BoxRec

Did he have any sparring partners that were either past or future contenders or champions
( that he never had fought in the ring)
or any sparring sessions that got out of hand ?

-1981-

I watched him catching his lunch from Juan nazario in 89. Here in Chicago.

Maybe it was 88. Right before he fought Jeff Lanas.

Caractacus wrote: ↑16 Jul 2024, 14:30 -1981-

I remember this at the time. It was quite notorious because Duran's physical appearance stunned the crowd at Madison Square Garden (not the main arena but in the basement known as the Felt Forum). He came in at 170 pounds in his first boxing appearance since "No Mas" and moved around for three rounds with a Panamanian amateur with the very English-sounding name of Simon Smith. The crowd grew impatient as Duran went through the motions, refusing to hurt Smith. Duran ignored the boos.

Caractacus wrote: ↑16 Jul 2024, 14:08

did you notice Duran's "War cries" there when he was sparring ?
sort of like Bruce Lee did.
Did he just do that during sparring sessions ? Because I never noticed hearing them in any of his fights on TV.

Caractacus wrote: ↑16 Jul 2024, 14:08 basket random

Great video! This is what a master of the craft looks like. Every movement is beautiful and effortless. A lot of young boxers need to take notes, as we dont have trainers like Ray Arcel and Freddie Brown who can teach this stuff anymore so the next best thing is to watch and learn.

here is what one reporter wrote while visiting Duran's training camp at Grossinger's in 1980,

" and all throughout the workout, in the ring and on the bag and rope,
he (Duran) emitted strange shrill cries".
"They were not snorts and grunts many boxers make when punching.
They were oohs and aahs, wailed in a sharp, high-pitched staccato, like cries of birds, and seemed to strike an emphasis, set a rhythm or express exuberance".

source INSIDE SPORTS April 1980

-1989-

Caractacus wrote: ↑18 Jul 2024, 14:24 -1989-

Thought it was the third fight. Duran ain't bothered in sparring and he weren't bothered in the fight, a fight he took to pay off a huge tax bill. Duran chewed up his sparring partners for the first two fights.

here is a list of some of Duran's sparring partner he had used over the years mentioned in the book
Hands of Stone by Christian Guidice (2006)

c.1971- Antonio Amaya
Mario Mola
Ismael Laguna (sparred one time)
Alfonso "Peppermint" Frazer (once)
1972- Angel "Robinson" Garcia
1974- Saoul Mamby
1976- Mike "Youngblood" Williams (middleweight,at Joe Fraziers gym in Philadelphia)
Vinnie Curto (Main ST. gym-Miami Beach)
Jorge "Dinamita" Morales
Doug Valliant
Mike "Nino' Gonzalez
Kirkland Laing
1989- Leroy Heavens (cruiserweight)quit after 4 rounds of sparring
Carlos Montero

Yeah, Duran must have taken the third fight in 1989 strickly for the "moola"
later in the fight he had Leonard badly cut over the left eye and lip (needed 60 stitches) afterwards,
but he didnt seem to go after it.
(BTW that looked like a Charles Manson "Helter Skeleter" moment there at 50 seconds into the clip)
and Carlos Montero in the 'arm-sling".

-1979-

what about proposed or cancelled fights of Roberto Duran.

He was scheduled to fight Tony Ayala after the Kirkland Laing fight
(assuming he was going to win it)

Caractacus wrote: ↑08 Aug 2024, 17:06 what about proposed or cancelled fights of Roberto Duran.

He was scheduled to fight Tony Ayala after the Kirkland Laing fight
(assuming he was going to win it)

Duran vs Arguello in the autumn of 1978. Arguello took a loosener against tricky New Yorker Vilomar Fernandez in July 1978 and was shockingly outscored. I think Fernandez did Arguello a favour.

Before he went up to welterweight, Duran was challenged by Aron Pryor
( who said he he spot Duran 10 pounds)

earlier in his boxing career, Duran was suppose to fight Mando Ramas.
He was also scheduled to defend his lightweight title against Carlos Ortiz
(on the undercard of Ali vrs Floyd Patterson II in 1972)