Sugar Ray Robinson vs. Roberto Duran For The Lightweight Title

[ron davis]

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?

[kingstip9]

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?

Love the completely biased intro of the fighters.
When your only opportunity to win is the chance to get a DQ in your favour after getting your sh|t pushed in all night, that’s not really a win you can brag about

[Rusty Tromboni]

Substitute Duran for Angott and Duran beats Robinson fairly comfortably.

[QueensburyRules]

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?

- -Why U never see the fight?

After getting pummeled around the ring SRLeonard style, Ken blew his cool to continue fighting after the bell. Since like most this ref was useless and did nothing, Duran stopped the rd on his own.

Robby still young lacking the experience of Ken would to a lesser extent suffer much the same fate to hang in the duration, but like many Tall fighters, insert Ali, he struggled with good shorter fighters thru his career, so I've always favored Duran.

[Willie Pep 229]

Love the completely biased intro of the fighters.

[HOUDINI563]

At that stage of his career Duran was the second coming of Dempsey. SRR was best at welterweight/middleweight. Duran wins via decision as he mauls Ray every round against the ropes.

[HOUDINI563]

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.

[Willie Pep 229]

Ken Buchanan had quite a run right after losing his title to Duran.

With wins over Frankie Otero; Jim Watt; Carlos Ortiz (and others with winning records) he probably deserved a title rematch with Duran in '74.

He does get a second shot, at the WBC title in '75 but for some reason he comes up short against Guts Ishimatsu (who looks to be a second tier fighter with a final record of 31-14)

Ishimatsu then loses his version of the title (WBC) to Esteban De Jesus a year later. De Jesus then got a third shot at Duran (second shot at the title) 18 months after that.

Its' now 1976 and Buchanan begins to slide.

During the '72 to '74 period Duran is active, fighting 19 times, four of which are title defenses, including Guts Ishimatsu.

But Buchanan, IMHO earned a rematch with Duran in either '73 or '74. But he was done by '75.

P.S. I didn't find, via The New York Times, evidence of any on-again, off-again fights between the two. But that's like trying to prove negative; there seems to be no evidence of a controversy at least according to the NYT.

[billeau2]

At that stage of his career Duran was the second coming of Dempsey. SRR was best at welterweight/middleweight. Duran wins via decision as he mauls Ray every round against the ropes.

I don't think anyone could maul a fighter who could move backwards like Robinson could, against the ropes... But we are talking Duran at his best weight and Duran was on that short list. Both guys has that special gift of power at the lighter weights...Even the great Armstrong did not have the pure power at light weight of Duran, or Robinson.

This is a hard one to call: Duran was controlled fury, passion, intensity...he wanted to pull your heart out and eat it! Robinson was the boxer Apollo...ordered, technically perfect, precise and like a cold blooded shark tasting blood. Two different drivers, motivators here.

I have no problem giving it to Duran...this was his best weight.

[HOUDINI563]

After losing to Duran..
In his next fight, Buchanan beat former 3 time world champion Carlos Ortiz by a knockout in six, also at the MSG on 20 September 1972.

Buchanan finished 1972 with a win over Chang Kil Lee on 4 December 1972.

On 28 June 1972, Roberto Durán signed to defend it against Buchanan on 20 October 1972. However, Durán broke that agreement when the Panamanian Government insisted he make his first defense in Panama. He did, knocking out Jimmy Robertson on 20 January 1973.

Durán also had signed a second contract with the MSG on 25 October 1972, to defend against Buchanan on or before 30 June 1973.

But Durán broke that agreement again. Durán had his license suspended by the New York State Athletic Commission on 4 April 1973. The commission also warned Durán that his title recognition would be withdrawn.

The New York State Athletic Commission had been attempting for two years (1972 - 1974) to get Durán to honor an agreement to fight Buchanan. But Durán refused to honor the contract to face Buchanan.