"Lightning" Ray Lampkin

Ray Lampkin,,,,,,,,,,,,

The 1974/1975 NABF Lightweight Champion, and #1 WBA/#2 WBC Lightweight Challenger -

With a fine record of 29-3-0 (12 KO's),,,,

On March 2, 1975, the quick-fisted boxer from the Pacific Northwest (Portland, Oregon) baffled
'The Great Roberto Duran' for 13-Rounds in Panama City, before succombing to 'The Hands of Stone' in the 14th Round.

Arguably, the 'Third Best Lightweight' in the mid-1970's, behind Roberto Duran and Esteban DeJesus.

If either one those great lightweights were not around at 135 lbs., 'Lightning Ray' would have definitely
won a version of the World Lightweight Title (WBA or WBC), and probably would have had a pretty good
run of the Championship too.

I saw him fight in June 1973 at the Felt Forum in New York City. He took on 24 year-old Puerto Rican Light-Welterweight
Sensation - 'Chu Chu' Malave. Malave who was managed by Gregorio Benitiez, was a 'real hot' fighter then, as he was riding a 10-bout unbeaten streak, and had just recently upset British-Commonwealth Lightweight Champion Percy Hayles by KO 5.
'Chu Chu' was the #9 WBA Light-Welterweight, and had a record of 19-3-2 (6 KO's).
The slick-boxing Malave had also defeated New York's Harold Weston Jr. 'twice', as both bouts were all-out wild affairs
which thrilled the boxing fans in New York.

Most of us New Yorker's thought that the 140 lb. 'Chu Chu' was just too big for the rail-thin 135 lb. Lampkin,
and that he would just wear the Oregon Lightweight down.

Well, what we got was a 'thrilling slugfest', as it was an even 'give-and-take' battle for 7-Rounds.
When, just moments into the 8th-Round, ''Lightning Ray' whipped-up an incredibly fast combination that
felled 'Chu Chu' face-first to to the canvas, where he was counted out.
It was a 'Hell-of-a-Fight'.

Anyone remember 'Lightning Ray' Lampkin, or any of his fights....

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How wrong you are Sir,,,,,,,,,,,

March 2, 1975

Ray Lampkin, in the 95* 'steamy-heat' of the Gimnasio Nuevo Gym, in Panama City, Panama -

And 18,000 'crazed' Panamanian Roberto Duran fans, as well as '3' WBA-appointed Panamanian Boxing Officials

Stung Roberto repeatedly with strong left jabs,,,,,,and 'stout' right hand leads, also known as 'sucker punches'.

If 'Lightning Ray' had a little more power in his right hand, Roberto would have probably lost his WBA Lightweight Title that day.

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What A Rock,,,,,,,,,,

No water in the corner,,,,,,,,,,that one I will have to check on,,,,

The 95* plus 'steamy-heat' in the Gimnasio Nuevo Gym sure had to bother
'Lightning Ray' who was from the 'Colder Climate' of the Pacific Northwest.

I do know, that Carlos Eleta (Roberto's Manger) was very concerned about
the 'slick boxing' style of Ray Lampkin,,,, which had given Esteban DeJesus
'fits' - in a couple of '1973' bouts for the NABF Lightweight Title.

Not to take anything away from Roberto, but he did have several
significant advantages in that bout,,,,,,,

* Hometown crowd (Panama City)
* Crazed Roberto Duran fans (18,000)
* The bout held at the Gimnasio Nuevo Gym, (Where Roberto Duran had fought 18 of his previous 30 bouts)
* WBA Officials (All '3' were from Panama)
* Excessive Heat (95* plus) inside the Gimnasio Nuevo Gym
* And a high-level of strength-sapping humidity in the poorly ventilated arena

atsch,,,,,,,,,Lightning Ray had a few hills to climb down there in Panama..

 

Be Nice,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,'It is Mothers Day',,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,:-(

Just saying,,,,,,,,,

That if Ray Lampkin was afforded all the luxuries that Roberto Duran had in Panama,,,,
and that March 2, 1975 bout was fought in the 'cold-climate' of the Northwest,,,,,,

Ray Lampkin would have won a Decision over Roberto Duran....

