View source for Frank Tate vs. Michael Nunn

{{short description|Boxing match}}
{{Infobox boxing match
| Fight Name   = Power Struggle
| image        = [[File:Tate vs Nunn.jpg|230px]]
| caption      =
| fight date   = July 28, 1988
| location     = [[Caesars Palace]], [[Paradise, Nevada]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| titles       = [[International Boxing Federation|IBF]] middleweight title
| fighter1     = [[Frank Tate (boxer)|Frank Tate]]
| nickname1    =
| hometown1    = [[Houston, Texas]], U.S.
| purse1       = $400,000
| record1      = 23–0 (13 KO)
| age1         = {{age in years and months|August 27, 1964|July 28, 1988}}
| height1      = 6 ft 0 in
| weight1      = 160 lb
| style1       = Orthodox
| recognition1 = [[International Boxing Federation|IBF]]<br />Middleweight Champion<br>[[The Ring (magazine)|''The Ring'']]<br>No. 1 Ranked Middleweight
| fighter2     = [[Michael Nunn]]
| nickname2    = Second to (Nunn)
| hometown2    = [[Davenport, Iowa]], U.S.
| purse2       = $100,000
| record2      = 30–0 (20 KO)
| age2         = {{age in years and months|April 14, 1963|July 28, 1988}}
| height2      = 6 ft 2 in
| weight2      = 160 lb
| style2       = Southpaw
| recognition2 = [[International Boxing Federation|IBF]]<br />No. 1 Ranked Middleweight<br>[[The Ring (magazine)|''The Ring'']]<br>No. 3 Ranked Middleweight<br />[[North American Boxing Federation|NABF]] middleweight champion
| result       = '''Nunn''' wins via 9th-round TKO
}}
'''[[Frank Tate (boxer)|Frank Tate]] vs. [[Michael Nunn]]''', billed as '''''Power Struggle''''', was a professional boxing match contested on July 28, 1988, for the [[International Boxing Federation|IBF]] middleweight title.<ref>{{cite web |title=Frank Tate vs. Michael Nunn |url=https://boxrec.com/wiki/index.php/Frank_Tate_vs._Michael_Nunn |website=boxrec.com |publisher=BoxRec |access-date=11 September 2024}}</ref>
==Background==
In April 1988, reigning IBF middleweight champion Frank Tate and the number-one ranked contender Michael Nunn had agreed to terms to fight one another in July of that year. The bout had been in the making since Tate had won the title the previous October, but Tate put off facing the top-ranked Nunn, going as far as to refuse a reported $300,000 payday from Nunn's promoter [[Bob Arum]],  and instead made his first defense as the lower-regarded [[Tony Sibson]].<ref>[https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/02/07/Frank-Tate-knocked-out-Great-Britains-Tony-Sibson-in/9902571208400/ Frank Tate knocked out Great Britain's Tony Sibson in...], UPI article, 1988-02-07 Retrieved on 2024-09-11</ref> Nunn had officially become Tate's mandatory challenger after knocking out Curtis Parker in the second round of an eliminator bout in March 1988.<ref>[https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/03/20/Unbeaten-middleweight-Michael-Nunn-gained-a-world-title-shot/9356574837200/ Unbeaten middleweight Michael Nunn gained a world title shot...], UPI article, 1988-03-20 Retrieved on 2024-09-11</ref> Though Nunn was guaranteed a title shot, Tate was still leery about facing him, causing the IBF to send Tate a letter stating that he would risk being stripped of the title should he not next face Nunn, after which Tate would finally agree to the fight.<ref>[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-04-29-sp-2534-story.html Nunn, Tate Agree to Title Fight], LA Times article, 1988-04-29 Retrieved on 2024-09-08</ref>
Tate and Nunn had previously fought three times as amateurs, with Tate having won two of the fights to Nunn's one. Before the fight, Tate criticized Nunn, known more for his boxing skills than his punching power, stating "I don't think Nunn has what it takes to be a world champion. In order to be IBF champion, he has to fight me, and I don't think he will. I hope he does, then it'll be over early. It'll be an easy fight." Nunn would respond "He's in for a big surprise. I'm the most versatile and talented middleweight in the world."<ref>[https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/07/27/International-Boxing-Federation-middleweight-champion-Frank-Tate-and-No/8711585979200/ International Boxing Federation middleweight champion Frank Tate and No....], UPI article, 1988-07-27 Retrieved on 2024-09-11</ref>
