Carlos Palomino vs Jose Palacios

In a welterweight title defence at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, Carlos Palomino defeated José Palacios by knockout in the 13th round on December 10, 1977. The crowd of 3,505 witnessed a calculated performance by Palomino, who was heavily favoured. From the start, he kept control of the bout, showing patience against Palacios, ranked ninth and fighting mostly on heart rather than technical skill. Palomino dictated the pace, staying composed and working from behind a solid jab.

The match's decisive moment came in the 13th round when Palomino landed a precise punch on Palacios' chin despite nursing an injury to his right hand. Palacios, who had been lunging in to attack, was left vulnerable, and the punch wobbled him before he dropped to his knees. Referee John Thomas counted him out at 1:21 of the round. Palacios, though determined, had struggled to mount a significant offensive, rarely landing effective combinations or threatening the champion's advantage.

After the fight, Palomino revealed that his right hand had already been damaged before the knockout. Each punch he landed with it worsened the pain, yet he managed to deliver the decisive blow, even feeling the pain shoot up his arm. Palacios, in defeat, suggested that Palomino would be overmatched by fellow welterweight Pipino Cuevas, citing Cuevas' superior punching power. Palomino's manager, Jackie McCoy, dismissed Palacios' comment, attributing it to the fact that Palacios and Cuevas were stablemates.

The fight was broadcast on ABC's Wide World of Sports, showcasing Palomino's technical skills and poise. Palomino earned a $100,000 purse, while Palacios took home $10,000. This victory set up Palomino's next title defence against Ryu Sorimachi, which was already locked in by contract to take place in Las Vegas on February 11, 1978.