Sugar Ray Robinson vs. Roberto Duran For The Lightweight Title

[TonyGe]

This should be a terrific match as Lightweights. Who would you pick. Robinson of 1941 was a lightweight at the age 19 -20 he was running through Lt. Div. like a steam roller.

Duran was Lightweight Champion at 20 or 21, (won TKO) who fouled Ken, and should of been disqualified for hitting him in the balls who suffered a severe rupture.

Who wins this one?

No he should not have been DQed because Buchanan hit him after the bell. The bell rang and Buchanan kept punching. They traded punches and then he was hit low. Also there is some question about LoBianco pulling Duran back as he was punching causing the punch to be low.

[ron davis]

Really, If Kens punch (for what it was) would knockout Duran a split second after the bell, he wins! Duran hit Ken with a Golotto punch that the referee didn't see, because he was behind Duran. But, he claimed that the punch was low but not a foul. Ken suffered a ruptured testicles. They should of shot the referee. Duran hit Ken low in every round and was not penalized. He ducked re-matches, because he wouldn't get away with that again.

Duran beat Barkley the same way. How else could he win!

[TonyGe]

Buchanan put on a great display vs Duran. Certainly he was behind in the fight but he hung in there boxing cleverly, moving to either side and counterpunching the entire bout. He also took bombs from Duran and kept on fighting. The ending is very curious as both men fought after the bell but you can see quite clearly Ken was hit way below the beltline. What was the reason the verdict was not reversed or at least ruled a NC and an immediate rematch ordered? I know that a rematch was pursued 2 or 3 times but Duran pulled out of each.

They can't reverse a decision when the incident happened after the fight was over and Buchanan initiated it.

[TonyGe]

Really, If Kens punch (for what it was) would knockout Duran a split second after the bell, he wins! Duran hit Ken with a Golotto punch that the referee didn't see, because he was behind Duran. But, he claimed that the punch was low but not a foul. Ken suffered a ruptured testicles. They should of shot the referee. Duran hit Ken low in every round and was not penalized. He ducked re-matches, because he wouldn't get away with that again.

Duran beat Barkley the same way. How else could he win!

There were no low blows in the Barkley fight that I can recall.

[HOUDINI563]

I’m not familiar enough with the details of boxing rules at that time to determine what was done here was right or wrong. It was a flagrant low blow. Are we saying just because both fighters threw punches after the bell anything goes? So if Durán kicked Ken in the balls instead of punching him he still wins?

The other curious thing is how quickly after Ken is back in his corner the ref stops the fight? Ken was writhing in pain but still wanted to continue.

Buchanan’s career was too early for me to follow since I started watching the sport in 1971. He really impressed me in this fight. Duran was a tiger but Ken kept moving and counterpunching all the while taking blows that stopped so many. Buchanan was one tough fighter.

[Gamer30168]

I'll take Robinson

[Willie Pep 229]

I’m not familiar enough with the details of boxing rules at that time to determine what was done here was right or wrong. It was a flagrant low blow. Are we saying just because both fighters threw punches after the bell anything goes? So if Durán kicked Ken in the balls instead of punching him he still wins?

The other curious thing is how quickly after Ken is back in his corner the ref stops the fight? Ken was writhing in pain but still wanted to continue.

Buchanan’s career was too early for me to follow since I started watching the sport in 1971. He really impressed me in this fight. Duran was a tiger but Ken kept moving and counterpunching all the while taking blows that stopped so many. Buchanan was one tough fighter.

The foul rule (as it was originally adopted by the NYSAC back in the early 1930s) necessitated that a fighter felled by a low blow had to regain his feet (on his own) before the ten count. The opponent would then lose the round on the score card.

The common complaint of the day went something like: "Foul soft and lose the round, foul hard and win the fight."

I always thought that Buchanan's corner had helped Buchanan back to his corner and waved off the fight expecting to win via foul.

Of course all this is qualified when you add in the "after the bell" action.

What you say is interesting, I need to go back and watch again.

[HOUDINI563]

Perhaps what you say is true. It looked like once Ken was back in his corner the ref took one look and waved off the fight. Ken immediately stood up not understanding why the bout was stopped insisting he was ok to continue. Just all very weird. Can’t put my arms around what went on here.

[HOUDINI563]

Here is a nice article and you can find a still photo of the low low. Looks like it landed on the very upper thigh/ front of the hip area so very low but not in the balls.

https://www.boxingoverbroadway.com/duran-v-buchanan/

[Willie Pep 229]

Yea! I went back and watched and I can't put arm around it either.

I think the answer might be the most common one, the referee lost control of the situation.

The ref is pushed away from Buchanan by his seconds, he then looks in the corner and seems to have a conversation with Buchanan's seconds (whom the announcer said was Gil Clancy,) and then waves off the fight.

Oddly Buchanan does complain, but his corner doesn't make much of a fuss.

I guess the ref decided Buchanan couldn't continue and then decided he needed to pick a winner. (????)

Did you hear the referee say in the post fight interview "it's impossible to be hurt by a low blow"? Strange remark/attitude.

If that was Gil Clancy I would love to know what Clancy said to him.

I think Buchanan's people expected a stoppage and a win.

P.S. I think Duran took a deliberate cheap shot and should have been DQed.