Ray Lampkin's Trainer, 60 year-old Harry Moyer (of the boxing Moyer family) had the 'near-perfect'
fight plan against Roberto Duran.

Throw the left jab, pause, feint the left hook (which Roberto would fall for), and then whip in the right-hand
sucker-punch.

 

Oogie,,,,,,,,,

* Ray Lampkin was born in May 1947

* He was 27, when he fought Roberto Duran in March 1975.

* Started fighting as an Amateur at Age 9 (1956).

* In 1957, at Age 10, he wins his 'First Amateur Tournament', competing at 55 lbs.

* Won '5' Golden Gloves Titles.

* At age 20 1/2, he won the February 1968 B-C "British-Columbia" The Sun Golden Gloves Tournanment at 132 lbs. (Lightweight)
held at the Vancouver PNE Auditorium. A boxing tournament that features the Top Amatuer boxers from the Pacific
Northwest.

* Was voted 'Golden Boy' at that Tournament (Award given to the Most Outstanding Boxer of the Tournament)

* Takes a full-time job at the Pacific Meat Packing Company in Portland, and is employeed as a Butcher.
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* At age 21, turned Professional on July 28, 1968 (Managed by; Mike Morton and Trained by; Harry Moyer)

* Height; 5' 7"
* Reach; 68"
* Stance; Orthodox
* Style; Pure-Stylist Boxer
* Best Punch; Left Jab
* Physical; Muscular-Body
* Noted For; Lightning-Quick Combinations ('Lighning Ray') and Quick Footwork

Fought for Northwest Boxing Promoter, Sam Singer. (Usually for $300 per bout at the Sports Arena in Portland)

Had 11 of of his first 20-bouts at the Sports Arena in Portland

October 19, 1972 - Won an impressive 10-Round 'Shut-out' Decision over former USA California State Lightweight
Champion, Raul 'Lobito' Montoya 43-15-1 (22 KO's) at the Sports Arena in Portland. {Earned his 'biggest fight-purse' of $2000.}

Was undefeated in his first 20-bouts 19-0-1 (6 KO's).
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January 1973, Ranked as the #5 Lightweight

January 11, 1973 - The 25 year-old and 'undefeated' Ray Lampkin (19-0-1) travels to San Juan, Purto Rico - to take on the
#1 Lightweight, Esteban DeJesus 34-1-0, for the vacant 'NABF Lightweight Title'. DeJesus has just come off of a November 1972
'Upset of the Year' over Lightweight Champion Roberto Duran, in a non-title bout in New York City.

Fighting on a Friday Night, and in front of 10,000 Esteban DeJesus fans in the Roberto Clemente Stadium, 'Lightning Ray'
is dropped 'twice in the 1st-Round 'Flash-Knockdowns. But, Lampkin battles back in the middle rounds with sharp
combinations to close the gap, and 'Even-the-Fight-Up' after 9-Rounds.
But the stronger DeJesus puts on a 'strong' late-fight rally over the last 3-Rounds, and scores another 'Flash-Knockdown'
in the 12th and final round.

UPI scores the fight for Esteban DeJesus, 117-108 (7-3-2 in Rounds) for Esteban DeJesus.

Ray Lampkin earns a fight purse of $6500, plus expenses.
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May and June 1973

Rebounded with '2' quick Knock-out wins, including an impressive June 1973 {KO 8} over #9 Light-Welterweight 'Chu Chu' Malave 19-3-2 in New York City. {Earned a fight purse of $2500 plus expenses.}
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July 14, 1973 - Again, Ray Lampkin battles NABF Lightweight Champion Esteban DeJesus 37-1-0, only this time on
National Television. A Saturday ABC-TV 'Fight of the Week', at the Felt Forum in New York City.

'Lightning Ray' starts off fast, and wins the first 4-Rounds - but the compact DeJesus pressures Lampkin over the last
'Two-Thirds' of the bout, and wins a close 12-Round Unanimous Decision.

