BoxRec

On January 21st, 1978 in Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas, NV. On a bright Saturday afternoon, Panama's great Roberto Duran, the WBA World Lightweight Champion with 11 defenses since 1972, was fighting for the third time, one of his greatest nemesis: Puerto Rico's Esteban De Jesus, who was also the WBC World Lightweight Champion. It was very surprising to me this time seeing Duran counterpunching beautifully his foe instead of going wildly into the attack. Duran won by a 12th round TKO in a great fight and became the undisputed lightweight champion of the world. It was Duran's last fight at lightweight. By then, many experts started to name The Hands of Stone, as the greatest lightweight fighter that ever lived. In the crowd was also the greats Larry Holmes and Sugar Ray Leonard and ironically, none of the two at the time, were world champions yet. Duran showed his complete fighting form. He was a MONSTER THAT DAY.

I think this was the greatest performance of this great fighter. But his victory against Leonard was his greatest ever.

I saw the fight again. This was clearly Duran's best performance.

I have heard some old school trainers say Duran fought in the weakest lw era and none of EM had Duran the best lw. Also regarding this fight Duran already fought him 2 so I'm pretty sure he knows him by now

Recycle wrote:I have heard some old school trainers say Duran fought in the weakest lw era and none of EM had Duran the best lw. Also regarding this fight Duran already fought him 2 so I'm pretty sure he knows him by now

A Peak Duran would have beaten any Lightweight who has ever lived IMO

To say that the great Roberto Duran fought in the weakest lightweight era in boxing, to me, those comments are a bunch of garbage. Even if Duran was in the era of the great Ike Williams, which was the golden age of the lightweight class, I think he would have come up on top. Duran was a complete fighter. He had it all.

I believe that Duran's era was the third best of the lightweight class behind the Ike Williams and Tony Canzonery's eras.

elmersalsa wrote:To say that the great Roberto Duran fought in the weakest lightweight era in boxing, to me, those comments are a bunch of garbage. Even if Duran was in the era of the great Ike Williams, which was the golden age of the lightweight class, I think he would have come up on top. Duran was a complete fighter. He had it all.

I believe that Duran's era was the third best of the lightweight class behind the Ike Williams and Tony Canzonery's eras.

I forgot which fighters they mentioned but, talking abt arcel and co, some contenders Duran fought they described as the worst contenders in lw ever

Recycle wrote:

elmersalsa wrote:To say that the great Roberto Duran fought in the weakest lightweight era in boxing, to me, those comments are a bunch of garbage. Even if Duran was in the era of the great Ike Williams, which was the golden age of the lightweight class, I think he would have come up on top. Duran was a complete fighter. He had it all.

I believe that Duran's era was the third best of the lightweight class behind the Ike Williams and Tony Canzonery's eras.

I forgot which fighters they mentioned but, talking abt arcel and co, some contenders Duran fought they described as the worst contenders in lw ever

Duran was the best LW who ever graced the ring IMO

The worst Lightweight era is going on as we speak.

SaadOffTheDeck wrote:The worst Lightweight era is going on as we speak.

But boxing genius Recycle says Duran's era was the worst.

Il Duce wrote:Before the January 21, 1978 Championship Unification Bout,

In early December 1977,
CBS wanted to showcase both fighters in 'tune-up bouts', on the same day but in different locations.

In Panama, Roberto was supposed to take on Jorge 'Kid Dynamita' Morales (a Puerto Rican living in Los Angeles)
with a record of 15-4-0 (7 KO's) in a 10-Round 'over-the-weight' bout.

In Puerto Rico, Esteban was supposed to take on Felix Sune (Panamanian Lightweight Champion) with a
record of 21-2-2 (7 KO's) in a 10-Round 'over-the-weight' bout.

Then with interviews, with each Champion disparaging the other. Sounded good.

Oh man, I did not know that...Thanks for the information.

Il Duce wrote:Early Betting-line,,,,,,,,,,,,Roberto Duran was a 2-1 Favorite.

Fight Purses............Roberto Duran - $250,000...........Esteban De Jesus - $150,000

Now guys make 5 times more than that. It is a great shame.

Recycle wrote:I have heard some old school trainers say Duran fought in the weakest lw era and none of EM had Duran the best lw. Also regarding this fight Duran already fought him 2 so I'm pretty sure he knows him by now

Certainly not Duran's fault that the era was weak, he can only fight the best fighters around at the time. However, compare the 1970s lightweights to other eras:

1960s- Carlos Ortiz of course. Joe Brown was still pretty good in the early 1960s. There was also Mando Ramos, Laguna, Dave Charnley, Carlos Teo Cruz. Kenny Lane and Sugar Ramos fought there some as well. Not great, but a decent era.

1950s-Jimmy Carter,Lauro Salas,Paddy DEMarco,Wallace Bud Smith,Joe Brown, Dave Charnley,Ralph Dupas, Kenny Lane.

1940s - Lew Jenkins, Sammy Angott,Beu Jack,Bob Montgomery,Ike Williams, Tippy Larkin, Juan Zurita.

1930s- Al Singer, Tony Canzoneri,Barney Ross,Lou Ambers, Henry Armstrong,Jack Kid Berg, Billy Petrolle.

1920s- Benny Leonard, Rocky Kansas,Sammy Mandell, Lew Tendler

1910-1919 - Ad Wolgast, Willie Ritchie,Freddie Welsh, Benny Leonard, Joe Rivers, Tommy Murphy

Il Duce wrote:I don't believe the Lightweight Era was weak back then,,,,,,,

Just that Roberto's Manager - the rich and powerful Carlos Eleta was a 'smart businessman' who
knew how to protect his investment.

Carlos Eleta avoided,
* Carlos Ortiz................(in New York)
* Ken Buchanan II.........(in New York)
* Esteban De Jesus II.....(in Puerto Rico)
* Ben Villaflor................(in Hawaii)
* Rodolfo Gonzalez.........(in Los Angeles)
* Antonio Cervantes........(anywhere for the WBA Light-Welterweight Championship)
* Ray Lampkin II............(in Washington, United States)

Glad Duran never fought Ortiz in, say, 72 after he'd won the title. Ortiz would've been waaaaaay past it by then. Lampkin got pounded in the first fight, and I believe he was hospitalized.

Il Duce wrote:'Lightning' Ray Lampkin,

Destroyed by the heat in Panama as well. He fought very well, for a guy with 'no punch'.

Ray wanted the rematch in the Pacific Northwest, where he wouldn't be affected by the heat and humidity.

Of course, as a Challenger, nobody has to meet your demands.

Unless you're Floyd, DLH, SRL, etc.
:)