Boxing in The 1980s - 1983

1983

• January 31- In the first world title fight scheduled for twelve rounds instead of fifteen in various decades, Rafael Orono retains his WBC world Jr. Bantamweight championship with a four round knockout over Pedro Romero in Caracas, Venezuela.
• March- the IBF surges, becoming boxing's third world sanctioning body.
• March 18- Michael Spinks unifies his WBA world Light Heavyweight title with the WBC one, defeating the WBC's world champion, Dwight Muhammad Qawi, by a unanimous decision in fifteen rounds at Atlantic City.
• May 1- Edwin Rosario becomes world champion for the first time, winning the WBC world Lightweight title that had been vacated by Alexis Argüello, with a twelve round unanimous decision over José Luis Ramírez in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
• June 16- On his 32nd. birthday, Roberto Durán becomes the seventh fighter in history to be a three division world champion, knocking out WBA Jr. Middleweight champion Davey Moore in eight rounds at New York.
• August 7- Héctor Camacho wins his first of several world titles, knocking out Rafael Limón in five rounds to win the vacant WBC Jr. Lightweight title in San Juan.
• September 1- Tragedy strikes again: Alberto Davila wins the vacant WBC world Bantamweight championship with a twelve round knockout over Kiko Bejines, who dies three days later.
• September 9- Aaron Pryor retains his WBA world Jr. Welterweight title with a tenth round knockout over Alexis Argüello, who once again was attempting to become the first man to win world titles in four different divisions, in Las Vegas. Both men announce their retirements after their rematch.
• September 23- Gerrie Coetzee of South Africa becomes the first African world Heavyweight champion in history, and the first White man to win the world Heavyweight title in twenty years, when he defeats Michael Dokes for the WBA championship with a ten round knockout in Akron.
• November 10- Marvin Hagler retains his world Middleweight title with a fifteen round unanimous decision over Roberto Durán in Las Vegas. Duran was also attempting to become the first four division world champion in history.
• December 11- Larry Holmes vacates the WBC World Heavyweight championship and becomes the first Heavyweight champion recognized by the fledgling International Boxing Federation.
• December 13- The IBF's first world title fight, as Marvin Camel becomes world Cruiserweight champion for the second time, knocking out Roddy McDonald in five rounds for the IBF's vacant title, in Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada.