Happy birthday Roberto the Great

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 16 Jun 2004, 10:03

One of the greatest fighters of all time, Roberto Duran, is 53 today. Brother, could he fight!

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 16 Jun 2004, 11:46

I'm proud to say I've shook hands with the Hands Of Stone himself, it was a great moment for me.

Happy birthday Champ

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 16 Jun 2004, 11:53

KOJOE90 wrote:I'm proud to say I've shook hands with the Hands Of Stone himself, it was a great moment for me.

Happy birthday Champ

Was that at Telford?

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 16 Jun 2004, 11:56

bennie wrote:
KOJOE90 wrote:I'm proud to say I've shook hands with the Hands Of Stone himself, it was a great moment for me.

Happy birthday Champ
Was that at Telford?

Yes mate, I'm not as closely involved with the sport as many of you guys are on this forum, so have not met many Boxer face to face, so meeting and talking to the great Duran was a big moment for me.

knockout artist · Post by **knockout artist** » 16 Jun 2004, 12:05

KOJOE90 wrote:I'm proud to say I've shook hands with the Hands Of Stone himself, it was a great moment for me.

Happy birthday Champ

You shook hand with the greatest fighter of the 1970's.

What was it like meeting him.

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 16 Jun 2004, 12:10

knockout artist wrote:
KOJOE90 wrote:I'm proud to say I've shook hands with the Hands Of Stone himself, it was a great moment for me.

Happy birthday Champ
You shook hand with the greatest fighter of the 1970's.

What was it like meeting him.

I was so nervous, and a little drunk, I was suprised how well and healthy he looked, seemed full of life and in great spirits.

Got to have a short chat with him through his translator (who looked like he should have been in the film The Usual Suspects!), asked him a few questions, had my photo took with him and got a signed picture off him.

The man was a total gent.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 16 Jun 2004, 12:12

Good call, knockout artist. Duran was the best fighter of the 70's. Considering a certain Muhammad Ali was also around, it speaks for itself. But Ali was a faded force after The Thrilla in Manila in 1975. Duran, on the other hand, remained dynamite throughout the decade.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 16 Jun 2004, 12:21

It's a shame that Duran lacked that little bit of discipline in his career, and didn't always turn up in the best of shape, his few losses in his prime generally detract from his standing.

For me, the best victory of his career was his win over Iran Barkley, when obviously over the hill and way above his best fighting weight, that or his sterling effort against Hagler.

Duran despite his reputation as a brawler was a real cutie on the inside, very difficult to nail with a clean shot, and almost impossible to avoid.

How in the hell Hearns ever did a number like that on him is beyond me, never yet seen the fight.

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 16 Jun 2004, 12:22

Talking of Duran, Kirkland Laing is 50 next week.

I wonder how he is after his fall off that balconey and his drink problems etc.

It may be a good time for Boxing News to do a little piece on him.

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=002495

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 16 Jun 2004, 12:29

jamesmcdonnell wrote:
For me, the best victory of his career was his win over Iran Barkley, when obviously over the hill and way above his best fighting weight, that or his sterling effort against Hagler.

Duran despite his reputation as a brawler was a real cutie on the inside, very difficult to nail with a clean shot, and almost impossible to avoid.

Spot on, Duran had a very sublte and underatted defence, he was also a great counter-puncher, so hence when he fought Hagler another counter-puncher the fight didn't become the 'macho' brawl many were expecting.

Hagler recieved some bad reviews for his showing against the smaller Duran, That's why I have come to believe he really went for the 'smaller' Hearns. IMO.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 16 Jun 2004, 12:32

Duran was a small fighter (5ft 7ins) who moved up the weights and got by on sheer ability and fighting spirit against the bigger guys. But in Hearns, he met someone who was just too big for him - too long-armed. Duran was a blown up lightweight. Hearns a boiled down light-heavyweight.
Emmanuel Steward (when he was good) also got the tactics spot on. Duran had no discernible weaknesses and had never been knocked out. But Steward studied him and said: "I noticed Duran had a habit of blocking punches with his right glove, so I had Tommy jabbing to the body and the shoulder to bring Duran's blocking hand lower and expose his jaw. Second round, Tommy dropped the right hand over and that was that."

PS: I recommend you get a copy of the fight, James. The final right cracks off Duran's jaw like a bolt of lightning.

kevo · Post by **kevo** » 16 Jun 2004, 14:41

bennie wrote: PS: I recommend you get a copy of the fight, James. The final right cracks off Duran's jaw like a bolt of lightning.

One of my favourite ever KO's. I bet his heads still ringing now.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 16 Jun 2004, 14:47

Yes, and no-one ever did that to Duran again.

hitman_hatton1 · Post by **hitman_hatton1** » 16 Jun 2004, 15:46

duran-hearns is definitely an essential

hearns starts fast and just doesn't let duran into it. he floors him and shakes him up badly in the first and is going in for the finish in the 2nd when he lands that final right hand bomb.

i've got a few duran fights i personally think his best performance is between the 1st fight with leonard or the davey moore fight.

