Roberto Duran at 20-0-0 (17 KO's), now is campaigning at 130 lbs., and is ranked as the #8 WBA Super-Featherweight. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday Afternoon - January 10, 1971 (Toreo de Monterrey, Mexico) On the undercard of the Ultino 'Sugar' Ramos (former World Featherweight Champion) vs. Antonio Amaya (Panamanian Featherweight Champion) 10-Round bout. 15,000 boxing fans attend the 'fight card' at the Monterrey Bull Ring. Roberto Duran 20-0-0 (17 KO's)....130 lbs. vs Jose Angel Herrera 23-2-0 (7 KO's)....131 lbs. The 21 year-old Jose Angel Herrera (from San Diego, California) is ranked as the #16 Super-Featherweight. Jose is a sharp-boxer, with quick hands, and fast footwork. In his previous bout (October 1970), Jose 'upset' the highly regarded 'Lightweight' Angel Mayoral by a 10-Round Decision. In a 'cat-and-mouse' fight, Roberto stalks the fast-moving Herrera, who does not let Duran trap him. Jose stays at a distance, pushing out left jabs, then scampering away from the harder hitting Roberto for the first '3' Rounds. In Round 4, in the first 'action' of the fight, Duran lands some hard left hooks that shake Herrera, who grabs and clinches. Duran keeps on the pressure, as he is able to trap Jose along the ropes, and bangs away with his body attack. In Round 5, Jose has slowed down, and Duran nails him with a right-hand that wobbles him. Duran pounces like a cat on his hurt opponent, and rakes Herrera with an assortment of hard punches, as the 15,000 Bull Ring fans cheer the 'action'. In Round 6, Jose is slow coming out of his corner, and Roberto moves in, backing Jose into a 'neutral corner', where he pins the fading fighter and drops in hard shots until Herrera goes down for the count at 0:55 of Round 6.
Sunday Afternoon - March 21, 1971 (Gimnasio Nuevo Panama) Roberto Duran 21-0-0 (18 KO's)...{132 lbs.}...#7 WBA Super-Featherweight vs. Jose 'El Cirujano' Acosta 41-14-5 (23 KO's)...{136 lbs.}...#8 WBA Super-Featherweight * Both fighters come in over the 130 lb. Super-Featherweight limit. Jose 'The Surgeon' Acosta, is a 29 year-old Venezuelan Super-Featherweight. Jose, is an experienced veteran, who is 'well-schooled' and a very difficult fighter to handle. Jose, is a tough-grinder at 5' 4", and likes to work inside, where he can bull his opponents intp the ropes, and work them over. He is a good fighter, and has been ranked in the Top 10 of the 'Super-Featherweights' for the past 3 years. In July 1970, Jose travelled to Tokyo, Japan - where he held the #2 Featherweight Kuniaki Shibata (30-2-1) to a 10-Round Draw. The Fight; Roberto wastes 'no time', and charges into the unsuspecting Acosta with a 'two-fisted' barrage, dropping Jose with a left-right-left at the 0:35 mark. Jose rises on 'unsteady pins', and is met with another Roberto barrage. Jose holds on briefly, but is eventually floored by a left-right, and is counted-out at 1:55 of the 1st-Round. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The victory improves Roberto Duran to 22-0-0 (19 KO's), and he is now ranked as the #5 WBA Super-Featherweight. Carlos tries to get 'negotioations' started, to get WBA Super-Featherweight Champion - Hiroshi Kobayashi (Japan) to fight Roberto Duran for the Championship.
Saturday Night - May 29, 1971 (Gimansio Nuevo Panama) Roberto Duran 22-0-0 (19 KO's)....(133 lbs.) vs. Lloyd Marshall 26-8-0 (14 KO's).....(134 lbs.) Roberto Duran takes on the 'veteran' Lightweight Lloyd Marshall (New Jersey, United States). The 28 year-old Lloyd Marshall, a 5' 7" 'power-pak', was the #5 Lightweight in 1967, and the #10 Lightweight in 1968. Lloyd is another 'tough' fighter, who always comes to battle, and possesses a 'jolting' right hook, his best punch. Lloyd is coming off a 'Close Decison Loss' to the 'Great' Ismael Laguna only 2-months earlier. At the opening bell, Lloyd shows 'no fear' and gets right into Roberto, and is willing to go toe-to-toe. The 'two' brawlers slug it out, with Lloyd the 'busier', and Roberto the 'harder hitter'. Lloyd is looking to land his 'right hook', but the opening doesn't present itself. By Round 4, Lloyd starts to slow down, as Roberto's hard body punches are wearing him down. In Round 5, Roberto hurts Lloyd with a left hook to the body, which 'wobbles' his legs. Lloyd is now a stationary target, which allows Roberto to 'unload' his heavy arsenal. In Round 6, Roberto swarms all over Lloyd, and pummels him with a heavy body assault. Unable to withstand the 'power shots' Lloyd goes down to take a knee. He rises up at the Count of '5', but tells the Referee Roberto Lopez that he is unable to continue. A TKO at 1:37 of Round 6.
