Roberto Duran 'Light-Welterweight Champion'

Roberto Duran,

January 21, 1978

After 'destroying' (TKO 12) WBC Lightweight Champion - Esteban De Jesus
52-3-0 in a World Lightweight Championship 'unification bout', the
26 1/2 year-old Roberto Duran reached the 'pinnacle' of his remarkable
run at 135 lbs.

Roberto, at 63-1-0 (53 KO's), with some battles of 'weight gain' between
fights, had completely 'wiped out' the Lightweight Division.

At that time {January 1978} there was nowhere to go, but up.
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In the 140 lb. Light-Welterweight Division.

Directly in front of Roberto, was WBA Champion - 32 1/2 year-old
Columbian - Antonio 'Kid Pambele' Cervantes 81-10-3 (39 KO's), the
slick-boxing technician with razor sharp punching, and tremendous
boxing experience.

On the other side of the globe, was the WBC Champion - Thailand's
27 1/2 year-old Saensak 'Boomsong' Muangsurin 12-1-0 (9 KO's).
The former Muay-Thai fighter, a southpaw with 'The Hard Left Fist'.
Saensak was a notoriously unmerciful fighter, with the ability to take
a tremendous blow, laugh it off, and ridicule his opponents.

Don King, did attempt to lineup bouts with both the WBA and WBC
Champions, but nothing could get 'signed'.

 

February 1, 1978

The Skinny on Antonio Cervantes

Despite the claim of 32 1/2 years old, many say that 'Kid Pambele' is
every bit of 37.

Since turning professional in January 1964 in Columbia, 'Kid Pambele' has
been in '94-bouts', compiling a record of 81-10-3 (39 KO's).

But Cervantes himself, who started off as a 'skinny' 126 lb. Featherweight,
stated that he began his professional career in '1961', and has been involved
in '125-bouts' with over '100' victories.

The 5' 9" tall 'rail thin' Columbian, is in remarkable condition, and his 72" reach,
makes him a difficult opponent to get close to without eating a punch.

The 'quiet question' about 'Kid Pambele' is regarding his bout with 'Wunderkind'
Wilfred Benitez in Puerto Rico, on March 6, 1976 - where he was defeated and
lost his WBA Light-Welterweight Championship.

Rumors are, that Antonio threw the bout for a $200,000 fight purse. The fight purse
was more than 'double' than his previous highest purse of $90,000.

Antonio never 'fully' answered questions regarding that bout in Puerto Rico, other
than that he had a 'signed contract' for a rematch with Wilfred Benitez that was
supposed to take place in late-1976 or early-1977.
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On June 1, 1977 - The WBA 'vacated' the Light-Welterweight Championship, when Wilfred Benitez failed
to defend his 'Title' versus the #1 WBA-ranked Challenger - Antonio 'Kid Pambele' Cervantes.

On June 25, 1977 - #1 WBA-ranked 'Kid Pambele' won the 'vacant' WBA Light-Welterweight Championship
in Venezuela, when he stopped by cut (TKO 6) #2 WBA-ranked, 29 year-old Agentinian
Carlos Maria Giminez 98-7-4 (54 KO's).

4 1/2 Months later,

On November 5, 1977 - and again in Venezuela, 'Kid Pambele' won a 'very dull' Decision (W Unan. Dec 15)
over 'light-punching' Dominican #8 WBA-ranked - Adriano 'Nani' Marrero 24-8-2 (3 KO's) in his
'First Defense' of his 'Second Reign' as WBA Light-Welterweight Championship.
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The 'Spring of 1978' was the perfect time for an Antonio Cervantes vs. Roberto Duran 'Championship Bout'.

 

You have to give Don King some credit for at least 'trying' to put these
bouts together.

Roberto's manager, Carlos Eleta and Antonio's manager, Ramiro Machado
played 'hard ball' on the fight location.

The 'dinero' was there, ready to be packed up and taken to the Cayman Islands.
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On March 10, 1978 in Columbia.

