"I well recall the fight against Australia's Hector Thompson in the mid-seventies. Duran took lots of punishment in what was one of his toughest fights. He couldn't even find his corner between rounds, and we fighters know what a bad sign that is - you're really in a bad way." Ismael Laguna http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7c-vCbV0es First round is a beauty, Duran looking to establish a jab and Thompson trying to fight at mid-range, look at the opening combo, great body to head punching. Bet that gave Roberto a bit of a fright - he knows he's in a battle right from the first minute. Duran does look a class above and maybe the writing is already on the wall, but Thomspon lands another cracking punch in the round. If Laguna is to be believe, this uppercut is probably the punch that hurt Duran as he sets out for the wrong corner in the first round. Anyone know anything about this? So Duran has abandoned his jab a bit in the third and Thompson enjoys some more success only for Duran to land the monster. Roberto now re-establishes his jab. Second part. Look for Duran to go to the wrong corner twice at the end of four. Anyone score 4 for Thompson?: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep6_RERDU2k&feature=related So Thompson lands a beautiful uppercut at the end of 5 and is enjoying some success. Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ksuNR7pxcU&feature=related Duran is hurt to the left eye, shipping punches, but showing real variety in his work both with leads and with combinations, body, head. Thompson shows real grit though, and when he wakes up to counter he really does punch well. I think he got it right to be fair, if he'd tried to pressure the champ or out-work him he would have had little chance, looking for the big shot in a sensible way is a nice twist. Thompson wins round 7 for me, but is his emerging aggression what costs him? Talk baout chin and heart though. Obviously Duran isn't the finished article yet...this is 73 and his second title defence, but it's one of my favourite Duran fights. I like the way he re-organises between bouts of aggressive attacking, you can see he has the punches - but it's the jab that keeps him so firmyly in the box-seat of a methodical destruction. Duran in microcosm? Fun fight. Thoughts? Anyone got this fight in colour?
One of my favs aswell...Hec was one heck of a fighter, really one of our best ever and he proved this was no fluke against Cervantes. So physically strong at lightweight, to be able to muscle a guy like Duran around is nothing short of amazing. Would have looooved to seen this version of Duran in against Gonzalez. My god that would have been fun. RE: Duran going to wrong corner, he did that against Moore and sat down aswell I think. Even though he was completely controlling the fight. Maybe Roberto was just one of those guys who had the blinkers on so tight when fighting, he would sometimes forget things like this. Because he was so mentally and physically invested in the moment.
Aye, he is a brute in there, a super-strong guy. He's absorbing some shots there too. He never won a title above Commonwealth sort of level, did he?
I might add outside of Rose over Harada, and maybe Fenech "drawing" with Nelson I think this may be one of the best performances of an Aussie fighter ever caught on film. Nah Hec never won anything more then a Commonwealth strap but back then one of those could almost be comparable to winning one of the Alphabets now. The talent pool in Oz and Commonwealth back then was much bigger and of a higher quality for most part then it is now..So for Hector to be at the top of that heap for so long is impressive in itself.
...mid 73 in Panama City. Duran has been quoted as saying that Thompson hurt him more than anyone else he fought - but not sure if this comment was made after he retired, or somewhere along the way.
Hector was a very good fighter at a domestic/commonwealth level,but just came up short against two men who rank in the upper echelons of their divisions in Duran and Cervantes. Apparently he was doing well against Cervantes as well until losing via a cut eye stoppage so there's no shame in that. Sadly for Thompson he was involved in two fights that turned out fatally for his opponents (Roko Spaja and Chuck Wilburn) and one wonders how that must have affected his mindset in the ring.
I probably have it. I think I have pretty much all the available Lightweight Duran. I'll take a look at my set tonight :good
