Roberto Duran vs Ray Lampkin: 50 Years Later.

[elmersalsa]

On a hot Sunday afternoon in Panama City, Panama at the Nuevo Panama Gymnasium, Roberto Duran successfully defended his WBA World Lightweight Crown when he stopped Ray Lampkin of Portland, OR in 14 grueling rounds.

It was one of Duran's toughest and brutal fights of his career at lightweight. Lampkin gave Duran all he could handle and more. The slugfest ended with a brutal left hook to the jaw that sent Lampkin to the canvas until the tenth count.

And still after the count, Lampkin was still on the canvas unconscious. History says that Lampkin was totally out for 80 minutes. His left leg temporarily paralyzed. It was a miracle that he survived. He spent 5 days in a Panama City hospital.

Duran celebrated by jumping up and down in stopping Lampkin in his sixth title defense. Later, after knowing Lampkin's state, Duran said "I was not in great shape and sent him to the hospital. Next time, I will send him to the morgue!"

Those words resonated with Duran until this day. Is Duran a savage boxer with ill intentions and no heart for the human condition of a fallen fighter?

It was one of the greatest fights in lightweight history. A very underrated contest. The fight was broadcast live to the United States on ABC Sports.

Lampkin, the former NABF Lightweight Champion, was never the same fighter again. He had a couple of fights after that and retired in 1976.

[Caractacus]

doesn't sound like this fight was shown on an American Network (?)

[Norm]

This post is so timely to me. I reached back wondering what the most impressionable bout that made me a boxing fan. After many thoughts, Lampkin vs Duran was the answer. It seemed like the arena in Panama was a furnace and Lampkin, being from Portland, Or., gave me a regional favorite. Hell of a bout and Duran emerged incredible and the baddest in the ring.

[Ezzard]

My uncle was a huge boxing fan and I believe had a few amateur bouts in his youth.

I remember he would always talk about Ray Lampkin as an underrated fighter who could have been a champion in a different era.

[elmersalsa]

My uncle was a huge boxing fan and I believe had a few amateur bouts in his youth.

I remember he would always talk about Ray Lampkin as an underrated fighter who could have been a champion in a different era.

Ray Lampkin was a good fighter. He was the NABF Lightweight Champion at the time he fought Roberto Duran. He even had two decision losses to Esteban De Jesus of Puerto Rico for that same title.

To say that Duran fought weak opposition is totally false. He fought some good quality opponents at lightweight. Those who think differently either they are wicked, wrongly biased or ignorant about the sport.

[elmersalsa]

doesn't sound like this fight was shown on an American Network (?)

It was broadcast on CBS.

[Caractacus]

That was the fight were Roberto Duran (infamously) said in the post-fight press conference,

"This time I send him to the hospital-
Next time I send him to the morgue !"

[elmersalsa]

That was the fight were Roberto Duran (infamously) said in the post-fight press conference,

"This time I send him to the hospital-
Next time I send him to the morgue !"

The media, the American boxing media, always wanted to portray Roberto Duran as a savage, no-heart and evil assassin in those days at lightweight. Unfortunately, lots of people in America bought it.

They never reported that indeed, Duran went to see Ray Lampkin at the hospital of his well being.

[Caractacus]

doesn't sound like this fight was shown on an American Network (?)

It was broadcast on CBS.

by the way ,has anyone seen the American CBS Sports Spectaculer broadcast,
where Don Criqui calls the fight and goes into the ring afterward to interview Duran ?
The only version on youtube is the Spanish language version that was posted 18 years ago (Youtube is only 20 yrs old)