The bout was held at the Felt Forum, in New York City. DeJesus was supported by the 2871 fans who attended, mostly of
Puerto Rican descent. Despite the wide-range in scoring (Referee Arthur Mercante; 10-2-0) and (Judge Nick Gamboli; 8-3-1)
only (Judge Tony Castellano 6-5-1) the latter Scorecard was properly logged.

Many felt, that the bout could have been called a Draw, including the Associated Press who scored it 5-5-2.

'Lightning Ray' Lampkin received his largest fight purse up to that point, $8000. Esteban DeJesus received a fight purse of $11,000.

The loss, dropped Ray Lampkin to 21-2-1 (8 KO's), as his only losses were to Esteban DeJesus the #1 Lightweight.
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October 18, 1973 - Fought in Anchorage, Alaska of all places, and Lampkin wins an impressive 10-Round 'Shut-out' Decision over
the 'streaking' and 'hard-punching' Nick Alfaro 18-7-0 (15 KO's). In 1973, Alfaro had won 8 of his previous 9-bouts, with 7 by
way of Knock-out. Alfaro's only loss in 1973, was to Top-Ranked Lightweight, Jimmy Heair.
{Ray Lampkin earns a fight purse of $3300}

Improves to 22-2-1 (8 KO's), and is ranked the #4 Lightweight

 

Absolutely correct,,,,,,,,,

Even during the March 1975 'fight telecast on CBS-TV,,,,,,

The Panamanian Fight Announcers stated, 'That Ray Lampkin is by far the
most dangerous rival that Roberto Duran had ever fought.'

They were astonished by the way Lampkin would dare Roberto Duran to
attack him - without any fear of Duran's punching power.

Even the 18,000 pro-Duran fans at the Gimnasio Nuevo Gym were in utter-silence, as the
slick-boxing 'Lightning Ray' baffled the Great Duran time and again with his 'Darting and Jabbing' style.
.

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December 9, 1973

#4 'Lightning Ray' Lampkin 22-2-1 (8 KO's)
vs
#7 Arturo 'Tury the Fury' Pineda 21-3-0 (18 KO's)

A Sunday Night bout, scheduled for the Gimnasio Municipal in Baja California.

Tury Pineda, an 'exciting and hard-punching' 21 year-old Mexican based out of Los Angeles.
Pineda, a former 126 lb. Featherweight, has moved up to the 135 lb. Lightweight Division,
and has impressed.

Pineda has scored several impressive Knock-outs, including a 'major upset' (KO 5) over
Former WBC Lightweight Champion, #3 Mando Ramos 33-6-0 in August 1973.

In his last bout, on October 27, 1973 Pineda was floored and stopped by the #4 Lightweight,
undefeated Jimmy Heair 30-0-0. But Tury was exciting in his loss, and the Southern California
fans loved him because of his 'wreckless style'.

A 'sell-out crowd' of approximately 6000 boxing fans turn out for this 10-Round bout, with an additional 1500 turned
away at the gate.

Both fighters are guaranteed $5000 for the bout.

In a thrilling battle, Ray Lampkin opens up fast and dominates the first 'Two-Rounds' with 'lightning combinations',
and floors Tury Pineda in Round 2 for a 6-Count. Pineda rocked and staggered in Round 4, lands a wild right-hand
counter, that cuts the right eye of Ray Lampkin, which sends a charge into 'Tury the Fury' and the Baja California
pro-Pineda fans.

Lampkin and Pineda then go at it non-stop for the rest of the fight, in a wild 'give-and-take' brawl, with brutal
'hair-raising rounds' that brings the 6000 fans at the Gimnasio Municipal to their feet for the entire fight.

'Lightning Ray' bruises Pineda's face with multiple quick-combinations, and Pineda closes Lampkins other eye (left eye)
with numerous right-hand counter bombs.

The Decision is announced as a Split-Decision.
Referee; 96-95 (4-4-2 in Rounds) - Ray Lampkin
Judge; 95-94 (6-4-0 in Rounds) - Arturo Pineda
Judge; 95-94 (5-5-0 in Rounds) - Ray Lampkin

Note: Ray Lampkin won 'Round 2' by a 10-8 score, via the knockdown. It was the difference in the bout.