Donny Lalonde

Blonde with Hollywood-like looks, this pugilist from Winnipeg turned his history as a victim of child abuse into a world title - the WBC light heavyweight title to be exact. He won the then-vacant belt in November 1987 with a 2nd-round KO of Eddie Davis in Trinidad, which would also be the site of Lalonde's first defense, in May 1988, against home favorite (and former WBA champion) Leslie Stewart. Lalonde ended things in Round 5, and then it was on to Sugar Ray Leonard. Lalonde shocked many, including himself, when he floored Leonard in the early going, but Leonard would then use his experience to come back, floor Lalonde twice in the ninth, and win the new WBC super middleweight title as well as Lalonde's belt. Lalonde would continue to fight, with one more title shot coming against WBA cruiserweight king Bobby Czyz in May 1992. Czyz, however, proved to be too powerful in winning a unanimous decison over 12, and Lalonde would continue to fight on an on-and-off basis. His last bout, on July 5, 2003, against former champion light heavy and cruiser Virgil Hill from nearby North Dakota, was a gallant, yet losing, 10-round effort.