champions.

The night also featured Edwin Rosario scoring a KO win and Christy Martin earning a gritty decision over Isra Girgrah in a seven-round war that stole the show.

One More Classic: Chavez vs. Taylor II

Another loaded King show came in September 1994, again at the MGM Grand, headlined by the Chavez-Taylor rematch. Chavez stopped Taylor in eight, but the undercard once more delivered standout action.

Felix Trinidad survived a knockdown to stop Yory Boy Campas in a thrilling welterweight shootout. Gabriel Ruelas edged Jesse James Leija in a brutal back-and-forth to win the WBC super-featherweight crown. Leija boxed beautifully, but Ruelas’s relentless pressure — and two knockdowns — sealed it.

Frankie Randall beat Juan Martin Coggi to retain his 140-pound belt, while Finito Lopez steamrolled a Thai challenger in under two minutes.

Ringside, British promoter Mickey Duff was less lucky — he lost a bet on the over in Vincent Pettway’s rematch with Gianfranco Rosi. Pettway stopped the aging Rosi in four rounds after their first bout ended in a technical draw.

Also on that card, Freddie Pendleton narrowly beat Giovanni Parisi, and Ireland’s Olympic gold medallist Michael Carruth continued his slow pro rise with a knockout win. Carruth, though highly skilled, never quite transitioned successfully to the pro ranks.

The Legacy of Don King’s Undercards

King’s cards were often more than just a main event — they were festivals of boxing. With a deep roster of champions and contenders, King had to find slots for them all, resulting in shows that felt like pay-per-view-worthy marathons.

For fight fans who came early and stayed late, these were nights to remember.