TOUGH TO FIND A BETTER FIGHT TO WATCH
San Francisco, CA– Thirty years ago today, one of the greatest fights and clashes of culture took place as Roberto Duran, this when he truly was, “Manos De Piedra,” or the man with the “Hands of Stone,” challenged “Sugar Ray” Leonard for the WBC 147 lb. belt in Montreal, Canada. The pair would clash in the same venue, Olympic Stadium, where Leonard’s Olympic Gold Medal conquest had taken place four years prior.
“SUGAR RAY” STOPS BENITEZ FOR 147 LB. BELT
Setting up the fight, Leonard took the WBC trinket from Wilfred Benitez in November 1979. His first defense of that title was against “Davey Boy” Green, an Englishman that could fight a little. The ending would come in the third round after Leonard would roll of a combination that was capped off by one of the most devastating left hooks even thrown in boxing. If you’re a fan of 70s & 80s boxing, then you remember it was indeed scary with Green lying their unconscious and motionless for several minutes.
PACMAN OF TODAY SORT OF LIKE DURAN THEN
Duran, this guy was truly a man worthy of fearing. As a lightweight, he is said to have hit Ray Lampkin so hard to the body that the challenger soiled on himself in a 1975 fight. Roberto had lost only once to Esteban De Jesus, a Puerto Rican fighter who beat him in New York City in a non-title ten rounder on points in November 1972, this just three fights after Duran had beaten lightweight champ Ken Buchanan (TKO 13) in June with a blow that is still argued about in the UK today as to whether or not in was low. Truth be told, Duran was in control, way ahead on points, and yet I think he still did it on purpose.
TEN ROUND FIGHTS WERE ABOUT LEARNING HIS CRAFT
A still raw Duran went back to school with trainers Ray Arcel and Freddie Brown, top guys in the annals of boxing, facing a lot of guys with different styles in ten rounders.. Roberto would best De Jesus in two follow up matches. The first, and this shows you the set of stones that De Jesus had, he went to Panama and fought Duran in March 1974. Since the loss, Duran rolled up ten straight wins, while De Jesus had added eight victories to his ledger.
REMATCH WAS DRAMATIC FROM START
Although De Jesus dropped Duran in the opening round, Roberto would stop Esteban in round 11. Their last encounter occurred in January 1978 in the famed and razed Caesars Palace Sports Pavilion. Duran, at or near the top of his game, punished De Jesus down the stretch before stop in round 12. This would be Roberto’s last fight at 135 lbs. His fighting the WBA champ at 140, Antonio Cervantes whom Aaron Pryor took the title from, that wasn’t going to happen said manager Carlos Eleta to Duran. Seems the Colombian was simply unwilling to fight Duran and he had “juice” with the Venezuelan based WBA.
ROBERTO GOES TO 147 WITH PROMOTER DON KING
Setting his sights at welterweight, Duran would roll through eight guys, including a brutal 1979 win over ex-champ Carlos Palamino in ten rounds to make him the top ranked WBC welterweight contender. This even though Wilfred Benitiez had a “rematch clause” in his contract with Leonard that was put in by his manager, later Mike Tyson’s, the late Jim Jacobs. But Benitez who was with Bob Arum and Top Rank took cash top step aide and allow “The Brawl In Montreal” to take place June 20, 1980.
TUESDAY PART II & THE FIGHT!
I’ll have Part II of this story up late Monday night for early Tuesday morning.
Pedro Fernandez