June 22, 1979

Here’s my account from scoring it I think about a month ago:

Roberto Duran vs. Carlos Palomino, scheduled for 10 rounds, welterweights, at Madison Square Garden in NYC on June 22, 1979.

Duran, 145 1/2, is 67-1 and 28 years old, a 7-5 favorite. He’s moved up from lightweight, saying he can no longer make 135, and beaten the likes of Monroe Brooks and Jimmy Heair in what were technically welterweight fights but not fought a true welterweight of note like Palomino.

Carlos, 144 3/4, is 5 months removed from losing his WBC welterweight crown to Wilfred Benitez in his eighth defense and carries a 27-2-3 record at age 29.

Of note:

* HBO televises this and the main event heavyweight title fight between Larry Holmes and Mike Weaver, which the networks passed on (their loss) due to Weaver’s so-so record (little did anyone know he’d be a staple in the division for years to come and a future titlist himself). For most, Duran-Palomino was the more intriguing match as Roberto was untested at 147.

* Palomino made $250K and Duran took a pay cut (originally supposed to make the same as Carlos) to $100K with Don King losing money on the promotion as HBO paid a paltry fee of $150K for the card.

* The Garden draw a crowd of 14,136 and a gate of $770K or so.

* The WBC sanctioned this bout (I have no idea what that means … maybe it was an eliminator?) so it was scored on the 10-point must system rather than the round system commonly used in New York at the time. Don Dunphy at one point says Carlos is the No. 1 contender but doesn’t specify if that’s WBC, WBA or both.

My scoring:

1 — Duran 10-9: Roberto is quicker and more explosive, Carlos is stronger. He bulls Duran to the ropes but can’t get much done.

2 — Duran 10-9: His back to the ropes for a good bit of the round, Duran chews Carlos up on the inside as he puts on an infighting clinic.

3 — Palomino 10-9: Carlos lands some good counter left hooks and a solid right late as he starts to time Duran. Roberto manages a few bursts but not enough.

4 — Duran 10-9 (c): Carlos gets his jab n track and does some good work inside but Roberto lands the bigger, cleaner punches coming in.

5 — Duran 10-9: Vintage Roberto as he feints Carlos out of position and then unloads savage flurries. Carlos has a bit of a rally late in the round.

6 — Duran 10-8: He drops Palomino with a 1-2 early in the round and really works him over. Carlos is cut on or behind the right ear and around the right eye. Palomino recovers late and gets off a good combo before the bell.

7 — Palomino 10-9: The last stand by the former champ, who fires back with fury. Nice combos and body work.

8 — Duran 10-9: Just a gorgeous beating by Roberto who lands a huge right late that buckles Palomino.

9 — Duran 10-9: He lands three or four clean, flush right hands but Carlos does some good work in spurts. He’s just overwhelmed, however.

10 — Even 10-10: It’s easy to think Duran is getting the better of it as his punches are more showy, but they go toe to toe the whole 3 minutes and Carlos never stops working. He does enough grinding in close to keep this one even in my eyes.

My card: Duran 98-92. AP saw it the same. Official scoring was 99-90 x 3.

I hadn’t watched this one in years. It’s every bit the masterclass I remembered. This is classic Duran — his speed is the key factor along with his feints … he basically ties Carlos in knots with his feints then throws what he wants. And it’s clear that Palomino is a very good, capable guy who would clearly be on par with probably any other contender (except maybe Leonard and possibly a rising Hearns at this point) but Roberto is just a level above.

If you haven’t seen it, do yourself a favor. This is the best welterweight Duran with the exception of Montreal, and he’s not far off that form.

 

Hi Buddy.
Neat post, and very competent breakdown of a fight that for the first time maybe , we started to realise that Duran was not just a brawler, and had little nuances, not just power, as you say the feints, the in and out movement, showing a right then delivering a left, plus he looked very intimidating, the beginning of the beard, the hair getting longer, he just might have been the quintessential south american warrior, this Duran would, I venture, would have given any WW down the ages a torrid nights work, lest we forget Palomino, a true blue collar champ, a chin to compare with the best, not just in the WW division, a very solid, competent, rounded champ, his own infighting was something to behold, the short well placed hurtful hooks, that took their time,to do the job, like dripping poison, or the Komodo dragons bite, I hardly ever use the phrase " underrated " but in Palominos case, it is warranted.
stay safe Saint.

 

Holmes-Weaver stole the show that night.

 

Both fights are excellent. I was chatting to Andy Holligan about Duran-Palomino on Wednesday in the boozer, funny enough. One of his favourite fights.

 

Great fight Palomino WAS A TRUE CHAMPION IN HIS OWN RIGHT.

 

Larry Holmes showing his fighting heart.

 

Great pair of fights.

 

He's really well mate, in great health and doing ok. He lives in New Brighton now (on the Wirral) and he's driving a cab these days, but mainly to keep him tying over, he hasn't blown the money he earned from the ring or anything. Top fella, a really good laugh and a keen wind-up merchant.

 

One of the best heavyweight title fights of all time and probably my favorite.

 

Duran-Palomino suffers from Mayweather-Paquiaoitis......everyone expected it to be a war and it wasnt so many were disappointed. In Duran-Palomino's case its the same a lot of people expected Duran and Palomino to slug it out but Duran showed what a fluid boxer he can be and outboxed Palomino, but that made it, in the eyes of many, not such a great fight. Maybe I need a rewatch...

 

Duran was exceptional at welter, and if he would've remained there, with Leonard forced to retire, Hearns and Benitez moving up to Jr. Middleweight there was no one on the horizon that would've beaten him, if he was focused and in shape.
He wasn't what he was at lightweight, but he was clearly not very far off from his best weight.
He could've been seen as ATG at welterweight. ( I do,head to head Other than Robinson, Leonard, and Hearns, I don't believe any other welterweight beat him on his best night vs theirs)