==The fight==
Nunn controlled most of the fight, outboxing Tate by using constant movement and using both his height and reach advantage to stymie Tate's offensive attack. Nunn nearly ended the fight during the final seconds of the eighth after landing a combination to Tate's ribs that sent Tate to his knees in pain with Tate barely answering referee [[Mills Lane]]'s 10-count, getting up at the count of nine. Nunn started the ninth aggressively and sent Tate back into the ropes with a series of punches to the head. With Tate not fighting back, Lane stopped the fight 40 seconds into the round, giving Nunn the technical knockout victory.<ref>[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-07-29-sp-7901-story.html Nunn Evens an Old Score by Making Off With Tate’s IBF Middleweight Crown], LA Times article, 1988-07-29 Retrieved on 2024-09-11</ref>
==Fight card==
Confirmed bouts:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/event/1144|title=BoxRec - event|publisher=}}</ref>
{| class="toccolours" style="font-size: 85%;"
|-
! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;"| Weight Class
! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;"| Weight
! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;"|
! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;"| vs.
! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;"|
! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;"| Method
! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;"| Round
! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;"| Notes
|-
|Middleweight
|160 lbs.
|'''[[Michael Nunn]]'''
|def
|[[Frank Tate (boxer)|Frank Tate]]
|align=center|TKO
|align=center|9/15
|{{ref|Frank Tate vs. Michael Nunn|Note 1}}
|-
|Light Heavyweight
|175 lbs.
|'''[[Tony Willis]]'''
|def
|Frank Minton
|align=center|TKO
|align=center|2/12
|{{ref|Tony Willis vs. Frank Minton|Note 2}}
|-
|Featherweight
|126 lbs.
|'''[[Pedro Rubén Décima|Pedro Décima]]'''
|def.
|[[Jesse Benavides]]
|align=center|TKO
|align=center|3/10
|-
|Middleweight
|160 lbs.
|'''[[Israel Cole]]'''
|vs.
|[[Michael Watson]]
|align=center|D
|align=center|2/8
|-
|Super Welterweight
|154 lbs.
|'''Derrick Rolon'''
|def
|Curtis Baker
|align=center|TKO
|align=center|2/6
|-
|Super Welterweight
|154 lbs.
|'''Mike Tramblyn'''
|def.
|Harold Springer
|align=center|UD
|align=center|4/4
|}
{{note|Frank Tate vs. Michael Nunn|Note 1|For [[International Boxing Federation|IBF]] middleweight title}}<br>{{note|Tony Willis vs. Frank Minton|Note 2|For [[North American Boxing Federation|NABF]] light heavyweight title}}
==Broadcasting==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! align=center | Country
! align=center | Broadcaster
|-
| {{flag|United States}} || [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]]
|}
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-bef | before=vs. Sanderline Williams}}
{{s-ttl | title=[[Frank Tate (boxer)|Frank Tate]]'s bouts |years=28 July 1988}}
{{s-aft | after=vs. Jimmy Bills}}
{{s-bef | before=vs. Ron Daniels}}
{{s-ttl | title=[[Michael Nunn]]'s bouts |years=28 July 1988}}
{{s-aft | after=[[Michael Nunn vs. Juan Roldán|vs. Juan Roldán]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tate, Nunn}}
[[Category:1988 in boxing]]
[[Category:1988 in sports in Nevada]]
[[Category:July 1988 sports events in the United States]]
[[Category:Boxing matches at Caesars Palace]]
[[Category:Boxing matches involving Michael Nunn|Tate]]
[[Category:Boxing matches refereed by Mills Lane]]
[[Category:Boxing on Showtime]]
[[Category:Middleweight championship matches]]