Roberto Duran 'Comeback 1981'

August 9, 1981

In Roberto's 'comeback' to restore some dignity, he ends up in all places, Cleveland, Ohio (Don King Territory).

Roberto, who will now enter the ring at 155 lbs. - 10 pounds heavier than when he was a
'perfect fighting machine' versus Ray Leonard in Montreal in June 1980.

This will be the 'first' bout for a now 30 year-old Roberto, who brings in a record of 72-2-0 (56 KO's).

A 'first opponent' is picked, and Nino Gonzalez, a Light-Middleweight from New Jersey is chosen.

Nino, a 22 year-old - 5' 8" boxer-slugger, carries a record of 24-1-0 (13 KO's), and brings with him fairly good power,
and 'club-fighter toughness'.

If anything, the 'young' Nino will make Roberto 'work' for all 10-Rounds, as Gonzalez is a pretty good infighter,
has good strength, good stamina and a sturdy chin. Nino is 'not' really a big puncher, but he has more of
attention-getting fists, and this will be a 'good honest test' for Roberto.

The Skinny

Roberto better be ready to fight, as Nino is a pretty good fighter, and can more than handle his own on the inside,
as he does have a pretty good left hook to the body. Nino doesn't have good hand speed, but what does Roberto
have left. Both fighters are fairly equal in size, with Nino having a slight-edge in height 1" and reach 2".

If Nino wants to win, he must try to steal a round or two early, then use his natural weight to bull Roberto over
the middle rounds and land his left hook to the body to wear down the 30 year-old Panamanian. Then if Roberto
has faded, open up with hard punches over the last '3-Rounds'.

The Double Skinny

Nino Gonzalez, the #9 WBC-ranked Light-Middleweight had signed to fight 'new' WBC Light-Middlweight Champion-
Wilfred Benitez later this month. But Promoter - Don King offered Nino Gonzalez more money to fight Roberto Duran
in a 10-Round bout.

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August 9, 1981

'Roberto Duran Raises His Arms In Joy After Decision'

Roberto Duran started his 'comeback bid' with a win over Nino Gonzalez.

30 year-old Roberto Duran utilized his strength and experience, to overcome the youth and
aggressiveness from 22 year-old Nino Gonzalez to win a 'hard-fought' 10-Round Unanimous Decision.

Nino came out quickly just like he said, and used a sharp left jab to edge out Rounds 1 and 2, as
Roberto appeared to be pacing himself.

Roberto got it in gear in Round 3, as he started to score with good sharp punches, while Nino was trying
to landcounter-punches. Midway through the round, Roberto suffered a slight-cut over the left-eye.

Roberto began to dominate in Rounds 4 and 5, and landed a mixture of head and body blows that took
the wind out of Nino's sails. Late in Round 5, Roberto landed a hard right hand to the jaw that shook
Gonzalez at the bell.

Round 6, was fought on 'even' terms, as both fighter exchanged good punches in a busy round.

Roberto returned to the offensive in Round 7, by continuing with a 'well-paced' body assault,
and then mixed in good shots to the head that wobbled Gonzalez several times.

Roberto seemed a bit spent in Round 8, as Nino out-worked the 30 year-old Duran by maintaining
a steady one-two attack, while pushing Roberto backwards.

In Round 9, Duran was in control in the early part of the round, by staying busier. But Gonzalez
started to edge back into the round, as he was willing to trade with Duran at center-ring. Duran
appeared a bit tired as the round was closing, and Gonzalez moved in and unloaded '2' blistering
right hands to the head, and followed that up with a big left hook to the jaw that rocked Duran
at the end of the round.

In the 'final round', sensing the bout was 'too close', Roberto took back control, and banged away
with both hands, driving Nino back into the ropes, where he raked him over with both hands.
Roberto then drove Nino into a neutral corner, and landed several hard right hands to the head, that
had Nino on wobbling legs at the final bell.