Antonio Cervantes took out (TKO 3) American journeyman 'Irish' Johnny Copeland 34-26-1 (29 KO's)
in a 'tune-up' non-title bout.

Afterwards, in a Columbian interview, he challenged Roberto Duran, and said that the 'Panamanian Manager'
of Duran was playing games with their livelihood.

Antonio Cervantes;
'The time is now, not later. If one of us lose, it is not the end of the world. I have lost before, and have
come back to win a World Championship. That is what build's one's character. He is so afraid of losing,
that he now has fear. I'm not afraid to lose, that is why I have courage'.

 

On Saensak Muangsurin,

He had stopped (TKO 14) #1 WBC-ranked French-based - Jo Kimpuani 38-1-0 (23 KO's)
in a grueling bout in Thailand on December 30, 1977.

Don King was 'attempting' to hook up Saensak versus WBC Welterweight
Champion for sometime in early-1978, either in Las Vegas or Los Angeles.

Saensak's manager, Tiembonn Intrabutra, agreed in principal, but wanted to be assured
that the WBC would still recognize Saensak as the WBC Light-Welterweight Champion,
in the event that he lost to Carlos Palomino for the 147 lb. crown.

While that was being worked out, Tiembonn Intrabutra suggested that
Saensak fight Roberto Duran instead.

But Carlos Eleta wanted Roberto Duran took have a tune-up with a 'southpaw' first,
before tangling with Saensak.
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Unable to 'secure' a bout with Roberto Duran in March 1978 - Saensak Muangsurin took on
#8 WBC-ranked Venezuelan - Franciso 'The Mad Bull' Moreno 28-4-0 (13 KO's) in Thailand
on April 8, 1978. Saensak won by TKO 13.

This content is protected

 

R/T

Both the WBA and WBC still recognized Roberto Duran as their 135 lb. Lightweight
Champion through 1978.

Roberto took on 'southpaw' Light-Welterweight - Adolfo Viruet 15-2-0 (5 KO's)
in a 10-Round 'non-title' bout at Madison Square Garden on April 27, 1978.

Roberto came in at 142 lbs. - the heaviest ever for a bout.

It was advertised as a "Roberto Duran Invades the Light-Welterweight's" venue.

This bout could have been regarded as a 'prep bout' for southpaw Saensak Muangsurin.

Roberto won a 10-Round Unanimous Decision over the 'smart and tricky' counter-punching
Adlofo, but was uanble to hurt Mr. Viruet or dominate like he usually could do.

 

April 28, 1978

While Roberto Duran was out-pointing Adolfo Viruet over 10-Rounds in New York.

WBA Light-Welterweight Champion - Antonio Cervantes was defending his 'Title' in Thailand.

The 32 1/2 year-old - 'Kid Pambele' stopped (KO 6) #1 WBA-ranked -
'Thai' Tongta Kiatvayupakdi 26-1-0 (22 KO's), a ferocious hitting 'southpaw' who
was the 'stablemate' of WBC Champion - Saensak Muangsurin.

This put the 'proverbial ball' in Roberto Duran's court to 'sign-on-the-dotted line',
and fight one of the Light-Welterweight Champions.

 

What faced Roberto Duran in February 1978

Light-Welterweight Division

WBA Champion - Antonio 'Kid Pambele' Cervantes * 81-10-3 (39 KO's)

WBC Champion - Saensak 'Boomsong' Muangurin * 12-1-0 (9 KO's)

