On March 29, 1980, Matthew Saad Muhammad and John Conteh met again in an immediate rematch.
Muhammad came in to the fight on a 11-fight win streak with a 55% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 7 months and 11 days. Conteh was on a -1-fight win streak with a 62% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 7 months and 11 days.
In the rematch, Matthew Saad Muhammad stopped John Conteh via TKO in the 4th round of the 15-round world-title fight, and successfully defended his WBC and The Ring light-heavyweight titles. Muhammad improves his record to 25-3-2 (17 KOs), while Conteh adds a loss to his record at 33-4-1.
On April 22, 1979, Matthew Saad Muhammad and Marvin Johnson met again in a rematch.
Muhammad came in to the fight on a 9-fight win streak with a 55% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 5 months and 29 days. Johnson was on a 2-fight win streak with a 70% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 4 months and 20 days.
In the rematch, Matthew Saad Muhammad stopped the champion via TKO in the 8th round of the 15-round world-title fight, winning the first world title of his career, and is crowned the new WBC light-heavyweight champion. Muhammad improves his record to 23-3-2 (16 KOs), while Johnson adds a loss to his record at 22-3.
On November 28, 1980, the 26-year-old WBC and The Ring light-heavyweight world champion, Matthew Saad Muhammad (27-3-2, 19 KOs), faced Lottie Mwale, in a title defense fight.
Muhammad came in to the fight on a 14-fight win streak with a 59% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 4 months and 15 days.
Matthew Saad Muhammad stopped Lottie Mwale via KO in the 4th round of the 15-round world-title fight, and successfully defended his WBC and The Ring light-heavyweight titles. Muhammad improves his record to 28-3-2 (20 KOs)
On May 11, 1980, the 25-year-old WBC and The Ring light-heavyweight world champion, Matthew Saad Muhammad (25-3-2, 17 KOs), faced Louis Pergaud, in a title defense fight.
Muhammad came in to the fight on a 12-fight win streak with a 56% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 1 month and 12 days.
Matthew Saad Muhammad stopped Louis Pergaud via TKO in the 5th round of the 15-round world-title fight, and successfully defended his WBC and The Ring light-heavyweight titles. Muhammad improves his record to 26-3-2 (18 KOs)
On April 25, 1981, the 26-year-old WBC and The Ring light-heavyweight world champion, Matthew Saad Muhammad (29-3-2, 21 KOs), faced Murray Sutherland, in a title defense fight.
Muhammad came in to the fight on a 16-fight win streak with a 61% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 1 month and 28 days.
Matthew Saad Muhammad stopped Murray Sutherland via KO in the 9th round of the 15-round world-title fight, and successfully defended his WBC and The Ring light-heavyweight titles. Muhammad improves his record to 30-3-2 (22 KOs)
On September 26, 1981, the 27-year-old WBC and The Ring light-heavyweight world champion, Matthew Saad Muhammad (30-3-2, 22 KOs), faced Jerry Martin, in a title defense fight.
Muhammad came in to the fight on a 17-fight win streak with a 62% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 5 months and 1 day.
Matthew Saad Muhammad stopped Jerry Martin via TKO in the 11th round of the 15-round world-title fight, and successfully defended his WBC and The Ring light-heavyweight titles. Muhammad improves his record to 31-3-2 (23 KOs)
On February 28, 1981, the 26-year-old WBC and The Ring light-heavyweight world champion, Matthew Saad Muhammad (28-3-2, 20 KOs), faced Vonzell Johnson, in a title defense fight.
Muhammad came in to the fight on a 15-fight win streak with a 60% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 3 months.
Matthew Saad Muhammad stopped Vonzell Johnson via TKO in the 11th round of the 15-round world-title fight, and successfully defended his WBC and The Ring light-heavyweight titles. Muhammad improves his record to 29-3-2 (21 KOs)
On August 18, 1979, the 25-year-old WBC light-heavyweight world champion, Matthew Saad Muhammad (23-3-2, 16 KOs), faced a 28-year-old British boxer John Conteh (33-2-1, 23 KOs), in a title defense fight.
Muhammad came in to the fight on a 10-fight win streak with a 57% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 3 months and 27 days. Conteh was on a 1-fight win streak with a 63% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 2 months and 14 days.
Matthew Saad Muhammad defeated John Conteh via unanimous decision and successfully defended his WBC light-heavyweight title. Muhammad improves his record to 24-3-2, while Conteh adds a loss to his record at 33-3-1.
On July 13, 1980, Matthew Saad Muhammad and Yaqui Lopez met again in a rematch.
Muhammad came in to the fight on a 13-fight win streak with a 58% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 2 months and 2 days.
In the rematch, Matthew Saad Muhammad stopped Yaqui Lopez via TKO in the 14th round of the 15-round world-title fight, and successfully defended his WBC and The Ring light-heavyweight titles. Muhammad improves his record to 27-3-2 (19 KOs)
On April 17, 1982, a 27-year-old Matthew Saad Muhammad (31-4-2, 23 KOs) and Pete McIntyre met in the ring.
Muhammad came in to the fight on a 1-fight losing streak with a 62% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 3 months and 29 days.
Matthew Saad Muhammad stopped Pete McIntyre via TKO in the 2nd round. Muhammad improves his record to 32-4-2 (24 KOs)