June 22, 1979: Duran vs Palomino.....45 Years Ago.
Posted: 28 Jun 2024, 18:23
On Friday night of June 22, 1979, at the famous Madison Square Garden in New York City, Roberto Duran fights Carlos Palomino in a ten-rounder.
This was Duran's third fight at welterweight and many were wondering that if he could be as effective as Welterweight as when he was the king of the lightweights. Can he take a welterweight shot? Can he be as fast as he was at lightweight? Would the real welterweight boxers be too strong for him? And if he can't handle the welterweights, would he go back down to lightweight?
Going back down to lightweight was out of the question. He already ruled there with fists of Stone in 12 title defenses in almost 7 years as lightweight king.
Palomino became the first legitimate threat for the former lightweight champion.
Meanwhile, Palomino 29, out of Los Angeles, CA, was already dethroned by split decision in January in San Juan by the great Wilfred Benitez. This was his first fight since losing his crown. He was the former WBC and Lineal World Welterweight Champion from 1976 to 1979. He made 8 title defenses.
Duran and Palomino went toe to toe for the people present at ringside.
Before the fight, Palomino, aware of Duran's early behavior before and after bouts, was ready physically and psychologically to fight Duran. This was his crossroad bout to get back at Benitez for a rematch later on the year.
Duran? Well, at 28 was trying to prove that he belongs in the welterweight title contention and for a big payday, if he wins, against the ferocious puncher from Mexico, the WBA World Welterweight Champion, Pipino Cuevas!
By the surprise of many, Duran dominated Palomino inside the trenches. Palomino was supposed to be bigger and stronger than the Hands of Stone at welterweight.
For ten rounds, the fight was very lopsided in which Duran won comfortably by unanimous decision. He even dropped Palomino in the 6th round with a jolting right!
Not only Duran proved that he could be at welterweight, but he also proved that he could be a force in the division. It was stacked with young and promising rising stars like Sugar Ray Leonard of Palmer Park, MD, the former Olympic Gold Medalist. And also, there was Benitez of Puerto Rico and Cuevas of Mexico as champions and at last, there was the rising star, the undefeated contender, the fearsome Thomas "The Hitman" Hearns of Detroit, MI.
Duran improves to 68-1, with 54 knockouts and is one of the leading contenders of the Welterweight throne.
Palomino retired after the fight with a record of 27-3-3 with 15 knockouts.
This was Duran's third fight at welterweight and many were wondering that if he could be as effective as Welterweight as when he was the king of the lightweights. Can he take a welterweight shot? Can he be as fast as he was at lightweight? Would the real welterweight boxers be too strong for him? And if he can't handle the welterweights, would he go back down to lightweight?
Going back down to lightweight was out of the question. He already ruled there with fists of Stone in 12 title defenses in almost 7 years as lightweight king.
Palomino became the first legitimate threat for the former lightweight champion.
Meanwhile, Palomino 29, out of Los Angeles, CA, was already dethroned by split decision in January in San Juan by the great Wilfred Benitez. This was his first fight since losing his crown. He was the former WBC and Lineal World Welterweight Champion from 1976 to 1979. He made 8 title defenses.
Duran and Palomino went toe to toe for the people present at ringside.
Before the fight, Palomino, aware of Duran's early behavior before and after bouts, was ready physically and psychologically to fight Duran. This was his crossroad bout to get back at Benitez for a rematch later on the year.
Duran? Well, at 28 was trying to prove that he belongs in the welterweight title contention and for a big payday, if he wins, against the ferocious puncher from Mexico, the WBA World Welterweight Champion, Pipino Cuevas!
By the surprise of many, Duran dominated Palomino inside the trenches. Palomino was supposed to be bigger and stronger than the Hands of Stone at welterweight.
For ten rounds, the fight was very lopsided in which Duran won comfortably by unanimous decision. He even dropped Palomino in the 6th round with a jolting right!
Not only Duran proved that he could be at welterweight, but he also proved that he could be a force in the division. It was stacked with young and promising rising stars like Sugar Ray Leonard of Palmer Park, MD, the former Olympic Gold Medalist. And also, there was Benitez of Puerto Rico and Cuevas of Mexico as champions and at last, there was the rising star, the undefeated contender, the fearsome Thomas "The Hitman" Hearns of Detroit, MI.
Duran improves to 68-1, with 54 knockouts and is one of the leading contenders of the Welterweight throne.
Palomino retired after the fight with a record of 27-3-3 with 15 knockouts.