Sunday Afternoon - July 18, 1971 (Monterrey, Mexico) Roberto Duran...........23-0-0 (20 KO's)..(134 lbs.)...(Age; 20)..#4 WBA Super-Featherweight vs. Fermin 'El Zarco' Soto..44-8-1 (26 KO's)..(139 lbs.)...(Age; 26)....#8 WBA Lightweight Roberto Duran takes on a 'Big Lightweight', the 5' 9 1/2" Fermin 'El Zarco' Soto from Mexico. Fermin is an 8-year veteran, who has fought all the 'tough' Mexican Lightweights, including; * Chango Carmona (2x) * Rodolfo Gonzalez * Gerardo Ferrat * Aurelio Muniz (2x) * Alfredo Urbina * Arturo Lomeli Fermin Soto is also coming off an 'upset win' (KO 9) over #7 Lightweight - 'South African' Anthony Morodi, in his last bout, in May 1971. The Fight; Roberto Duran comes out like a 'terror', and immediately rips into the taller 'El Zarco', pounding him along the ropes. By the start of Round 2, Fermin looks like he's been in a 'car wreck'. Roberto again rips into him, and mid-way through the round drops 'El Zarco' hard with a left-right. Somehow, Fermin manages to make it through the round, by holding and grabbing Roberto's arms. In Round 3, Roberto stalks Fermin into the ropes, where he bangs away with his usual body-assault, leaving 'El Zarco' in a heap, until the Referee Antonio Cruz calls a halt at 0:56 of Round 3. After Fight Comments; After the bout, Carlos Eleta wants the winner of the (July 29, 1971) WBA Super-Featherweight Championship bout between (Champion) Hiroshi Kobayashi and (Challenger) Alfredo Marcano.
Monday Night - September 13, 1971 (Madison Square Garden) Roberto Duran 24-0-0 (21 KO's)...(Age 20)...(135 lbs.)...#2 WBA Super-Featherweight vs. Benny Huertas 21-14-3 (8 KO's)...(Age 27)...(136 lbs.)...#17 NABF Lightweight Roberto Duran fights at Madison Square Garden, on the undercard of the WBA Lightweight Championship between (Champion) Ken Buchanan and (#1 Challenger) Ismael Laguna, in a (Buchanan vs. Laguna II rematch). Though Roberto is fighting at 135 lbs., he is still ranked as the #2 WBA Super-Featherweight. Benny 'The Tank' Huertas, a Puerto Rican based in Brooklyn, is a popular New York fighter. Benny at 5' 4", is a 140 lb. 'power-plug', who fights at both Lightweight and Light-Welterweight. An 'entertaining' fighter, Huertas is not afraid to mix it up with anyone. Though his record is 'spotty', Benny has won '6' fights in a row, with '5' coming via the 'knockout'. And in 1971, Benny has scored 'several' upsets at both the Felt Forum and Madison Square Garden in New York, over 'undefeated' prospects. Before the bout with Roberto Duran, Benny 'The Tank' guarantee's that he will "take out Duran within '5' Rounds". The Fight The 'two' Lightweights go right at it, with a toe-to-toe 'Pier 6' slugfest, Benny 'The Tank' actually lands a good left-hook/right-cross that get's Roberto's attention. But Roberto comes back with his own '6-punch barrage', then at the 0:55 Mark, Roberto lands a left - then a crushing straight right on the point of Benny's chin, who then collapses, and is counted out at 1:06 of the 1st Round. Benny Huertas was stretched out on the canvas for nearly 10-minutes, before rising. Thankfully, Benny 'The Tank' was O.K. - and amazingly 2-months later was back in the ring, where he lost a 'close' 10-Round Decision to future WBC Light-Welterweight Champion, 'Sweet' Saoul Mamby.
Benny 'The Tank' Huertas Roberto Duran's 'Victim #25' This content is protected At that Monday Night - September 13, 1971 bout at Madison Square Garden. Carlos Eleta (Roberto's manager) and Luis Henrique (Roberto's trainer). They invited the retired and 'legendary' boxing trainer 'Ray Arcel' to come watch Roberto Duran fight 'perform' at Madison Square Garden. Mr. Arcel really had no interest in training another boxer, but agreed to come watch the 20 year-old Lightweight, as a courtesy to his friend Luis Henrique. The general report, was that this 'special boxer' was wasting his incredible talent knocking out unknowns in Panama, and that they needed to take him to the 'next level'.
Following Roberto's 1:06 '1st Round' destruction of Benny Huertas. A quick scramble followed, to get the 'ever-growing' 20 year-old Roberto a Championship Bout with one of the 130 lb. Super-Featherweight Champions. The 'new' WBA Super-Featherweight Champion, 'Venezuelan' Alfredo Marcano had won the Championship on July 29, 1971 by (TKO 10) over * Hiroshi Kobayashi. Alfredo Marcano was looking to defend his WBA Championship in his home-country of Caracas, Venezuela in November 1971. The 24 1/2 year-old - Marcano 33-8-5 (21 KO's), was not going fight in Panama, as he had lost a 'controversial' 10-Round Decision there to Ernesto Marcel in October 1970. But Carlos Eleta was 'skeptical' about taking on Marcano in his home-country, where a close-decision would most likely go to the 'swift boxing' Venezuelan. So in late-September 1971, the Roberto Duran Team, passed on a November 1971 WBA Super-Featherweight Title shot verus Alfredo Marcano.
