Gene Fullmer survived one of the most dangerous moments of his championship reign on August 5, 1961, edging Florentino Fernandez by split decision after 15 bruising rounds at Ogden Stadium in Ogden, Utah. Defending the National Boxing Association world middleweight title before a hometown crowd, Fullmer built enough of an early lead to survive after suffering a broken right elbow late in the fight.
The nationally televised championship drew a reported gate of $95,000. Fullmer came into the fight as a heavy favorite after winning the NBA middleweight title from Carmen Basilio two years earlier. Fernandez, the hard-hitting Cuban contender nicknamed “The Ox,” earned his opportunity with knockout victories over Phil Moyer, Ror
Fullmer weighed 160 pounds, while Fernandez came in at 157 for the scheduled 15-round contest.
Using his relentless pressure, Fullmer established control through the opening rounds. He bullied Fernandez around the ring, dug heavy punches into the body, and repeatedly forced the challenger to clinch to slow the pace. By the middle rounds, the champion appeared comfortably in front on the scorecards.
The fight swung dramatically in the 14th round. Throwing a looping right hand, Fullmer fractured a bone in his right elbow. The injury immediately left his arm numb, although he initially believed he had merely struck his funny bone. Sensing the opportunity, Fernandez launched a furious rally. He staggered the champion with a right-left combination, briefly switched to a southpaw stance, and hammered Fullmer with left hooks to the body and head.
Fernandez dominated the final two rounds, battering the wounded champion across the ring in pursuit of a dramatic stoppage. Fullmer, reduced to fighting with one effective arm, refused to buckle under the assault and survived to the final bell.
The judges were divided after 15 rounds. Referee Ken Shulsen scored the fight 145-142 for Fullmer, Judge Del Markham favored Fernandez 145-143, and Judge Norman Jorgensen awarded Fullmer a commanding 148-140 verdict, giving the Utah native a split-decision victory. An unofficial UPI scorecard also favored Fullmer, 144-141.
Medical examination the following day confirmed the elbow fracture that had nearly cost Fullmer his championship. He recovered in time to defend the title once more, stopping Benny “Kid” Paret in the 10th round that December before eventually losing the crown to Dick Tiger in 1962.
Although he fell short in his only world title opportunity, Fernandez produced the finest performance of his career. Fullmer later ranked the contest among the hardest fights he ever had, placing it alongside his battles with Sugar Ray Robinson and Carmen Basilio while calling Fernandez’s left hook one of the best in the middleweight division.
