June 15, 1984: The destruction of Roberto Duran

I don't Duran faced a man with a legendary right hand as he did Hearns ever in his career. And I would have loved to have seen Duran face Alexis.

 

Don't forget its back to back with arms outstretched to measure reach.

 

Hearns's greatest performance. That was the fight where people started believing he could beat Hagler.

Also, a classic occasion at the now-defunct outdoor arena at Caesar's: https://www.boxingforum24.com/threa...rs-palace-boxings-greatest-ever-venue.611392/

 

The outdoor arena is not there anymore? I just figured they had different venues now. So the area they had the fights they cannot have them anymore?

 

Yeah, that’s right - it was built over to make way for a swimming pool and gardens. They built an amphitheater in 2004 where they held one of the Klitschko fights but MGM Grand has taken over from Caesar’s over the past 2 decades as the go-to venue for boxing in Vegas.

With hindsight, the temporary nature of the arena set up was always likely to mean it made way for something else but nothing has really replaced it properly.

 

Too bad. I think the greats fights which were held there were iconic. Hagler/Hearns, Hearns/Duran, Hearns/Leonard Holmes/Cooney etc etc.. they must have a plaque

 

Duran was 32. Hardly past his prime. Duran fans will say he wasn't in the best of shape, I can agree here, but conditioning or lack thereof hardly matters in a 2 round fight.

Bottom Line: Duran was much better as a lightweight. This fight was at Jr Middle. 154 pounds. Hearn's had too much reach and power. It was a blow out on the level of Foreman vs Frazier.

 

I think the out of shape thing and out of prime was exaggerated to give Duran an excuse. He could still fight then, but the Leonard fight of Nov. 1980 showed a weakness which helped people get an insight into Duran a little. Those guys Hearns,Leonard,Benitez were top notch. It took a lot to beat them, and if he was not top notch himself he would not.