June 26, 1972: Duran vs Buchanan. The Birth of the Legend

[elmersalsa]

The night of Monday, June 26, 1972 at Madison Square Garden in New York City had one of the most bizarre and controversial fights of all time.

A young and rising star at only 21 years of age, Roberto Duran of Panama City, Panama, challenged the World Lightweight Champion Ken Buchanan of Edinburgh, Scotland.

It was a fight billed as the skill of the Scot versus the power of the Panamanian. Well, Duran, "Manos de Piedra" or "The Hands of Stone", brought more than just power. He brought skill, guile, speed, endurance, a telling right all night and a ferocity probably never ever seen before since the days of you don't know.

It was a ferocity never seen in any boxer. Buchanan, a stylish boxer with a fast jab and good movement, could not deal with the pressure of the fiery Panamanian. Many in the crowd asked "Where did this guy come from?" "Who did he beat?" At so early age, he was bombarding the champion with some illegal blows behind the neck and low blows. But, the referee? Well, the referee Johnny Lo Bianco of New York seems to like the guy's style. He probably hasn't seen nothing like him before.

It was a bumrush from the beginning to the end. Duran whupped Buchanan from post to post. With a 43-1-1 record, Buchanan showed that he could take a shot. And in his career, he has never been really knocked out. But, he was taking a beating like if Buchanan stole something from the young shark. Like if Buchanan slept with Duran's wife. Duran didn't show no respect.

In round 1, it was the beginning of the end. And on-rushing Duran seemingly put Buchanan to the canvas. There was not a telling blow. But, thinking that it was just a slip, Buchanan couldn't believe what he was seeing. Lo Bianco, the referee, gave him an eighth-count.

By round 13, Duran was still on top of Buchanan like a lion hunting his coveted prey. The pressure was still unbelievable. Buchanan had a slit under both eyes. If he comes back home, his family would have not recognized him. It was a mess. But, he, like a great champion, wasn't giving up his crown that easy. He was a game boxer. Very game.

They were still throwing punches after the bell sounded. Next thing we see, Buchanan is on the floor whirting in pain from a blow in the groin. Unbelievable.

He was telling the referee that he got hit on the groin. But, The referee Lo Bianco didn't want hear none of it. Buchanan still in pain, he doesn't come out for the 14th, and Duran's handlers and fans lifted him up as the new Lightweight Champion of the World! The winner by technical knockout, Roberto Duran! The beginning of the Legend.

In Panama, the country went into a frenzy. The people went berserk. They got a new champion. A new hero that promised to bring the coveted crown back to Panama for Ismael Laguna's sake, who lost the crown to Buchanan in two close fights.

And The Legend started here. That was the way it was of the night of June 26, 1972.

[goose 5]

Great post !

[elmersalsa]

Great post !

Thanks, man! I am going to watch that video again. Roberto Duran that night was terrific!

[elmersalsa]

The pace of the fight was very fast. And these guys, Ken Buchanan and Roberto Duran, were fighting 15 rounds!

It was one of Roberto's most complete and magical performances. He was 28-0 at the time. Just 21 years old.

By 1989, seventeen years later, at age 37, where a lot of boxers were gone and done, he wins a piece of the middleweight crown? Unbelievable! I have never seen nothing like that. Duran is the only lightweight champion to win the middleweight crown.

[Caractacus]

geez, did Roberto Duran fight ususally fight so much in the month of June ?

[Expug]

As a youngster I watched this fight. The ending had me confused

[gilgamesh]

As a youngster I watched this fight. The ending had me confused

The ending kinda taints the whole fight in a way. It's a good fight, but that ending is definitely unsatisfying.

[BroughtonRulesRefuge]

As a youngster I watched this fight. The ending had me confused

The ending kinda taints the whole fight in a way. It's a good fight, but that ending is definitely unsatisfying.

- Ken kept fighting at the bell, so Duran stopped it with a low blow before the ref could intervene.

Shoulda been a timely rematch, but maybe killed by Ken emasculating and whining so.

[elmersalsa]

I really believe that Roberto Duran hit Ken Buchanan on the groin purposely. It was evil. So evil that you could see it.

Buchanan was frustrating Duran with combinations in the exchanges after the bell in the 13th round. Being out punched in those exchanges, it got Duran mad and hit Buchanan on the groin. That's my take.

Now, should Duran be disqualified? Gerry Cooney didn't get disqualified when he hit the great Larry Holmes in the groin ten years later for Holmes' WBC World Heavyweight Title. Did he?

[Caractacus]

I think Buchan had thrown a punch just after the bell rang, that made Duran instinctivly do that.

[Ambling Alp II]

Yeah, it's not like Duran was a dirty fighter.

[Caractacus]

Sonny Liston also got an undeesrved rap for that too.
btw Who was the "dirtiest" fighter that Roberto Duran ever faced ?

[Ambling Alp II]

Undeserved? Well Liston's trainer had a substance to put on his gloves to keep his opponent from seeing.
Duran hit on the break throughout his career. There was also the blatant thumbing against Davey Moore.

Not sure who Duran's dirtiest opponent was supposed to be.