Scorecards
* 48-44 (6-2-2 in Rounds)
* 47-43 (7-3-0 in Rounds)
* 48-45 (5-3-2 in Rounds)

The Associated Press scored the bout 47-44 (6-3-1 in Rounds) for Roberto Duran.

The After Skinny

It was announced, that Roberto Duran would take on Babilah 'Babs' McCarthy on September 25, 1981
in Las Vegas.

Roberto Duran, 'I was tired after the 7th Round. I haven't fought in a long time, and I needed to pace myself.'

Nino Gonzalez, 'I thought I won the fight, or least it was a Draw. One judge had him winning '7' rounds, that is
completely ridiculous.'

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Roberto Duran,

'I Want A Rematch With Ray Leonard'

Roberto Duran has a scheduled date in Las Vegas for September 25, 1981 with
Stockton, California's - Babilah 'Babs' McCarthy.

The 25 year-old - 5' 7" McCarthy, a spark-plug type brawler, fights in both Welterweight
and the Light-Middleweight division. The 'muscular' Californian, has a deceiving record
of 22-15-2 (14 KO's). Babilah is currently ranked as the #12 Welterweight.

McCarthy, after a losing run early in his career, has gone 14-3-0 in his last '17-bouts'
with (9 KO's), and believes he has the style to defeat the 30 year-old Panamanian.

The contract weight is set at 152 lbs.

 

MAG1965,

The fight between Roberto Duran and Babilah 'Babs' McCarthy was a signed deal for
Friday Night - September 25, 1981- and in Las Vegas.

But if I recall, the Television Network's wouldn't buy it.

Style wise, it would have been much like Roberto Duran vs. Jimmy Heair. If Roberto
was in good shape, he may have stopped 'Babs' McCarthy in 6, otherwise probably a
'workman-like' 10-Round Decision.

Babilah was actually a pretty tough 'advanced club-fighter'.

Then, Don King offered up Larry 'Mousey' Martin, a tall 6-foot 'whip-like' 154 lb.
Light-Middleweight from Kansas City, Missouri. Larry Martin had a record of
13-2-0 (11 KO's), and after a couple of good wins was ranked as the #16 Light-Middleweight.

But, 'Mousey' Martin was turned down by Roberto Duran, as 'Mousey'
though with mimimal experience - was tall, quick, and had some good
power from outside - which gave Roberto trouble at this time in his
career.

Eventually, Luigi Minchillo - the tough Italian Light-Middleweight was chosen.

 

(September 26, 1981)

CBS-Sports -turned down both - Babilah 'Babs' McCarthy and Larry 'Mousey' Martin
as "Television Opponents" for Roberto Duran.

But, they did approve 26 year-old Italian Light-Middleweight and European Champion -
Luigi Minchillo. Luigi had a record of 35-1-0 (22 KO's), and his only loss was due to
an injury.

Luigi, was better than 'Babs' McCarthy, but did not punch as hard as Larry Martin.

The 'winner' of this bout, was 'guaranteed' a WBC Light-Middleeweight Championship
bout with Wilfred Benitez.

 

Luigi Minchillo

The perfect fighter to test Roberto Duran,

A tough, durable and straight ahead moving fighter. Mediocre power, and
average hand speed.

Luigi made Roberto work for the 10-Round Decision win.

The first '3-Rounds', Luigi stayed with Roberto, even cutting his right
eye, both on the eye-brow and underneath.

That cut seemed to inspire Roberto, as he took over in Round 5, and swept every
round after that, inluding shaking Luigo a couple of times with hard right hands.
Roberto partially closed Luigi's right eye in Round 9, and cruised in Round 10.

Scorecards { 98-92 / 100-91 / 100-90 }
The Associated Press had it 99-91 (9-1-0 in Rounds).

All leaned a little heavy towards Roberto, as many of the early rounds were close.
A fair scorecard was more like 98-94 (6-2-2 in Rounds).

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