Barkley-Duran

Trump Plaza to Close September 16, Remembering Roberto Duran Versus Barkley in 1991

By Robert Brizel, Head RCM Boxing Correspondent

With additional commentary on the impact of the closure of the Atlantic City casino resorts

NJTV News Trump Plaza Report https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qFwVu91yR8

Within the next 15 days, three Atlantic City Hotel Casinos are going to close permanently, The Revel and The Showboat are closing Labor Day weekend 2014. Trump Plaza will close on September 16, 2014. The three casinos were also the site of boxing history. As a reporter covering Atlantic City boxing, I will find it sad when these great resorts, who have hosted some of the great boxing events past and present, are gone forever from the boxing scenery.

Every sports reporter enjoy the magic of reflection of the great bouts of boxing history which are of immeasurable historical significance. I often remember the fourth world title of Roberto Duran, ‘The Hands of Stone’ who just never gave up. Duran failed to win world titles against Thomas Hearns and Wilfredo Benitez at 154 pounds, then toppled Davey Moore to win a world title at junior middleweight in his third try at that weight.

Duran went the 15 round distance with Marvin Hagler, but failed to win the world middleweight title. Hearns had got knocked out early against both Hagler and Barkley. Barkley versus Duran seemed a mismatch, but Duran was a legend who just refused to go away. Styles, many an expert will tell you, make fights. Barkley was tailor made for Duran.

Iran Barkley versus Roberto Duran, WBC World Middleweight title, February 24, 1989
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knjh-ucbrKgTrump Plaza Hotel Casino, Atlantic City

Despite being in trouble early, Duran kept busy, took Barkley’s best punches, and he just kept coming. Barkley, in awe of the legend, just could not shake Duran. Eventually, Duran’s relentless pressure closed Barkley’s right eye, and rapid fire power combinations to the head sent Barkley plummeting to the canvas in the eleventh round. The pro-Duran crowd went wild. It was as if the lion had gotten ahold of the warthog, and wouldn’t let go. Duran’s 12 round split decision victory to win the World Boxing Council Middleweight title February 24, 1989 was astounding, a testimony to Roberto’s heart and determination.

Duran went after Sugar Ray ten months later, and lost a 12 rounder for the WBC Super Middleweight world title. In retrospect, I wish Roberto Duran had kept the WBC World Middleweight crown he had won at the Trump Plaza and defended it. Duran had won the middleweight crown at the right time. Duran did not stay in the division to fight the likes of Julian Jackson, Gerald McClellan, Mustafa Hamsho, and other notable middleweights. Duran fought 27 more times in the next 12 years, but only once more at middleweight, losing a 12 rounder to Hector Camacho in 1996, also in Atlantic city at the Taj Mahal.

The Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino is sort of like the clothing line Faded Glory. The Trump Plaza was a hotspot in its time, but the casino quickly got old in the winds of time. What was once new becomes old and outdate, and not so wanted anymore. Atlantic City will lose 8000 jobs as the three casinos, Revel, Trump Plaza and Showboat, close up permanently, and join the ACH (Hilton) Hotel Casino which closed earlier this year. There is hope the four closed casinos could reopen as nongaming resorts.

In point of fact, the loss of four casinos will help the other casinos in Atlantic City. However, if New Jersey voters approve construction on two new hotel casinos proposed in Jersey City (a 4.6 billion dollar complex) and another next to Izod Arena at the Meadowlands Sports Complex, all of the remaining Atlantic City casinos will be doomed.

New Jersey started a five year plan to reinvigorate Atlantic City as a tourist destination, during which time New Jersey could not build any new casinos. In the process, New Jersey began buying up Atlantic City homes on the water by eminent domain for a new tourist district, a costly future dream which may now never come to pass just beyond The Revel Hotel Casino property.

For a brief instant in time in February 1989, over 25 years ago, Robert Duran and the Trump Plaza Hotel Casino came to life on the Atlantic City Boardwalk, full of excitement, and full of promise. Atlantic City had a magic, an electricity which has dimmed in time.

Boxing events are still held there in the remaining casinos and at Boardwalk Hall. Hopefully the Atlantic City magic can be saved, and even reinvented, and the city will survive the latest developments. In essence, fewer casinos is better for the remaining survivors, but not if the five year plan to reimage Atlantic City is abandoned in favor of casino construction elsewhere. If that happens, Atlantic City is finished-which isn’t funny.

One conclusion is true. The Revel, a costly nightmare, was given every tax break, and then strangely built as a Las Vegas style Hotel Casino in the form of a tall monstrosity. Trump Plaza and Showboat were more so the Atlantic City sleazy and cheesy. In Atlantic City, sleaze and cheese adds to the excitement and character of the moment. The more run down the old casinos were, the more people seemed to gravitate to them. The casinos now closing had their moments in the sun, and everyone will miss them.

 

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