When an animal in the wild finds itself cornered, wounded, and trapped by its predator, it tends to unleash all its remaining weapons in one last desperate reaction. Similarly, a boxer who’s exhausted and seemingly ready to fall can sometimes gather every ounce of strength left in his body, unleash a devastating punch, and turn the fight on its head! Today’s story takes us back to July 8, 1990, when welterweight title challenger Aaron “Superman” Davis changed the course of his career by snatching the WBA belt from the heavily decorated Mark Breland with a single, terrifying right hand. Thirty-five years later, let’s relive that spine-tingling night together!
Mark Breland: Famous long before Wilder’s towel
Thrust back into the spotlight for throwing in the towel to save Deontay Wilder from Tyson Fury’s onslaught, Mark Breland had once been on the opposite side of the equation, forging his path with the strength of his own fists. As an amateur, he built a near-mythical reputation for invincibility, racking up 110 wins in 111 fights and later avenging his sole defeat in the professional ranks. The only boxer ever to win the New York Golden Gloves tournament five times in a row, Breland capped off his amateur career with a triumphant run to Olympic gold at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles, turning pro soon after and immediately drawing the attention of the entire boxing world.
A major asset in his success was his extraordinary height: standing at 188 cm (6’2″), Breland was a highly unusual welterweight, and it’s no wonder that our own brave Luciano Bruno, who faced him in the Olympic semifinals, once said he felt like a kid wrestling with his father—unable to lay a hand on him.
A Superman-sized upset?
Though Breland captured a professional world title fairly quickly, his aura of invincibility was already shattered in his very first defense, when underdog Marlon Starling shocked everyone by knocking him out in the 11th round and exposing his vulnerability. Even in the rematch, which ended in a controversial draw, Breland failed to fully convince the experts. Still, he managed to reclaim the title and rack up four consecutive knockouts before facing the threat of Davis.
Davis came into the fight of his life unbeaten, but with a résumé lacking any major names. Those who had seen him in action described him as an aggressive and fearless fighter, but also defensively flawed—exactly the kind of opponent a sharpshooter like Breland could dismantle. To stand a chance, Davis would have to live up to his Superman nickname and pull off a feat that fans and bookmakers alike didn’t think he had in him—unaware that behind his courage lay an iron chin and, more importantly, an enormous heart…
A Fight for the Strong-Hearted
It became clear early on that Breland was in for anything but a walk in the park. Davis, unfazed by his opponent’s pedigree and undeterred by the fact that this was the first major opportunity of his career, quickly proved he could do serious damage, shaking the champion both in the first and second rounds with his straight left hand. What many fighters use merely as a rangefinder was, in Davis’ case, a real cannon shot—one Breland struggled to counter. The challenger’s early dominance was made even more evident at the end of the third round, when a flurry of punches stunned the champion and sent him to the canvas.
After just nine minutes of action, the brutal exchanges had already left visible marks on both men, their faces bloodied and battered. Particularly concerning was Davis’ right eye, which had begun to swell significantly. Examined closely by the ringside doctor, Davis still went on to win the fourth round, but the effort it cost him—combined with his impaired vision—forced him to ease off the gas in the following stanza.
Famous last words…
Another inspection by the ringside doctor convinced the young challenger to go all in, desperately chasing a knockout out of fear the fight might be stopped due to injury. The sixth round saw him come out swinging, putting on a spirited and explosive performance—but Breland remained composed, defended well, and began to weave his web once more. The crowd, largely made up of Breland supporters, sensed the shift in momentum and urged their champion forward. Drawing energy from their backing, Breland regained confidence and landed some punishing shots in the second half of the eighth round.
With Aaron Davis seemingly on the brink of defeat—his face a bloody mask, every movement slowed by exhaustion—the American commentator following the bout uttered what are commonly known as “famous last words”:
“It’s almost a one-handed fight for Davis now. I don’t think he’s landed a single right hand this round.”
Seconds later, Davis’ right hand exploded with unbelievable force, knocking the unfortunate Breland out cold. Just like that, 23-year-old Aaron Davis was the new world champion!
This brutal fight marked the end of success for both men. After moving up to junior middleweight, Mark Breland never returned to the top and quickly faded from the scene. Aaron Davis, meanwhile, lost the title in his very first defense against Meldrick Taylor and would never be world champion again. Yet the emotions these two remarkable athletes gave us that night will forever stand as a monument to the gripping drama of this sport.