Roberto Duran vs. Jimmy Batten

November 12, 1982

31 year-old Roberto Duran 74-4-0 (57 KO's) takes on Great Britain 27 year-old Jimmy Batten 36-6-0 (20 KO's)
in a Middleweight bout.

At the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida.

The former 'Multi-Champion' at his heaviest, at 157 lbs. - fights on the 'walk-out' bout of the
Aaron Pryor vs. Alexis Arguello I - WBA Light-Welterweight Championship Bout.

While many are suggesting for the Roberto Duran to retire, Duran begs Bob Arum to give him once more chance.

Bob Arum signs Roberto for a $25,000 fight-purse, for the 'walk-out' bout versus Jimmy Batten, a one-time
British-Commonwealth Light-Middleweight Champion.

Jimmy Batten, a mediocre 154 lb. fighter, who, just 6-months earlier had been blasted out in One Round (L KO1)
by 'fringe-contender' Mario Maldonado.

The fight was 'bad', as a bloated Roberto looked 'unfit' and 'awkward' in lumbering to a 'dull' 10-Round Decision
victory over Batten.

Some of the fans in attendance, actually felt sorry for Roberto, and refrained from booing his 'inept' performance.
Many in attendance, walked out half-way through the bout, as it was a 'non-fight', where it seemed neither fighter
couldn't hurt each other with a baseball bat, let alone fists.

Even Bob Arum, was seen 'shaking his head' and later said he had felt pity for the one-time great champion. It was that bad.

Though the Scorecards read (98-93 / 98-94 / 98-94), many felt the judges were very generous to Robert Duran,
and the boxing press had it much closer at 96-95 (5-4-1 in Rounds) for Roberto, while others said it should
have been Ruled a Draw.

This content is protected

 

MR. BILL,

Correct,

According to Bob Arum,

Roberto apologized to Bob Arum for his 'performance' versus Jimmy Batten. And asked
for 'one more chance, again'.

Bob Arum was not 100% convinced, and would only offer Roberto another shot, if
he followed Arum's training camp direction.

Suprisingly, Pipino Cuevas was not the 'next choice'. As Bob Arum wanted Roberto
to take '2' more tune-up bouts, befofre taking on a 'banger'.

 

The fight weight contract for the January 29, 1983 bout with Pipino Cuevas was 151 lbs.

Roberto Duran was 153 lbs. at the (one-day before) weigh-in.

Roberto had to get in a 'suana' to dry out. At the second weigh-in he came in at 152 lbs.,
where Pipino agreed to wave the fight weight-limit agreement.

In the press, 'Good Guy' Pipino Cuevas said the 'fight' was more important to the Los Angeles
boxing fans than a 1 lb. penalty.

Though Roberto was in 'good shape', he was not in 'great shape', as he was still thick around the middle.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bob Arum, originally wanted Roberto to start off with fighting Chicago Light-Middleweight 'trial-horse'
Al 'Bajina' Clay 13-8-1 (5 KO's) in a (154 lb.) bout in Chicago in late-December 1982.

He had wanted Roberto to stay in the gym, to maintain his weight, and not 'blow-up' like his usual after-fight
pattern.

 

Mr. Bill,,

All true stuff as usual.

Roberto was never a 'really fast' puncher, more deliberate than anything else.

So when he got older, he looked slow.

For me, the most 'finely tuned' Roberto, above the 135 lb. Lightweight Limit, was
against Monroe Brooks in New York, in December 1978.

Just 'murderous body punching'.

 

December 1978

New York City Press Conference

Monroe Brooks

'Roberto has never been hit by a 'hard-hitting' 140 lb. guy before. As soon as he
feels my punches, he'll know what fighting the big boys is all about'.

'After I'm done with him, he can go back to Panama and tell all his friends about me'.

Roberto Duran

'Tell Mr. Brooks, he's never been hit by Roberto Duran'.

'After I'm done with him, he won't be telling anybody anything'.

 

Jimmy Batten

Was actually a pretty decent Light-Middleweight, in his 'prime'.

Turned professional in June 1974, at age 18 1/2.

Went 25-2-0 (14 KO's) thru November 1978.

Won the British-Commonwealth Light-Middleweight Championship on February 1, 1977 -
by stopping (TKO 7) Albert Hillman.

Defeated several good 154 lb. fighters in 1977 and 1978
* (TKO 7).........Albert Hillman
* (W Dec 10)....Trevor Francis
* (TKO 4).........Larry Paul
* (W Dec 10)....Georges Warusfel
* (TKO 13).......Tony Poole

In September 1978, was rated as the #8 WBA Light-Middleweight, and was considered as a Challenger for
WBA Champion Masashi Kudo in late-1978.

But on November 21, 1978 - in a bid for the 'vacant' European Light-Middleweight Championship,
got 'cannon-balled' in the 3rd-Round (L KO 3) by 'Frenchman' Gilbert Cohen.

This content is protected

Jimmy bounced back from the 'Cohen Disaster', by 'plucking' '3' wins, to get back to 28-3-0 (15 KO's),
but was battered (L TKO 9) by Pat Thomas for the British-Commonwealth Light-Middleweight Championship,
on September 11, 1979.

Those 'losses' sent him out of the Top 20 of the 154 lb. Divsion, and relegated him to 'a good trial-horse fighter'.

 

For one thing,

No excuse for Pipino.

Though he had not fought in 13-Months, he trained 'balls-out' for this fight.

He was in Los Angeles for 6-weeks, prepping for this fight, and came in at a
'rock-hard' 149 lbs.

Pipino had alot riding on this bout.

If had won, he was supposed to fight the winner of the Donald Curry vs. Kirkland Laing bout
(another bout which never came off).