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A COUPLE OF FIGHTS I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO SEE
I recently saw a replay of the famous Roberto Duran - Ken Buchanan
battle of 1972. It was the June night in which Roberto lifted Ken's
lightweight title and started a reign of terror in the lightweight division
that lasted until 1978. Although Duran was winning, the controversial end in
the thirteenth round of the Buchanan fight should have warranted a return
match for Ken. The Buchanan camp said he was hit low at the end of the
thirteenth round and could not continue. Referee Johnny LoBianco thought
otherwise and stopped the bout.
Duran's ferocious aggression had surprised the slick boxing Buchanan
throughout the fight. Still at times Ken showed tremendous grit and held his
own. After this bout Buchanan would more then earn his right to a rematch.
He won thirteen straight bouts going into 1975. In fact his first fight back
he halted former champion Carlos Ortiz.
Two fights later Ken outscored future lightweight champion Jim Watt.
The wins kept coming. Among his victims were Hector Matta, ChuChu Malave and
Frankie Otero on two occasions. He stopped Antonio Puddu to win the European
title. Still no rematch with Duran.
Finally Ken secured a match with WBC lightweight champion Ishimatsu "
Guts " Suzuki in Tokyo. Suzuki had lost title attempts against Ismael Laguna
and Duran but then knocked out Rodolfo Gonzalez to gain recognition from the
WBC. Many gave Ken a very good chance of winning this fight but the ever
aggressive Suzuki pulled out a unanimous decision and Ken's hopes of getting
Roberto back in the ring ended. Later Suzuki would lose his title to Esteban
DeJesus. Duran had lost the only fight of his career to DeJesus in a non
title fight just months after he had beaten Buchanan. Two years later Duran
stopped DeJesus in a title fight. When DeJesus beat Suzuki it eventually set
up the unification rubber match in which Roberto again halted Esteban.
Why would Roberto never grant Buchanan a return match ? Ken was a top
contender for almost three years. Would Buchanan and DeJesus have met if Ken
would have defeated Suzuki ? If so, who would have won that fight ? Buchanan
had his most trouble with hard charging, aggressive fighters like Duran and
Suzuki. DeJesus was more of a boxer / counter puncher. Buchanan would have
had a better chance of establishing his fine jab thus giving him a decent
chance of beating DeJesus. I think it would have been a great fight. I think
Duran - Buchanan II would have been great too.
Too bad we'll never know.
I recently saw a replay of the famous Roberto Duran - Ken Buchanan
battle of 1972. It was the June night in which Roberto lifted Ken's
lightweight title and started a reign of terror in the lightweight division
that lasted until 1978. Although Duran was winning, the controversial end in
the thirteenth round of the Buchanan fight should have warranted a return
match for Ken. The Buchanan camp said he was hit low at the end of the
thirteenth round and could not continue. Referee Johnny LoBianco thought
otherwise and stopped the bout.
Duran's ferocious aggression had surprised the slick boxing Buchanan
throughout the fight. Still at times Ken showed tremendous grit and held his
own. After this bout Buchanan would more then earn his right to a rematch.
He won thirteen straight bouts going into 1975. In fact his first fight back
he halted former champion Carlos Ortiz.
Two fights later Ken outscored future lightweight champion Jim Watt.
The wins kept coming. Among his victims were Hector Matta, ChuChu Malave and
Frankie Otero on two occasions. He stopped Antonio Puddu to win the European
title. Still no rematch with Duran.
Finally Ken secured a match with WBC lightweight champion Ishimatsu "
Guts " Suzuki in Tokyo. Suzuki had lost title attempts against Ismael Laguna
and Duran but then knocked out Rodolfo Gonzalez to gain recognition from the
WBC. Many gave Ken a very good chance of winning this fight but the ever
aggressive Suzuki pulled out a unanimous decision and Ken's hopes of getting
Roberto back in the ring ended. Later Suzuki would lose his title to Esteban
DeJesus. Duran had lost the only fight of his career to DeJesus in a non
title fight just months after he had beaten Buchanan. Two years later Duran
stopped DeJesus in a title fight. When DeJesus beat Suzuki it eventually set
up the unification rubber match in which Roberto again halted Esteban.
Why would Roberto never grant Buchanan a return match ? Ken was a top
contender for almost three years. Would Buchanan and DeJesus have met if Ken
would have defeated Suzuki ? If so, who would have won that fight ? Buchanan
had his most trouble with hard charging, aggressive fighters like Duran and
Suzuki. DeJesus was more of a boxer / counter puncher. Buchanan would have
had a better chance of establishing his fine jab thus giving him a decent
chance of beating DeJesus. I think it would have been a great fight. I think
Duran - Buchanan II would have been great too.
Too bad we'll never know.
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