A deeper dive on Roberto Duran's greatness.

About time I did this on my favorite fighter of all time. This will be my longest, since I will provide the most detail here. This is as much of an analysis as it is a love letter to Roberto Duran.

In his debut fight while only a Bantamweight, he defeated Carlos Mendoza, who would become a future top 10 rated Junior Featherweight contender, fighting the likes of Ruben Olivares and Wilfredo Gomez. After defeating almost everyone in Panama, he would defeat future Featherweight Champion Ernesto Marcel, who was so good he even managed to defeat Alexis Arguello, who already had more than 30 wins under his belt. About a year later, he would defeat the hard hitting Lightweight contender Lloyd Marshall, former Junior Lightweight Champion Hiroshi Kobayashi and former top 3 Lightweight contender, almost 200 fight veteran and promiscious alcoholic, Angel Robinson Garcia. Then it was time to fight for the Lightweight Championship against the fantastic Ken Buchanan.

Unlike Laguna, a fellow Panamanian and Duran's idol, who was an elusive technician, or a ''survivor'' as Buchanan would call him, Duran was a tough, vicious and hard hitting infighter who would give Buchanan hell. As a result, he was clearly ahead on points during the time the infamous low blow incident transpired, which would award Duran the World Lightweight crown.

Then Duran would lose for the first time against the also excellent Esteban De Jesus, the #3 rated Lightweight in the world, in a non title match. Duran would get knocked down on the first round and lose the fight by Unanimous decision. This fight would be the first of many where Duran would pay the price for being ill prepared, since he was in a car accident prior to the fight and would only get a month of training, in which he was frequently seen night clubbing. But this was a younger and hungrier Duran, his performance left him taking out his frustration on the bathroom walls of his hotel, his bloodied hands reminding him of his failure.

In his 1st Lightweight title defense, he would defeat former top Junior Welterweight contender Jimmy Robertson in the 5th round, who lost a tooth. In his 2nd defense, he stopped #5 rated Junior Welterweight Hector Thompson in the 8th, who was undefeated in his last 26 fights and killed Rocco Spanja in the ring. In his 3rd, he would stop the soon to be WBC Lightweight Champ Guts Ishimatsu in the 10th, who would also later overcome Ken Buchanan. After defeating the fringe Junior Lightweight contender Armando Mendoza, he would have his revenge in his 4th defense against the #1 Lightweight and #2 Junior Welterweight contender, Esteban De Jesus, by stopping him in the 14th.

#1 Lightweight contender Ray Lampkin was the next big name, who put up a brave showing against Duran, and would always come back even if he was losing the rounds. But that came to an end in the 14th when he attempted a clinch, it was nullified by Duran, who would then manipulate his hands up close to find space for a deadly left hook that would send Lampkin unconsious. One of his legs was temporarily paralyzed. Duran said that next time he woundn't go to the hospital, but to the morgue.

He then fought the elusive spoiler Edwin Viruet. Duran would win on points while very frustrated over Viruet's annoying style. Then, he would defeat the #7 rated Junior Welterweight contender, the southpaw Leoncio Ortiz, in one of his more impressive Lightweight showings. Compared to the Duran that faced Buchanan, this Duran was a far more diverse and complete fighter, which resulted in a devastating 15th round KO by a hideous uppercut. Prior to his next defense, #10 Junior Welterweigtht Saoul Mamby also gave a good account of himself, and in just a few year he would prove himself as one of the top in the division. Duran also heard that Mamby only got 3000 dollars for the fight, so he chewed out the promoter and apologised to Mamby, showcasing his then rarely seen softer side.

#5 rated Junior Welterweight Lou Bizzaro was the next in line for Duran's 8th defense. And he ran from New York all the way to New Jersey that night, frustrating Duran and even catching him off balance while he was chasing him down, resulting in what could have been uncalled KD's. But Duran eventually caught up to him and knocked him out in the most chilling and terrifying manner in his career, with Bizzaro's body dropping down like he lost his life. Even Duran had to look back a moment to make sure he didn't kill him. He then procceeded to stop former Junior Welterweight contender Emilliano Villa.

The #4 rated Lightweight Vilomar Fernandez would be the next challenger, who just like fellow Duran victim Ernesto Marcel, would defeat Arguello only 1 year later. He would also give a good acount of himself before falling in the 13th after a savage attack from Duran. In his 11th defense, he would rematch the #3 rated Lightweight Edwin Viruet, beating him in a slightly less frustrating manner this time. Then the big one, the rubber match against De Jesus, the WBC Lightweight Champion. This is considered to be arguably Duran's best performance ever and it's easy to see why. He outperformed Esteban at everything, he boxed him from a distance, he beat him up on the inside, he evaded most of De Jesus's punches and delivered a great KO. This version of Duran, the one from the end of his LW run and up until Montreal, has as good a case as any for the best Boxer in history, as far as overall ability goes.

Duran then moved up from Lightweight, and proceeded to defeat #9 Junior Welterweight Adolfo Viruet, Edwin Viruet's brother, #4 rated Junior Welterweight and longtime contender Monroe Brooks, and former top 3 Lightweight contender, as well as 90 fight veteran, Jimmy Heair. He was now about to head out to the toughest division in Boxing, during arguably its best era.

