January 28th

2017-Takashi Miura Vs Miguel Roman
When certain fighters get into the ring you tend to expect something exciting, when two such fighters get in the ring together you know you're going to get some things. That was the case on this day in 2017 when former WBC Super Featherweight champion Takashi Miura took on Mexican tough guy Miguel Roman in a WBC world title eliminator.
 
The bout was an amazing war, that saw both men slug it out in a tough, gruelling, damaging contest that saw both take insane punishment. In the end however it was Miura's power that decided the contest, with Miura dropping Roman in rounds 10, 11 and 12, with Roman taking the 10 count in the final round. It was an incredible contest, and one that fans will not forget any time soon.
 
Sadly Miura would fight just once more, losing a wide decision to Miguel Berchelt in a world title fight. He would then retire with a record of 31-4-2 (24). Roman on the other hand bounced back with 4 stoppage wins, before being stopped himself by Berchelt in late 2018. Although not yet retired Roman has taken a lot of punishment in his hard career, and the 33 year, who boasts a record of 60-13 (47) is likely going to retire sooner rather than later.
 
1996-Veeraphol's first reign comes to an end
In September 1995 former Muay Thai champion Veeraphol Sahaprom won the WBA Bantamweight title, in just his 4th professional contest, as he took a split decision over Daorung Chuwatana. In his first defense Veeraphol took on Ghana's Nana Yaw Konadu, and sadly his reign was ended, in rather dramatic fashion.
 
The talented Thai got off to the perfect start, dropping Konadu with a sweeping left hook in the opening round. Despite the knockdown Konadu would recover his senses quickly, and stand up to some other heavy shots from Veeraphol during the rest of the opening round. Sadly for Veeraphol we saw Konadu come out for round 2 firing on all cylinders, using a busy jab to set up more offense. Mid way through the round a huge right from Konadu dropped Veeraphol who struggled to his feet, wobbled around the ring and left the referee in no position other than to stop the bout.
 
Konadu would interestingly lose the belt to Daorung Chuwatana in his first defense, before reclaiming it from Daorung Chuwatana.He would then lose it to Johnny Tapia in 1998. Konadu's career would come to an end in the early 00's with a record of 41-5-1 (32). Despite losing the WBA title in his 4th bout Veeraphol would go on to claim the WBC title in his 22nd bout, stopping Joichiro Tatsuyoshi in 1998. He would make an impressive 14 defenses of that title before losing it to Hozumi Hasegawa in 2005, then losing a rematch to Hasegawa the following year. He would continue to fight until 2010, running up an excellent record of 66-4-2 (46) before retiring from boxing.
 
1947-Shozo Saijo's birthday
"Cinderella Boy" Shozo Saijo was never tipped to be a star. He would begin his career 3-1-2 and later have a record of 9-3-2. He would however go on to become a notable name on the Japanese scene, turning is career around with a huge year in 1968, claiming the WBA Featherweight title, which he would take in an upset win over Raul Rojas. He would defend the belt until 1971, when he lost in 5 rounds to Antonio Gomez.
 
Born on this day in 1947 Saijo would go on to have a career that exceeded all expectations, turning his 3-1-2 start into a 29-7-2 (8) record with wins against the likes of Jose Luis Pimentel, twice, Raul Rojas, twice, Pedro Gomez, Godfrey Stevens and Frankie Crawford, twice. Sadly his career would end with 2 losses in his last 4, the aforementioned loss to Antonio Gomez, and a loss to fellow Japanese world champion Hiroshi Kobayashi.