Saturday Afternoon - October 16, 1971 (Gimnasio Nuevo Panama) Roberto Duran 25-0-0 (22 KO's).....(Age 20)....(136 lbs.)....#1 WBA Super-Featherweight vs. Hiroshi Kobayashi 61-9-4 (10 KO's).....(Age 27)....(136 lbs.)....#2 WBA Super-Featherweight In an 'over-the-weight' Super-Featherweight bout, the 'two' top WBA 130 lb. Challengers fight in an 'elimination bout'. The 'former' WBA Super-Featherweight Champion, Hiroshi Kobayashi is coming off an 'upset loss' (L TKO 10) to Venezuelan - Alfredo Marcano in July 1971. Both Roberto and Hiroshi agree to a 136 lb. weight-limit, as it is apparent that both fighters cannot make the 130 lb. Super-Featherweight limit. What's at stake, is a shot at the WBA Lightweight Championship, held by 'Scot' Ken Buchanan. The 27 year-old Japan 'legend', Hiroshi had held the WBA Super-Featherweight Championship from December 1967 until July 1971. In his Championship loss, Hiroshi had a big lead in the bout, until fading and eventually getting stopped in the 10th Round, by Alfredo Marcano. Hiroshi and Roberto were supposed to fight each other earlier in 1971 for the WBA Super-Featherweight Championship, but negotiations broke down. But the 5' 6" 'Japan fire-plug' is now willing to take on the 'young special talent' Panamanian in his home backyard, and in front of 16,000 Panama fans.
Roberto Duran vs. Hiroshi Kobayahsi The Fight Round 1 The fight starts off in center-ring, and Hiroshi is setting the pace. Both fighers exchange with crisp accurate punches. Midway through the 1st-Round, Roberto Duran starts to put on the pressure, and lands several good hard punches. But the experienced Hiroshi Kobayashi stays right in the pocket, and fires back, scoring with his own sharp punches. In the later part of the 1st-Round, Roberto scores with good combinations to back Hiroshi up, but Hiroshi puts together a good 5-punch combination that shakes Roberto. Both fighters exchange with crisp shots as the 1st-Round ends........{Round 'Even'} Round 2 Roberto goes back to his 'pressure style', but Hiroshi is counter-punching well, as he is a tad quicker in punching than Duran. Roberto lands several good right hand leads, that drives Kobayahsi backwards. Both fighters again trade with sharp punches, but Roberto is landing the heavier blows and has Hiroshi is on the defensive in the second-half of Round 2. Duran again lands a couple of good right-hand leads, and stays close to Hiroshi, working effectively inside.........{Round for Roberto Duran} Round 4 Hiroshi tries to take the play away from the harder hitter Duran and scores nicely with several left-rights. But Roberto comes back stronger in the later part of the round. Round 5 Hiroshi is staying in the pocket, willing to exchange with Roberto. But Hiroshi is starting to wilt a bit under the heavier punches from Roberto. Hiroshi has a good rally section at the 2:00 Mark, and fights smartly. But, Roberto turns the tide over the last 20-Seconds, and pins Hiroshi up against the ropes. Round 6 At the end of Round 6, Roberto Duran leads on the Scorecards. Scorecards by Points: (59-57 / 59-57 / 60-56) Scorecard by Rounds: (3-1-2 / 3-1-2 / 4-0-2)
Panama, The WBC Super-Featherweight Champion at the end of 1971, was Ricardo Arrendono (Mexico) 62-5-1 (46 KO's) The 22 year-old, 5' 7 1/2" Ricardo, was a 'knockout artist'. On October 11, 1971, Ricardo (as the #1 WBC Super-Featherweight) won the WBC Title by defeating (KO 10) Champion Yoshiaki Numata in Japan. Not sure if Roberto was willing to go to Mexico to fight him. Accorording to Luis Henrique, Roberto still could have made 130 lbs. at the end of 1971, but he was stronger at 135 lbs. Ricardo Arrendondo said "NO" to Panama, but would except Costa Rica if Duran would not come to Mexico. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Roberto Duran was moved up to both the #1 WBC and #1 WBA {130 lbs.} Super-Featherweight Challenger, after defeating Hiroshi Kobayashi on October 16, 1971.
WBA Lightweight Champion, Ken Buchanan who saw the Roberto Duran versus Hiroshi Kobayashi fight commented, That Latin kid is strong, but he has no 'technical skills', and will be outboxed by anyone of the Top Lightweights. Just because he 'stopped' a faded and former 130 lb. Champion, doesn't mean he can walk through this 135 lb. Division. He is no way as good as Ismael Laguna, who I have beaten 'twice', and fairly easily.