Former Welterweight Champion and Hall of Famer Carlos Palomino would only win 1 round, and that's just out of pity. In another contender for Duran's best performances, he feinted Palomino to knots by threatening the right hand, beat him on the inside while on the ropes, opened him up by breaking his rhythm, and baited him to hit him, just to be counter-punched. #9 rated Welterweight Joseph Nsubuga would also only last 4 rounds.

Then, the biggest of them all, the all time great Welterweight Champion of the world, Sugar Ray Leonard. In my pick for the best performance by a fighter ever, Duran would inititally overwhelm Leonard. Around the 5th, Leonard would start coming back, and this would become one of the best back and forth exchanges in history. But Duran proved himself too good defensively, too tough, too aggressive, too smart and too complete as a Boxer in the end. Thus becoming the Welterweight Champion of the world.

You know what happens next. While Manos De Piedra was turning himself into Rollo de Manteca, Leonard was preparing himself for a rematch. Duran's entourage was peer pressuring him to have fun instead of train, ''I wanted to kick each one of their asses, my one real regret is that I didn't, and I should have'' said Freddie Brown. When it was time for the fight, it was too late. Duran had been indulging himself into hedonistic pleasure for too long, and his methods of losing weight had left him a weak and flabby mess, nothing like the lean and strong athlete he was a few months ago. Leonard on the other hand was both just in as good a shape as before, and he had a vengeful edge to him. Coupled with his taunting and showboating, slowly tearing apart Duran's pride, and it's no wonder why he quit. He was simply frustrated. Arcel and Brown quit too along with him. Brown said he had no desire to live after No Mas in an interview ain 1986. He died a few days later.

The journey to redemption was treacherous for Roberto. Without Arcel and Brown to keep him in check, he wouldn't always show up at his best. He would either show up and perform well or would not. He would lose to the ATG #1 Junior Middleweight Wilfred Benitez and the unremarkable Kirkland Laing. He would then defeat former Welterweight Champion Jose Cuevas and the Junior Middleweight Champion Davey Moore. He would then lose in a great effort against the great Middleweight Champion and fellow Fab 4 member, Marvin Hagler. Then he would be dispatched by another Fab 4 member, the WBC Junior Middleweight Champion Thomas Hearns, in 2 rounds. Then to Hagler's half brother, the top contender Robbie Sims and fringe contender Juan Carlos Giminez.

Of course, he would then showcase his greatness against Iran Barkley, the dangerous gang member who had destroyed Hearns, who in turn had destroyed Duran. Barkley was cut in both eyes prior to the knockout, and then said '' I don't care about cuts because I don't have time to bleed'', just like a teenage edgelord. Iran Barkley had a personal vendetta against Duran, whom he blamed for Davey Moore's death, who was like a brother to him.'' This mother****er acts like I killed Davey Moore. But he is the one I will kill. Wait''.

Come fight night, and one of the all time great showdowns transpired, with the 37 year old former Lightweight showing himself as the superior fighter to the large Middleweight who would later fight at Heavyweight. Even managing to knock him down. Ray Arcel was ringside, ''that was they way I knew him'' he said. Maybe Freddie Brown's ghost was there and felt the same. His last major fight was in the rubber match against Leonard, when both of them were aged, and Duran simply didn't have the legs to do what he did in Montreal long ago.

He would continue fighting until he was 50. He would go in the ring against the #5 rated Super Middleweight Vinny Panzienza twice, Hector Camacho twice, whom he arguably even managed to defeat. He even managed to win once against the #5 rated Jorge Castro, prior to losing in the rematch. He was also stopped in 3 rounds against William Jopy, the #2 Middleweight in the world, aged 47.

 

He looked at it very optimisticaly. Aside from No Mas obviously, which literally sent him into hiding in Miami, each loss would cast doubt about him and his declining ability. And he thought of every next fight as an opportunity to prove those doubts wrong. Aside from that, he also just really liked fighting. He was doing it as a kid and it felt natural.

 

I'm pretty sure Arcel didn't want to make it public that he sent a badly conditioned fighter in the ring. He took great pride in his job and was very conservative in his ideas of what a professional fighter should be. He outright chastised Barney Ross when he started considering quitting against Armstrong after already getting mauled half to death, Armstrong thankfuly happened to be merciful and took it a bit easier when he noticed. Just about everyone else had the opposite to say. Randy Gordon, a journalist and editor for Ring Magazine, who was just as close with Leonard as he was with Duran, said the same things I've posted here and he was there to witness them first hand. Freddie Brown was crying all night after the fight and was regretting a lot of decisions during training camp, and maybe even working with Duran period, it broke him. It's not a wonder in the slightest, Duran stopped acting like a professional, Leonard was as well prepared as ever and the much better man that night. His showboating and Duran's inability to do much hurt his ego and he quit out of frustration. I don't see why that makes his quit job any less embarassing or more justifiable. Duran most definitely screwed up beyond belief, and it certainly wasn't just your average quit job. Leonard should get full credit for the win, it wasn't his fault Duran forgot he was mortal. I'm just pointing out the whydunit.

