Wilfred Benitez vs. Roberto Duran from 1982

Just cause he made that weight before doesnt mean he was in good shape.

 

Duran was 32 years old when he fought Hearns. That is the age Hopkins was in 1997. If someone would have said Hearns had a bad night when he fought Leonard and Hagler in his fights with them in 1981 and 1985, no one would have bought it. Duran gets considerations other fighters do not.

 

Means he had no trouble making that weight 4 years before Benitez and 6 years before he fought Hearns. This is not like Manny fighting bigger guys, Duran knew the weight class well, and later fought as high as 168 and probably higher, but I do not know the number he fought his highest weight at in the late 1990's sometime, probably 170 or 172. My point is the excuse that he was a small guy at 154 is not really realistic. He was almost young and was only 32, and he was champion at the weight class and the fight should have been a unification, but they were stripping Duran for not fighting I think McCallum. This was his 4th title fight at 154, 2 more than he had at 147 and 1 more than he had at middleweight. The excuses do not make sense. Benitez and Hearns just were faster and fought better when they fought Duran.

 

I love Benitez but if you think Duran fought well here you clearly haven't watched the fight. He barely threw anything all fight. He was one-paced, slow, and there to be hit. A farcry from the Duran that took Leonard's title.

 

Duran had no trouble making weight... for what exactly? what point are you making?

your argument that he was already fighting at LM in the 70satsch

based on one fight he had in his hometown, between championship fights, not even at fighting weight...it wasnt even at weight class and his opponent never won a fight!!

As for his age in 1982.. it was considered past prime in those days... if you had knowledge of boxing things have changed alot since then.. fights were often 15rds and fighters fought many more times during the yr... how can you compare him to a modern fighter like Hopkins (who only started fighting in his mid twenties)

 

Let me add Duran started fighting pro in something like 1968 as a teenager.. I wonder how many fights Duran had before 82... and compare that to modern day fighters.

 

He was something else....strange though, when he fought Latinos he was in the best of condition....his father Gregorio didn't even have to motivate him.
When he fought black fighters....Leonard ( trained 9 days ) his trainer/father refused to be in his corner as personal protest....against Hearns, Davey Boy, Andy Hawk Price...ect he barely trains. Fortunately he
KO's Maurice Hope in quick fashion.
Even against the " Buzzsaw " Mustafa Hamsho he barely trained....

The guy had immense talent, but had a propensity for the disco clubs and the partying scene.

He is still one of my all time favorites and I have had the good fortune of having meeting him on a couple of occasions.

 

I hope people would just stop with "Duran was not at his best", "He was Overweight", etc. excuses.

 

He threw punches....Benitez just made him miss a lot....great waist movement and timing threw Duran off !!!

 

Thanks for posting, I love this fight.

1) I get frustrated when I hear "The Fab Four" when there were clearly FIVE great fighters in that era, and IMO BEnitez performed better than at least Duran.
2) Benitez in the 12th round stayed in the corner, baiting Duran to try knock him out and Benitez slipped, dodged, countered in the corner, frustrating Duran to pieces. TYpically, Duran refused to touch gloves with Benitez after the fight, pushing Benitez away, and Benitez in typical fashion smiled, shrugged, and then went to celebrate.
3) Duran had a disdain for Puerto Rican fighters, so typically, he lost to 3 of them.

 

Thats great, would you mind telling me about the occasions you've met? I'm a great admirer as well.

 

lol

 

Duran at 32 was definitely past it.At that point,he had had almost 80 fights against world class competiton from 119 pounds to 147,after spending 7 years at his prime weight,which was lightweight.That is not an excuse,just fact.Look it up if you don't believe me.He is 5'7" tall with a reach of 68 inches.That is a lightweight or junior welter,not a juniormiddle.He was an old 32 and again,if you don't believe me,just youtube his 3rd fight against DeJesus and youtube his fight against Benitez.To say those are the same Duran ability wise could not be more incorrect.At lightweight,he was defined and lean.At 154,19 pounds above his prime weight,even against Moore,his body looked fleshy and puffy with a hint of definition.All you have to do is look.At 32,he was like Bernard Hopkins of the past few years-sometimes capable of some pretty impressive stuff,but definitely well past his prime.How the hell does he beat Sugar Ray Leonard,but only a couple of years later lose to Kirkland Laing for ****'s sake?

 

There was news swirling NYC that Benitez trained 3 days for this fight.

What a natural talent, If he was more dedicated he could have been top 5 ever. I guess being a world champ at 17, you kinda take it for granted

 

Anyone read durans book?...
Anyone see durans face while he was waiting for hearns to come in the ring?...he looked like a man that didnt train and was thinkin oh **** im in trouble here! i shoulda trained! lol