On this day in 1999, Felix Trinidad successfully defended his IBF Welterweight title with a 12-round decision over Pernell Whitaker at Madison Square Garden.

On this day in 1994, Humberto Gonzalez won the WBC and IBF Light Flyweight titles with a 12-round split decision over Michael Carbajal in Inglewood, California. It was the second of three meetings between these two hall-of-famers.

On this day in 1961, Vicente Saldivar made his professional debut with a first round knockout of Baby Palacios in Oaxaca, Mexico.

On this day in 2001, Andrew “Six Heads� Lewis won the WBA Welterweight title with a seventh-round TKO of James Page in Las Vegas, Nevada.

On this day in 1970, Joe Frazier unified the heavyweight title with a 5th-round stoppage of Jimmy Ellis at Madison Square Garden.

Pending approval of the final script, Variety is reporting that Matt Damon and Mark Wahlberg have signed to star in “The Fighter,� which will tell the true story “Irish� Micky Ward. Wahlberg will play Ward. Damon will play his trainer and half-brother, Dick Ecklund.

On this day in 1922, The Ring published its first issue.

On this day in Chicago in 1929, seven members of George “Bugs� Moran’s gang were lined up against a garage wall on the North Side and gunned down by members of Al Capone’s crew. The event became known as the “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre.�

On this day in 1967, Johnny Tapia was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

On this day in 1974, Naseem Hamed was born in Sheffield, England.