One of the biggest upsets of all time: Kirkland Laing beats Roberto Duran

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Clinton, Dec 18, 2019.


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  1. Clinton

    Clinton Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I find it rather fascinating that a guy like Laing, who had already been stopped twice by tough as nails, but bad bleeder, Cymru lad Colin Jones, beat one of the greatest fighters ever in Duran. Does he get enough credit for it? Thoughts?
     
    Last edited: Dec 18, 2019
    Clinton, Dec 18, 2019
    Clinton, Dec 18, 2019
    #1
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  2. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft He Who Saw The Deep Full Member

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    On face value no, but I haven't actually watched the fight. I just know it was fairly close. I don't know how Durán looked or how Laing looked, I just know that Durán lost.
    There's rarely cries of robbery here though, which is good.
     
    George Crowcroft, Dec 18, 2019
    George Crowcroft, Dec 18, 2019
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  3. Clinton

    Clinton Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Ya there was no robbery there. Previously multiple times kod Laing beat Duran to the punch and earned the victory, no controversy there. I'm just wondering if he gets enough credit for it.
     
    Clinton, Dec 18, 2019
    Clinton, Dec 18, 2019
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  4. The Morlocks

    The Morlocks Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    DID YOU SEE THE FIGHT. DURAN IS FAT AS A COW. LARRY HOLMES SAYS DURAN TRAINED IN HIS GYM AND DRANK WHISKEY EVERY NIGHT. DURANS WORST SHAPE EVER FOR A FIGHT. EMBARRASSING.
    BUT IT HAD TOO HAPPEN TO GET HIM TO TAKE BOXING SERIOUSLY AGAIN VS CUEVAS. IN THE INTERIM IN THE WALKOUT BOUT VS BATTAN AFTER PRYOR ARGUELLO, DURAN LOOKED SO FAT AND BAD HE WAS CALLED "SANCHO PANZA" "THE FAT LITTLE PANAMANIAN" AND "PANAMA FATS" IN ARTICLE RIDICULING HOW HE WAS ENDING HIS CAREER DISGRACEFULLY.
    YOU KNOW THE AMAZING PART IS THAT LAING TOOK NO ADVANTAGE OF THE WIN AND LITTERALLY DISAPPEARED FOR THE NEXT YEAR. IN AN EXCELLENT BOOK ON LAING CALLED "THE GIFTED ONE" DUFF TELLS HOW LAIGN COMPLETELY BLEW HIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY AFTER THE WIN.

    THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A WORSE PUTDOWN OF ROBERTO DURAN THAT AFTER THE 4TH ROUND DUFF SAID, "HE'S A FAT OLD MAN. YOU MADE HIM LOOK STUPIDER THAN LEONARD DID THAT ROUND!!!!"
    DARK DAYS FOR DURAN FANS INDEED! BUT FEAR NOT! THE PHOENIX WOULD SOON RISE FROM THE ASHES. TRUE DURAN MANIACS NEVER GAVE UP ON CHOLO!!!!!!
    THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS: 1982!
     
    The Morlocks, Dec 18, 2019
    The Morlocks, Dec 18, 2019
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  5. roughdiamond

    roughdiamond Ridin' the rails... Full Member

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    I think you'd appreciate this @Clinton if you haven't seen it before.

    https://www.boxingnewsonline.net/whatever-happened-to-kirkland-laing/
     
    roughdiamond, Dec 18, 2019
    roughdiamond, Dec 18, 2019
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  6. Clinton

    Clinton Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Even though I'm old and shot, I remember. In Duran's previous fight, he was comprehensively outboxed by Benitez, who everyone acknowledges to be a great fighter. My question is why doesn't Laing, whom nobody considers a great fighter, get credit for beating an atg?Benitez gets credit for beating atg Duran.
     
    Clinton, Dec 18, 2019
    Clinton, Dec 18, 2019
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  7. Clinton

    Clinton Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Clinton, Dec 18, 2019
    Clinton, Dec 18, 2019
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  8. roughdiamond

    roughdiamond Ridin' the rails... Full Member

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    Laing was a perpetual talent, a 'puer aeturnus' if you will. He was extremely inconsistent in his application and results. Very mercurial.
     
    roughdiamond, Dec 18, 2019
    roughdiamond, Dec 18, 2019
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  9. roughdiamond

    roughdiamond Ridin' the rails... Full Member

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    You should watch it at some point to see one of Britain's most understated talents.
     
    roughdiamond, Dec 18, 2019
    roughdiamond, Dec 18, 2019
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  10. Clinton

    Clinton Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I know. I remember the Rastaman. I believe he may have been up on points against Jones, a fighter I greatly respected, until Colin caught up with him and stopped him. If memory serves me correctly, I believe Rastaman was stopped in his next fight after vanquishing Duran. I simply don't remember. But that all would be all the more reason so that it's intruiging that Kirkland doesn't get enough credit for beating Cholo. Why not?
     
    Clinton, Dec 18, 2019
    Clinton, Dec 18, 2019
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  11. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft He Who Saw The Deep Full Member

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    Yeah I've watched Laing vs Rocky Kelly. He was good, a little weird. But good.
     
    George Crowcroft, Dec 18, 2019
    George Crowcroft, Dec 18, 2019
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  12. Clinton

    Clinton Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    It boils down to this. Benitez, a consensus great fighter and unofficial member of the "Fab 5" gets credit for beating Duran, but perpetual underachiever Laing, who had previously been stopped twice by tough Colin Jones, doesn't. Hmmmmmmmmm. Just sayin'.
     
    Clinton, Dec 18, 2019
    Clinton, Dec 18, 2019
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  13. The Morlocks

    The Morlocks Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    This content is protected

     
    Last edited: Dec 18, 2019
    The Morlocks, Dec 18, 2019
    The Morlocks, Dec 18, 2019
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  14. The Morlocks

    The Morlocks Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Just thinking of the fight and DURANS shape, he looked like Andy rolling off the couchch to fight AJ. It was that bad!
     
    Last edited: Dec 18, 2019
    The Morlocks, Dec 18, 2019
    The Morlocks, Dec 18, 2019
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  15. Clinton

    Clinton Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Ya from what I've heard, Kirkland was fond of marijuana. Dunno if that's true, but if it is, that could be the reason.
     
    Clinton, Dec 18, 2019
    Clinton, Dec 18, 2019
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