Roberto Duran vs. Antonio Cervantes 'It Was Never Going To Happen'

Wrong,,,,,,,

"Lightning Ray', a stylist boxer with little punch, nailed Robert many times
with his punches.

Red Smith, the most read American sportswriter at the time, had Ray Lampkin
ahead 7-5-1 in rounds, after the 13th Round.

Anyone who watched that bout on CBS-TV could see that Ray Lampkin was one difficult
opponent for Roberto.

Who should we believe, you Houdini,,,,,,,,,or Red Smith.

 

The Judges,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,you putz

Referee, Isaac Herrera
Judge, Juan Carlos Tapia
Judge, Ammodio Cedeno

All '3' were Panamanian Officials............atsch

Ring Magazine had it (6-5-2) in Rounds for Ray Lampkin.

 

Common Opponents

Roberto Duran

* September 13, 1971.......KO 1.........Benny Huertas
* October 28, 1972...........KO 1.........Lupe Ramirez
* November 17, 1972........L Dec 10....Esteban De Jesus
* March 17, 1973.............W Dec 10...Javier Ayala
* April 14, 1973...............TKO 2.........Gerardo Ferrat
* June 2, 1973................TKO 8.........Hector Thompson
* March 16, 1974.............KO 11.........Esteban De Jesus
* May 4, 1976.................W Dec 10.....Saoul Mamby

Antonio Cervantes

* May 28, 1971...............W Dec 10.....Lupe Ramirez
* July 10, 1971................W Dec 10....Gerardo Ferrat
* August 19, 1972............W Dec 10....Lupe Ramirez
* April 28, 1973.................KO 1.........Benny Huertas
* May 17, 1975...............W Dec 15.....Esteban De Jesus
* November 15, 1975........TKO 8.........Hector Thompson
* May 22, 1976................KO 1..........Javier Ayala
* November 13, 1976........W Dec 10....Saoul Mamby

Antonio Cervantes did defeat Roberto Duran's 'stable-mate', Alfonso 'Peppermint' Frazer
by (KO 10) on October 28, 1972 - and again (KO 5) on May 19, 1973.

Roberto Duran did defeat Antonio Cervantes 'stable-mate', Emiliano Villa by (TKO 7) on
July 31, 1976

 

EE,

You can compare the '2' Saoul Mamby fights, as they were within 6-months
of each other.

In November 1976 and in Venezuela. 'Kid Pambele' after boxing 'evenly' with
Saoul over the first 3-Rounds. Opened up in Round 4, and landed a monster
right hand to Mamby's body, that buckled his legs, and had Saoul wobbly.

From there, the 31 year-old Colombian focused on Saoul's body, forcing him
backwards into the ropes, where he worked him over with a steady but controlled
attack of 'medium-power' punches.

Saoul's legs recovered in Round 7, but he had no ammunition to ward off Cervantes.

Kid Pambele stayed steady with an assortment of left jabs and left uppercuts over
the last 3-Rounds, and kept peppering away, as Saoul was on the complete defensive.

Scorecards ( 9-1-0 / 7-0-3 / 3-0-7 }

 

May 5, 1976 (Miami Beach, Florida)

'Roberto Duran Decisions Saoul Mamby'

Roberto Duran, taking a tune-up bout before he his Nationally Televised
bout witjh Lou Bizzaro on May 23, 1976 - had a much more difficult time
then expected in the 10-Round non-title bout.

The 24 year-old Panamanian scored with hard body punches during
the bout, to build up a lead on the scorecards, but was unable
to floor the 28 year-old Saoul Mamby.

Mamby, a New York City Cab Driver, and #7 WBC-ranked Light-Welterweight
was able to keep the his left jab going during the bout,
which kept the fight even during many exchanges.

Roberto Duran was in control during the last 3-Rounds, as his harder
punches were the difference in this bout.

Neither fighter was in trouble during the fight, and Duran stated afterwards
that 'Saoul Mamby was much better than I expected'.

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No,

Antonio Cervantes wanted Roberto 'bad', in 1974 and 1975.

That is where the money was, before he got the $200,000 offer from Puerto Rico
in January 1976.

It was pretty much understood that between 1973 and 1975 - Roberto Duran was 'not'
going to fight Antonio Cervantes

A) Anytime
B) Anyplace
C) Anywhere
D) For any amount of money

E) And he still didn't want 'Kid Pambele' from 1976 thru 1978, when Cervantes was more
than willing to take less of a fight purse (a 60/40 split).

 

Jose Pagan,

Carlos Eleta was very protective of Roberto in 1972. After 'defeating' Ken Buchanan,
Carlos wanted the Title and 'all' defenses to stay in Panama.

Carlos refused to have Roberto fight Esteban De Jesus in a WBA Lightweight Title defense,
in fear of losing to a Puerto Rican-based fighter.

With Carlos getting $80,000 to $100,000 per title defense for Roberto in 1972 and 1973,
there was no need to chase Antonio Cervantes, or go to Puerto Rico.

And the rematch with Ken Buchanan, was stalled on both fronts.

After Carlos saw the way that 'Kid Pambele' destroyed Alfonso 'Peppermint' Frazer in late-1972
and early-1973, he was convinced that Cervantes was too big and too strong for Roberto.

Roberto had sparred with 'Peppermint' Frazer many times, and he had never out-muscled him
or dominated him the way that Cervantes had.