Roberto Duran vs Iran Barkley

It was indeed incredible. And it may be unprecedented in the annals of boxing. Name another natural LW who defeated a natural MW champion. It's hard enough to find one who defeated a natural WW champion, as Duran did in 1980... Add to it that Duran did it a decade past his prime, and was completely and utterly outgunned physically.

The Panamanian has more of Odysseus in him than any Greek I've ever heard of.

 

Haha... but Duran's five decade journey had it's ups and downs. And he was very clever. I see more of Odysseus than Achilles although at times I wonder.

 

Kalypso's beach = No mas.

all that time to build a raft = Three years between New Orleans in '80 and Madison Square Garden in '83 to get afloat again.

 

They gave each other hell in a great style matchup for Duran. This was Duran's kind of fight, and it was better than Leonard/Duran 1 in action. Barkley always came to fight.

 

Anyone here feel Duran lost the fight?

I've heard some people say they feel he did.

 

I thought it was close and Iran could have won it, but Iran being knocked down gave him no real argument. The crowd was sure for Duran that night. I knew when they signed that fight that Duran had a fighter best suited for his style. Had he fought any other guy at the time like Kalambay or Nunn or Olajide, he would have lost. Not saying Olajide was champ, but Olajide's style would have beaten Duran.

 

I also should add that Barkley was fresh of knocking out the "hit"man who gave Duran his most brutal defeat (even if he was on the decline). :smoke

 

Barkley's claim to fame was beating Hearns, although Barkley then lost to Nunn and Benn in the next year. I am not sure the win for Duran was as good as people say. Barkley was good, but the style was made for Duran.

 

Still, the guy was given no chance, Barkley was a lot bigger, just knocked out Hearns and Duran was a 38 years old LIGHTWEIGHT. Duran even said that it was the greatest win of his career.