This week in boxing history: December 5-11

December 5, 1947 – Joe Louis defeated Jersey Joe Walcott in a 15-round split decision to retain his world heavyweight title at Madison Square Garden in New York.

It was a controversial 24th title defense for Louis, who was knocked down in Rounds 1 and 4. Referee Ruby Goldstein sided with Walcott, but the two ringside judges favored Louis, who attempted to exit the ring before the announcement of the decision, which was booed by the crowd.

December 8, 2012 – Juan Manuel Marquez knocked out Manny Pacquiao in the sixth round of their welterweight fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The nontitle bout was the fourth meeting between the fighters, and it garnered plenty of accolades from The Ring, which named it Fight of the Year, viewed Round 5 as Round of the Year and regarded the crushing finish as Knockout of the Year.

December 10, 1958 – Archie Moore knocked out Yvon Durelle in the 11th round to retain his world light heavyweight title at the Forum in Montreal.

Moore was knocked down four times—three times in Round 1—before coming back to drop the French Canadian four times himself, including twice in the final round.

December 10, 1994 – Jorge Fernando Castro gained a ninth-round TKO of John David Jackson in Monterrey, Mexico, to retain his WBA middleweight title.

Castro was far behind on the scorecards and taking a beating in Round 9 when he dropped Jackson with a left hook. The referee stopped the bout, which The Ring named Fight of the Year, after two more knockdowns by Castro.

December 11, 1982 – Bobby Chacon won a 15-round unanimous decision over Rafael Limon to claim the WBC super featherweight title in Sacramento, California.

The bout was the fourth fight between the men, and The Ring named it Fight of the Year. Chacon, who was making his fourth attempt at a world championship, was dropped in the third and 10th rounds, and Limon was knocked down in the 15th.