 

Agreed wholeheartedly that it's on Duran for screwing up, absolutely, never claimed otherwise. But when so many people with first hand access, including Freddie Brown, who was much closer to Duran then Arcel, and the one handling his conditioning say that something was up, then yeah, I don't see why it's so unbelievable for Arcel to lie to save face. Also come on, it's obvious on film alone that Duran was in much better condition in Montreal, he looked better physically and was much more explosive, fitter and faster. Watch New Orleans Duran and then Montreal Duran and tell me they're remotely the same fighter. They're clearly not.

 

The ''wrong strategy'' myth has been debunked time and time again. Dundee considered Leonard to be the bigger, stronger, faster, smarter and even harder hitting fighter out of the two given Duran's lack of KO's at Welter, the only thing Duran apparently had was experience. Leonard thought the same. He literally said ''they all think I'm going to run. I'm not. I'm not changing my style at all, he'll be beaten to the punch'' and it showed.

Leonard was dancing as usual at first, catching Duran with some decent shots, moving away, and was planning to go full throttle when Duran would get hurt, like always, because he was never an Ali type fighter despite the similarities, but a hard hitting and technical Boxer Puncher. Then Duran rocked him because Leonard couldn't keep him away for more than a round, sending Ray to the ropes and on the defensive for 3 rounds in which he was dominated. When Ray started commiting to his offense, he would even win rounds, when he would get less aggressive, he'd get pummeled. Leonard could not win because he simply couldn't keep him away from him, Duran was just flat out better. Then Leonard and Dundee changed the narrative, making it into what it is today, and the willing press turned a lie into the truth.

As for Arcel, again, why would he publicly shame himself and Brown by saying he deliberately sent an ill prepared fighter in the ring ? This is one man's statement against many others who were also there, why is he more important than the rest when he wasn't even the most important in Duran's corner ? Brown, the man actually responsible for Duran's conditioning, and many other people told a different story, and there are several accounts of Duran being a lazy hedonist. Which we agree was totally his fault.

Edit. Anyway, I didn't do this thread just to talk about No Mas. My view is that Duran screwed up, it was his fault and he only had himself to blame, Leonard should get credit for the win, because while not quite a peak Duran, it wasn't a late 70's Ali in the Ring with him, Duran could have beaten lesser fighters that night, just not Leonard. But it was clearly a very different Duran vs a pretty similar Leonard in New Orleans. The purpose of these posts is to celebrate great fighters. So if you disagree, that's fine. No hard feelings. But let's not turn this thread into something it's not. So let's just leave it at that.

 

Wasn't that what you were doing earlier ? You've admitted that you believe Leonard in Montreal instead of Duran in New Orleans, which is the opposite way I see it and I've explained why and have even quoted Leonard. I have proven that Leonard lied about Montreal and I have quoted Brown in the original post saying that Duran's jackass entourage played a part in camp. You on the other hand are only basing your arguments on a quote by Arcel and your good faith on Leonard. Don't try to take the moral highground, because if that's the case, then you're the guilty one here.

Brown initially said things akin to Arcel too, but here's what he had to say about Duran's entourage prior to his death, ''In my nearly 70 years of Boxing, I've never seen a bigger bunch of losers in my life. They had Duran convinced that he couldn't live without them. Me and Ray and Carlos and Luis did everything we could to convince Roberto that these punks were nothing, that they were flies, that they they were crap. On some days, Roberto told us he knew we were right and that he'd start getting rid of them. On other days, he told us that he was the boss and that we should mind our business and just stick to training him. It hurt all of us to watch those leeches suck all the fight out of him. They had him taking all these pills and dieting and starving himself. Tha final week before the fight was the worst. Duran was having trouble making weight, but that's because he was eating late at night with all these guys in his room. In the final few days, he no longer wanted to hear what any of us had to say. He listened only to his entourage. Then he went out and lost the fight. And guess what? After the fight, all of those bums disappeared.''

I don't buy the ''Duran always lies and Arcel said otherwise so he is right'' schtick, it's way too shallow and petty. Anyway, let's leave him alone and return to Duran. He is an infamous excuse maker, that doesn't mean every one of them had no merit, and given many people's account of pre New Orleans, including Brown, not believing that at least something was up is just acting in bad faith. Leonard himself whom you seem to have in good faith also said "It was calculated on my part, I knew Duran was overweight and partying big time. I've done some partying myself, but I know when to cut it out. I said to Mike 'Let's do it now, as soon as possible''. Duran is my favorite fighter, but I think I've been fair on him here. Duran legitimately outclassed Leonard in Montreal, Duran's hubris screwed him up in New Orleans and made a fool out of himself, Leonard was professional and the better man that night and should get credit for the win.

That's all I have to say about the matter. Maybe you still disagree for one reason or another, but I'm no longer interested in this back and forth, it just about ruined my thread the moment it started. You may have the last word if you wish but I'm calling it here.