Heavyweight

Reigning heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali publicly announced his retirement (for the third time in his career) on June 27 (after having informed the World Boxing Association by letter). To find a new champion, the WBA conducted an elimination tougnament among John Tate, Leon Spinks, Gerrie Coetzee, and Kallie Knoetze. Tate stopped Knoetze in eight rounds on June 2 in Mmabatho, Bophuthatswana, and Coetzee stopped Spinks in one round on June 24 in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Tate then won a decision over Coetzee in Pretoria, South Africa, on October 20 to become the new WBA Heavyweight Champion.

Larry Holmes knocked out three challengers for his World Boxing Council Heavyweight title during the year -- Oswaldo Ocasio in seven rounds on March 23 in Las Vegas, Nevada; Mike Weaver in twelve rounds on June 22 in New York City, New York; and Ernie Shavers in eleven rounds on September 28 in Las Vegas.

Light-Heavyweight

Victor Galindez regained his WBA Light-Heavyweight title by stopping Mike Rossman in ten rounds on April 14 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Matthew Saud Muhammad stopped Marvin Johnson in eight rounds on April 22 in Indianapolis, Indiana. On November 30, in New Orleans, Johnson knocked Galindez out in the eleventh round to claim the title.

Welterweight

Wilfred Benitez won the WBCWelterweight title by outpointing Carlos Palomino in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on January 14. He held the title until November 30, when Sugar Ray Leonard scored a 15th-round knockout in Las Vegas.

In the Year 1979

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