The Devil In Roy Jones · Post by **The Devil In Roy Jones** » 16 Jun 2004, 17:41

whoa, happy birthday to el manos de piedra. I will watch him take on Leonard in Montreal in tribute. Duran is all over Leonard like a hobo over a ham sandwhich in that fight.

James, by all means check out the brutal and complete annihilation that is Duran - Hearns. But also keep an eye out for the documentary HBO made of Hagler - Hearns in their 'legendary nights' series. They show clips from Duran - Hearns, but the footage is remastered and the sound is unfuckingbelievable when Hearns ices him. It's like being in the ring with them. I was shocked. :x

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 16 Jun 2004, 17:52

Duran was really superb... a real great!... even if his career had ended after his Lightweight reign he'd be considered and all time great.... but his victories in the 80s showed that he was one of a few number of great fighters who can continue to win big fights even when past their best. He became more of a boxer as he moved up in weight and it was these skills which allowed him to beat BARKLEY in what I think was his greatest win... when you think that Iran was of simular size to Hearns, stronger even, it is an astonishing performance by Duran at 37.
I have some of Durans final fights and even in his mid 40s he still had great ability...... I love the way he'd go toe-to-toe and slip punches with a turn of his head.... he has to be one of the greatest infighters ever.
Happy Birthday champ

8)

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 16 Jun 2004, 18:09

The next day after the Hearns fight I picked up the paper to see what happened: Hearns KO 2.

Right, I thought, they've got that wrong. So I picked up another paper to get the right result - and there's a photo of Duran being flattened by Hearns - to say I was shocked is the understatement of the year.
No-one could imagine Duran getting knocked out like that in two rounds...it was just unbelievable.
Saw it on ITV a few days later, and you'll never see a harder punch than that.
Along with Ali and Monzon, Roberto was THE fighter of the 70's.

According to Mike Katz, Don King used to give him $1000 everytime he scored a knockout. He'd storm into his dressing room and say to King "Gimme 1000 dollars!"

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 16 Jun 2004, 18:10

MightyWarrior wrote:The next day after the Hearns fight I picked up the paper to see what happened: Hearns KO 2.

Right, I thought, they've got that wrong. So I picked up another paper to get the right result - and there's a photo of Duran being flattened by Hearns - to say I was shocked is the understatement of the year.
No-one could imagine Duran getting knocked out like that in two rounds...it was just unbelievable.
Saw it on ITV a few days later, and you'll never see a harder punch than that.
Along with Ali and Monzon, Roberto was THE fighter of the 70's.

According to Mike Katz, Don King used to give him $1000 everytime he scored a knockout. He'd storm into his dressing room and say to King "Gimme 1000 dollars!"

Christ, King must have lost a lot of money.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 16 Jun 2004, 18:12

bennie wrote: Christ, King must have lost a lot of money.

Larry Holmes was probably paying

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 16 Jun 2004, 18:15

MightyWarrior wrote:
bennie wrote: Christ, King must have lost a lot of money.
Larry Holmes was probably paying

REAL_DEAL · Post by **REAL_DEAL** » 17 Jun 2004, 09:57

KOJOE90 wrote:Talking of Duran, Kirkland Laing is 50 next week.

I wonder how he is after his fall off that balconey and his drink problems etc.

It may be a good time for Boxing News to do a little piece on him.

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=002495

I heard someone at a show from boxing news spotted him but the plonker didnt talk to him.

dondada · Post by **dondada** » 17 Jun 2004, 10:07

I recommend El Cholo's third fight with Esteban DeJesus. Totally imposed his will on a very classy opponent and certainly didn't have everything his own way early on. But was totally relentless.

A great fighter. BTW, little plug, but if you like Duran, get Uppercut magazine as I've done a retrospective on Duran-Leonard I.

Shameless promotion.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 17 Jun 2004, 10:12

REAL_DEAL wrote:
KOJOE90 wrote:Talking of Duran, Kirkland Laing is 50 next week.

I wonder how he is after his fall off that balconey and his drink problems etc.

It may be a good time for Boxing News to do a little piece on him.

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=002495
I heard someone at a show from boxing news spotted him but the plonker didnt talk to him.

I've heard Laing is dead.

REAL_DEAL · Post by **REAL_DEAL** » 17 Jun 2004, 10:14

bennie wrote:
REAL_DEAL wrote:
KOJOE90 wrote:Talking of Duran, Kirkland Laing is 50 next week.

I wonder how he is after his fall off that balconey and his drink problems etc.

It may be a good time for Boxing News to do a little piece on him.

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=002495
I heard someone at a show from boxing news spotted him but the plonker didnt talk to him.
I've heard Laing is dead.

i heard he was thrown off a building in coma but Survived.

dondada · Post by **dondada** » 17 Jun 2004, 10:19

bennie wrote: I've heard Laing is dead.

For fornicate's sake, bennie. Hope this isn't true but would be unsurprising. Surely it would have made the news, despite him being down and out. Unless it's just happened.