#1....Miguel Montilla................24-3-3 (17 KO's)
#2....Jo Kimpuani....................39-2-0 (23 KO's)
#3....Monroe Brooks.................36-3-3 (24 KO's)
#4....Bruce Curry.....................15-1-0 (8 KO's)
#5....Hector Hernandez.............27-2-2 (16 KO's)
#6....Perico Fernandez..............42-5-10 (20 KO's)
#7....Saoul Mamby...................20-12-5 (8 KO's)
#8....Tongta Kiatvayupakdi.......26-1-0 (22 KO's)
#9....Lachie Austin...................21-5-1 (6 KO's)
#10..Hector Thompson..............67-7-2 (23 KO's)
#11..Jean-Baptiste Piedvache.....42-4-0 (19 KO's)
#12...Fernando Sanchez............31-5-3 (12 KO's)
#13...Francisco Moreno.............28-4-0 (13 KO's)
#14..Adolfo Viruet....................15-2-0 (5 KO's)
#15..Adriano Marrero................25-9-2 (3 KO's)
#16..Juan Jose Giminez..............61-5-4 (30 KO's)
#17..Tony Petronelli..................37-2-1 (20 KO's)
#18..Jimmy Corkum...................27-1-0 (18 KO's)
#19..Moises Cantoja.................37-5-1 (12 KO's)
#20..Noboru Hatakeyama...........14-2-1 (4 KO's)
#21..Leroy Haley......................34-1-1 (11 KO's)
#22..Carlos Maria Giminez...........100-9-4 (55 KO's)
#23..Colin Powers......................18-1-1 (12 KO's)
#24..Sperling Pangaribuan...........23-3-0 (8 KO's)
#25..Sang-Hyun Kim..................18-2-2 (9 KO's).....{Would win the WBA Light-Welterweight Championship on 12/30/78}
#26..Ernesto Davis.....................29-7-1 (7 KO's)
#27..Guiseppe Martinese..............17-3-2 (8 KO's)
#28..Jimmy Heair........................63-15-1 (38 KO's)
#29..Harold Volbrecht..................14-1-1 (3 KO's)
#30..Hugo Luero.........................16-1-2 (8 KO's)

 

It looks that way,

But Roberto didn't seem to 'bend' in the negotiations for a 'Spring 1978'
fight.

After Roberto defeated (W Dec 10) Adolfo Viruet on April 27, 1978
at Madison Square Graden, he got 'fat' and disappeared for '7-months'.

His only fight during that time, was a 'knockout' (KO 1) over a 'non-entity'
Ezequiel Obandano in Panama, on September 1, 1978. And that bout was
fought at 150+ lbs.

 

Both Roberto Duran and Esteban De Jesus were still ranked as
Lightweights by both the WBA and WBC, as of February 1978.

 

pmfan,

Correct,

But Roberto did not walk through 'light-punching' Adlofo Viruet in his
first real decent 140 lb. opponent in April 1978.

I believe Roberto would have had a 'tough time' with 'Kid Pambele' in early-1978,
before wearing the 'aged' Columbian down, and then going on to win a 15-Round Decision.

With Saensak, the Thai-fighter suffered a detached retina in 1978, but
fought on as 'damaged goods'. A 100% Sanesak, would have been a
great battle with Roberto in early-1978..

 

LH 71

Yes

Tuesday Night - May 4, 1976

Miami Bech, Florida

10-Round 'non-title' bout {139 lb. weight limit}

Roberto Duran 54-1-0 (48 KO's) defeated (W DEC 10) 'Sweet' Saoul Mamby 18-8-4 (8 KO's).

Roberto Duran is 26 years-old. 5' 7" and 139 1/2 lbs.

'Sweet' Saoul Mamby is 29 years-old. 5' 8" and 138 3/4 lbs.

In a Light-Welterweight bout, Roberto Duran 'pressed' and tried to take out
'rock-jawed' 'Sweet Saoul. By nmid-fight, Roberto became frustrated, as Saoul was content to
box and move, and avoid any exchanges with the WBA Lightweight Champion.

After Round 7, Roberto realized that trying to 'knockout' Saoul was a 'fruitless effort'.

Over the last 3-Rounds, Roberto was content to jab his way inside, and then work the body when
the openings became available. 'Sweet Saoul' did counter-punch well in a couple of the later
Rounds, but he did not do enough to slow Roberto down.

Scorecards in Rounds { 8-2-0 / 6-2-2 / 5-2-3 }