January 16th

2010-Hoang Sang Nguyen v Ruddy Encarnacion
It's fair to say that boxing and Vietnam are not regularly connected, and that if we're being honest it's hard to think about many notable Vietnamese fighters. On this day in 2010 however Hoang Sang Nguyen claimed the European Union Lightweight title, in what is arguably the biggest win for a Vietnamese fighter ever.
 
The Spanish based Vietnamese born Nguyen would defeat Spain's Ruddy Encarnacion, in what was a second bout between the two men. It was a competitive contest, but Nguyen did just enough to earn the decision, the win and the title.
 
Sadly Nguyen never built on this win. He failed to defend the title and was inactive for over a year before he was KO'd by Dejan Zlaticanin, and retired, boasting a record of 25-6-1-1 (11). Amazingly Encarcion is still an active fighter, at the age of 39, and last fought in October 2018. His record is 39-27-4 (18).
 
1982-Rolando Navarrete v Chung Il Choi - WBC 130
Controversy in boxing is nothing new and in early 1982 we saw a lot of controversy in a WBC Super Featherweight title fight between Filipino Rolando Navarrete, the then champion, and Korean fighter Chung Il Choi. The controversy occurred in round 5, when Choi knocked the champion down before an early bell caused a clear protest from the Korean's team.
 
Sadly for Choi he would come up short, losing by stoppage in the 11th round whilst leading on 2 cards. By the end he was tired and looking ragged, having also been dropped in round 10, as Navarrete's experience proved to be the difference.
 
Choi would fight just twice more, losing in a second world title fight to Rafael Limon later the same year before retiring with a record of 14-2 (13). Navarrete on the other hand would fight on until 1991, racking up a record of 56-15-3 (33).Unfortunately for the Filipino he would lose the belt to the aforementioned Limon just months after this fight.
 
1959-Sadao Yaoita upsets Pascual Perez
One of the biggest upsets on Japanese soil, ever, saw 23 year old Sadao Yaoita, then 27-6-2 (1) upset the legendary Pascual Perez of Argentina. Perez, then 51-0-1 (37), was the world Flyweight champion, having held the title since 1954, he was an Olympic gold medal winner, he had won the world title in Japan beating Yoshio Shirai, he had beaten everyone he had faced and was seen as a true world champion, travelling the length of the globe to fight notable contenders.
 
Despite being the under-dog Yaoita out pointed Perez in a non-title bout over 10 rounds, giving Perez his first professional loss.
 
Sadly for the Japanese fighter a rematch wouldn't end as well for him, with Perez scoring a 13th round KO over the Japanese fighter less than 10 months later. Perez was dropped early but would rally to stop the Japanese challenger in what was a very competitive match up through the first 12 rounds.
 
Perez would then lose back to back fights to Pone Kingpetch, with Kingpetch becoming the first Thai world champion as a result. The diminutive Perez would fight on until 1964 and run up a record of 84-7-1 (57). Yaoita on the other hand would rack up a 53-11-2 (7) record before ending his career in 1962, sadly he would never get another world title fight.