Page 1 of 1
Re: Roberto Duran 'Light-Welterweight Challenge for 1978'
Posted: 16 Jan 2013, 20:54
by elmersalsa
Il Duce wrote:January 21, 1978
Roberto Duran, after winning the WBA/WBC Lightweight Championship 'Title Unification' by destroying (KO 11)
Esteban De Jesus had run out of legitimate challenges.
The 26 1/2 year-old, who had been struggling to make the 135 lb. weight limit, looked to be heading into the
140 lb. Light-Welterweight Division.
Straight ahead, was the WBA Champion - veteran Antonio 'Kid Pambele' Cervantes, who appeared to be
ready to battle with Roberto. The 32 year-old Colombian was as slick as anybody in the ring, and had all the punches in
the book to go along with the his ring generalship.
On the other side of the globe, in Thailand was 'The Shadow of the Devil', WBC Champion - Saensak Muangsurin.
The 27 year-old southpaw Thai-fighter had enormous strength and granite chin, to go along with a vicious straight left hand
that destroyed his opponents.
None of the two would have beaten the great Roberto Duran.
Re: Roberto Duran 'Light-Welterweight Challenge for 1978'
Posted: 17 Jan 2013, 06:34
by spudder56
elmersalsa wrote:Il Duce wrote:January 21, 1978
Roberto Duran, after winning the WBA/WBC Lightweight Championship 'Title Unification' by destroying (KO 11)
Esteban De Jesus had run out of legitimate challenges.
The 26 1/2 year-old, who had been struggling to make the 135 lb. weight limit, looked to be heading into the
140 lb. Light-Welterweight Division.
Straight ahead, was the WBA Champion - veteran Antonio 'Kid Pambele' Cervantes, who appeared to be
ready to battle with Roberto. The 32 year-old Colombian was as slick as anybody in the ring, and had all the punches in
the book to go along with the his ring generalship.
On the other side of the globe, in Thailand was 'The Shadow of the Devil', WBC Champion - Saensak Muangsurin.
The 27 year-old southpaw Thai-fighter had enormous strength and granite chin, to go along with a vicious straight left hand
that destroyed his opponents.
None of the two would have beaten the great Roberto Duran.
X2 Mate neither of them would have beaten Duran in fact I think Duran would have stopped both of them
Re: Roberto Duran 'Light-Welterweight Challenge for 1978'
Posted: 17 Jan 2013, 10:01
by Ezzard
As a kid, when boxers were trying to get that 4 weigth division title record, i was always very impressed that Duran jumped straight to 147 from 135.
he would have been the first 4 weight champ by quite a number of years if he'd have done this.
Duran was all about the glory rather than the trinkets though.
Re: Roberto Duran 'Light-Welterweight Challenge for 1978'
Posted: 22 Jan 2013, 13:45
by Nile4000
he was scared.
Re: Roberto Duran 'Light-Welterweight Challenge for 1978'
Posted: 22 Jan 2013, 13:57
by Adamj1987
duran would of handelled them both easily
Re: Roberto Duran 'Light-Welterweight Challenge for 1978'
Posted: 25 Jan 2013, 07:01
by bluerosekiller
Cervantes was a slick, tricky boxer with under-appreciated power that could have troubled Duran quite a bit on the right given night. While he might have been a bit past it in '78, he certainly had more in the tank than he did when he was belted out by Aaron Pryor in 1980. Therefore, I think he may have troubled Duran a bit early on & held his own for a few rounds before getting broken down by Duran's pressure, body attack & superior firepower.
I like Duran by KO11.
Had Duran gone after the WBC belt & the two time Thai champion?
While Muangsurin was a vicious hitter, IMO he just didn't have the skills to hang with Duran.
So, while strong & brave, I think Duran would have thoroughly outboxed him & punished him for a few rounds before scoring a KO in 6.
Re: Roberto Duran 'Light-Welterweight Challenge for 1978'
Posted: 27 Jan 2013, 15:48
by elmersalsa
Il Duce wrote:Common Opponent,
Austrailian - Hector 'The Brisbane Bomber' Thompson.
vs. Roberto Duran (June 2, 1973)
{22 year-old} Roberto Duran (35-1-0) scores a TKO 8 over {24 year-old} Hector Thompson in Panama. Hector was a
late replacement Title Challenger, and only had 10-Days to prepare for this bout in the high heat and humidity at the
Gimnasio Nuevo in Panama.
Roberto starts out fast, and uses a high-punch rate to out-speed 'The Brisbane Bomber'.
Roberto scores a 'flash-knockdown' over Hector late in Round 3, by landing a tremendous right-hand to the jaw. It was the
'first-time' the Australian had ever been floored. But Hector was tough, and was not hurt as he only went down to one-knee
and bounced up immediately.
Roberto continued with a high punch-rate in Round 4, but Hector continued to press the action, and landed a vicious right-hand
to Roberto's chin late in the Round that 'stiffened' the Champion upright.
Robert again attacked fast in Rounds 5 and 6, and utlized his quicker hand-speed with a 'rapid-fire' attack. But Hector
remained in front of Roberto, and was willing to go 'toe-to-toe', and started to force him backwards. Late in Round 6, Hector
landed a 'wicked' right uppercut to Roberto's left eye that caused it to swell immediately.
In Round 7, Roberto looked a tired and 'arm-weary'. Hector started to now open up, and was out-punching Roberto, and
by the Rounds end, Roberto's left eye was nearly closed and he sported a bad-bruise under the eye. Robert looked tired, and
Hector by far was the 'fresher fighter' as each walked back to their respective corner's at the end of Round 7.
In Round 8, Roberto surprised Hector by again coming out fast, and started to unload everything. As he backed Hector up to
the ropes, he landed a hard right-hand that stunned Hector, and dropped him with a follow-up ripping left-hook to the chin.
Hector got up at the 8-Count, and continued, but moments later that bout was stopped as Roberto was teeing off on a
dazed Thompson........{TKO at 2:15 of Round 8}.
Surprisingly, Robert looked 'spent' as the fight was stopped by the Referee.
This was 'no easy fight' for Roberto, as Hector Thompson (though not a big-puncher) scored with some crisp punches
that rocked Roberto.
I remembered that fight like yesterday. It was definately one of the great Roberto Duran's greatest fights at lightweight. Also the Ray Lampkin fight, Roberto went through hell with him.
Re: Roberto Duran 'Light-Welterweight Challenge for 1978'
Posted: 28 Jan 2013, 17:44
by elmersalsa
Il Duce wrote:Roberto Duran vs Antonio Cervantes
A near impossible fight to pick a winner.
If they fought in late-1975
In Panama, it's Roberto.
But in Columbia or Venezuela (Kid Pamele's 2nd Home), I'd lean toward Kid Pambele.
Neutral-Ground,,,,,,,,,,,A Draw
I just can't see Antonio Cervantes beating a motivated and trained Roberto Duran at his very best. Duran wanted the fight, but Cervantes manager, Ramiro Machado, did not. Duran by TKO in 10.