BoxRec

Posted: **24 Dec 2007, 14:25**

Great post, as always, Bennie!

Posted: **24 Dec 2007, 18:00**

the davey moore fight is my favourite duran fight.

just a massacre.

Posted: **24 Dec 2007, 18:31**

was Duran v Jimmy Batten fight shown on tv over here. I've never seen it, and don't know anything about Jimmy apart from his record on boxrec. I see if was stopped in a round a couple of fights before taking on Duran, so going the distance with him must have been a good going. Anyone with more info on this fight.

Posted: **27 Dec 2007, 09:23**

It wasn't shown on British TV. Batten allowed Duran to mess him around - land a big shot and then maul. Duran looked fat but was just sharpening up for Cuevas two months later (when he looked sensational). He would rather fight to get in shape than train.

Posted: **27 Dec 2007, 09:30**

bennie wrote:I find it quite sad when you bang in 'Roberto Duran' on youtube and the first thing that comes up is the Hearns fight, and the Hearns fight again, and yet again. One idiot has even posted it in retro style. A boxing great is worth more than that. Duran took on Tommy for the money in a 'superfight' which always lacked something. "If Reg [Gutteridge] ain't here, this fight don't mean shit," commentator Jim Rosenthal was told beforehand. And 33-year-old Duran fought like a man who knew he hadn't trained. He was aggressive and reckless, and that was horribly new from a man who could keep the pressure on whilst slipping punches like nobody else in the modern era. "It's time to have some fun," said Duran after the inevitable knockout defeat. "Some good clean fun."
It was time to eat.
Tax problems forced the Panamanian legend back, but 37-year-old Duran still had enough left to outlast Iran Barkley in a snowstorm in February 1989 - a man who twice licked Hearns - and kept on fighting because he knew nothing else. He would still be fighting today but for lung injuries sustained in a car crash in Argentina in 2001. He was simply born to fight.
You know, Duran lost only one of his first 72 fights to the dangerous and massively underrated Esteban De Jesus (points), a loss twice avenged by knockout. His weakness to 'runners' was ruthlessly exposed by Sugar Leonard in their infamous rematch in New Orleans in 1980, but Duran came back to secure redemption, as he did throughout his later pro years.
And Duran is largely remembered for those later years - for the bad nights; for a few good nights - even though he was simply unbeatable as world lightweight champion in the 1970s. His 12 challengers didn't even come to win: they came to survive. He licked world class opponents like Emiliano Villa, Edwin Viruet and Saoul Mamby in warm-ups.
As with Sugar Ray Robinson, Duran was only touchable when he hit 30 and moved up in weight.

Yes Bennie. Duran was the best LW of all, and the best fighter of the decade in the 70's.

Posted: **12 Jan 2008, 09:15**

Wales wrote:Cheers lads, I'll read 'em and send them back.

Much appreciated!!

Has Emerson sent this on yet?

Posted: **12 Jan 2008, 09:33**

Dirk Kelly wrote:
Wales wrote:Cheers lads, I'll read 'em and send them back.

Much appreciated!!

Has Emerson sent this on yet?

Bringing it to yours tonight if you can be bothered to answer my text.

Posted: **12 Jan 2008, 11:16**

KO Artist wrote:
Twinkle Toes wrote:The Duran/Hearns fight isn't pleasant viewing - Duran looked woeful in that fight, where as Hearns was at the top of his game.

Devastating knockout though.
Not an even match physically, its like asking Ricky Hatton to fight Kelly Pavlik or Joe Calzaghe.

Well I would say more like Hatton vs Margarito.

Posted: **12 Jan 2008, 14:43**

stujones wrote:
KO Artist wrote:
Twinkle Toes wrote:The Duran/Hearns fight isn't pleasant viewing - Duran looked woeful in that fight, where as Hearns was at the top of his game.

Devastating knockout though.
Not an even match physically, its like asking Ricky Hatton to fight Kelly Pavlik or Joe Calzaghe.
Well I would say more like Hatton vs Margarito.

It makes Durans win over Barkley all the more impressive (I think its his greatest career performance) especially as Barkley beat Hearns twice...
Duran couldnt deal with Hearns speed, plus I think he was dead at the weight...

Posted: **13 Jan 2008, 06:49**

The book is ok, bu a bit over-rated in my opinion.

The most annoying thing is the book must have been released in Spanish first and some of it doens't translate to english quiete well.

But still, worth a read.

Posted: **13 Jan 2008, 07:04**

I got Hands of Stone for Chistmas and I still haven't finished it yet, I agree it was probably 'translated' because sometimes it goes into a comment or rant that seems indirect to the immediate topic. If the book wasn't about Duran (a well known fighter), then you wouldn't bother with it and I also feel like a lot of Boxing books, they are just further commentaries on a fight career and Don't inject any or enough flavour on to the person, the place or the period or historical times, circumstances and facts.

I can say with great pride (modestly in all humility), that when I set out to write Gilroy was Here! - that was my mandate, a Human Interest story first and foremost, NOT just another boxing book or Sports story, but a true story, bio that can be enjoyed by all and anyone - a real Human interest story and based on all the reviews and comments we obviously suceeded. Durans book was not great it's barely good (at least in English) and if anyone here is read my book to compare, then please feel free to comment...but wheather Gilroy's story or Duran's or any other Sporting hero it should be a story told, a peoples story, not jus a running commentary or further fight reports!

Jim Glen, Gilroy was here!

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