Yvon Durelle

Maybe the second most important fight in Durelle’s life happened in Detroit in June of 1957. It was the first Durelle fight on television. There was great excitement in New Brunswick as people got together to watch the fight. That night Yvon fought Tony Anthony to a tie. Anthony was a two-time Olympic champion. He was rated number one behind Archie Moore, the world light-heavyweight champion. Almost everyony who saw the fight felt that Yvon had easily won. After the match, Yvon had become the number three rated light-heavyweight boxer in the world. When Yvon got back to Moncton after the fight, he was given a big parade. That day became known as Yvon Durelle Day.

Yet it would be another year before he would get a shot at the championship. It was Anthony who got the title fight. He was knocked out in the seventh round. This moved Yvon up to the Number One Place in the standings.