BIRTHDAY BOY BELONGS ON BOXING’S MT. RUSHMORE
Roberto Duran “Prime” July 1980
Las Vegas, NV-Having been put on the spot time and again, there is little doubt in my mind that Roberto Duran, who turned 64 today was the greatest fighter I ever saw. And looking at the history of boxing, at least in the past 50 years, there has never been a fighter that can approach the accomplishments of “Manos Di Piedra.” Turning professional at 118 lbs. in February 1968, Duran, then 16 years old, would answer the bell 119 times. He would never officially retire, instead an auto accident made his July 2001 fight with Hector Camacho his last.
MINISTER OF RING MAYHEM
When he beat Ken Buchanan for the lightweight (135) title, the end was punctuated by an obvious low blow that some say referee Tony LoBianco simply ignored. And since this is a story on the career of “Hands of Stone” that is running on his 64rd birthday, there is curiosity as to why he never afforded Ken a rematch. Mad for decades, Buchanan and Duran have made up of sorts. At least that was the PR push being made when Roberto toured Scotland a five or so years ago.
KENNY HAD LEGIT BBEF FOR REMATCH
When I last talked with Buchanan circa 2003, the fiery Scot was to put it mildly still angry when the subject of Roberto came up. We were in the lobby of the Days Inn of Cantestota, NY, literally a stones throw from the International Boxing Hall of Fame. He had voiced the opinion that his being World champion in his native land meant a whole lot more than here in the U.S. “As for Duran, I saw a picture of the low blow here today, that I never saw before. The referee knew Duran fouled me. Still, he was the greatest fighter I ever fought, and of all-time as well. They (people) don’t realize that he moved way up in weight and unlike other people, he kept winning.
TRILOGY WITH PUERTO RICAN CAPPED 35 LB. REIGN!
With the exception of the first non-title Esteban De Jesus fight, Roberto mauled opponent after opponent, including Esteban in two subsequent outings. With a title run began in June 1972, Duran rolled up 11 defenses of the WBA belt, including a KO in 11 over De Jesus. In January 1978, Duran and the Puerto Rican would vie for both the WBC and WBA lightweight titles in the famed Caesars Palace Sports Pavilion. With Howard Cosell behind the microphone, Duran would win the rubber match with a brutal beating that went 14 heats.
REASON DURAN NEVER WON 140 LB. TITLE
One fight at 141 lbs., against Adolpho Viruet was the closest Duran came to being a jr. welterweight. With the WBA protecting their guy Antonio Cervantes, Roberto was encouraged to move up to welterweight for a title grab. Duran would then roll through capable fighters like Jimmy Heair, before routing ex-champ Carlos Palomino at Madison Square Garden in 1979. Considered an elimination match, Duran eliminated Carlos in such a dominant fashion that it caused champion Wilfredo Benitez, who had out boxed Palomino for the belt to face Ray Leonard prior to a Duran fight.
“NASTY” ROBERTO WATCHES RAY BEAT BENITEZ
Questions remain as to whether or not Benitez trained longer than two weeks for the November 1979 fight with Leonard? With Benitez losing entering the 15th, Ray was looking for a show stopper. After a flurry of punches late in the 15th, referee Carlos Padilla, much to the chagrin of the folks (especially bookie Herb Lambeck) that bet it would go the whole 15, stopped matters a mere six seconds from the final bell! A brutal, but picturesque left hook would nearly decapitate “Davey Boy” Green in April 1980 setting up the June 20, 1980 “Brawl in Montreal.”
NO FIGHTER RODE THE ELEVATOR LIKE ROBERTO!
In the career of most prizefighters, there is usually one up, and then you’re on the downside. The exception to the rule was Duran. Having not yet reached his zenith yet, Roberto would train fiendishly for Leonard. Simply put, Duran was obsessed with destroying the 1976 Olympic Gold medalist. Less than five minutes into the fight, Leonard was rocked by a left hook that landed with such force that Ray was doing a Mexican hat dance! Surviving the round, Leonard’s manager of sports, attorney Mike Trainer later told me that he knew then it wasn’t going to be Ray’s night. “I just lit up a cigarette and hoped Ray wouldnt get hurt,” said Trainer.
DURAN ATE WAY OUT OF CONDITION!
Having gained a lot of weight in a short period of time, Duran, recognized as the WBC 147 lb. champion was living large! Being in the high 180’s at least, Mike Trainer offered Duran $8 million for a rematch. (Seven million more than he’d ever made!) This was late September and the fight had to happen November 25 said Trainer. The Washington DC lawyer would secure the deal when he bluffed Duran’s manager, Carlos Eleta with a threat that, “if you don’t take the rematch now that Ray is moving up to 154 lbs.” Total B.S. but it worked.
STORY OF THE NO MAS (NO MORE) FIGHT!
On November 25th, Roberto Duran stepped into a bigger than 22 by 22 (some say 24) square foot ring. Mike Trainer figured Duran, who he knew struggled to make the weight, would not be able to catch Ray in this ring that was seemingly half the size of a tennis court. In the eighth of a scheduled fifteen, Duran frustrated with Leonard’s hit and run style just up and quit. Uttering the words “No mas box” (no more), the baddest man on the planet pound for pound was no longer so!
THE MANY DEATHS OF DURAN: PART II WEDNESDAY!
When we pick up the professional boxing life of Roberto Duran here at www.RingTalk.com Friday, you’ll get a behind the scenes look at the man with the “Hands of Stone”, as he fought on for 21 more years before injuries from an automobile accident retired him.
Pedro Fernandez