A Critical Analysis of Rematches Won and Lost by Roberto Duran
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Esteban DeJesus, Edwin Viruet, Pat Lawlor and Jorge Castro were later career rematches Panama’s “The Hands of Stone” Roberto Duran won. Sugar Ray Leonard (bout three), Vinnie Paz (Pazienza) and Hector Camacho were rematches Roberto Duran did not win. A critical understanding of the different phases and stages of Duran’s career, which went 103-16 with 70 knockouts between 1968 and 2001, reveals it all depends on what point in his career and in what weight class Duran was fighting. Duran’s career was fearless and stretched through a number of decades and weight classes. Duran’s career ended due to a car accident in which injuries sustained by Duran were too much to continue his career. Duran is a mainstay at sporting autograph shows today and World Boxing Council conventions, a testament to a personality of furious fire inside the ring, which converted later life to a friendly ambassador of the sport of boxing, the best Latino boxer ever.
Esteban DeJesus was the first danger level opponent faced by the legendary Duran to thoroughly outbox him over ten rounds. Knocked down by DeJesus in the first round in November 1972 at Madison Square Garden, Duran lost the decision to DeJesus. In March 1974, Duran would be knocked down by DeJesus in the first round yet again, this time during a defense of his World Boxing Association World Lightweight title in Panama City, won by Duran in the rematch when he knocked DeJesus out in the eleventh round. They would meet again in 1989, when Duran embraced DeJesus with love as DeJesus lay dying in his hospital bed. Their third encounter was proof Duran’s personality had a sunny side to it which went with his heart.
In March 1991 at Mirage Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, Duran injured his shoulder and was unable to continue in the sixth round of his bout with Pat Lawlor. In a June 2000 rematch in Panama, Duran won a 12 round decision to win the NBA Super Middleweight title over Lawlor, a very different outcome. Duran beat Edwin Viruet twice, in September 1975 over ten rounds in Uniondale, New York at Nassau Coliseum, and in September 1977 at The Spectrum in Philadelphia over 15 rounds in defense of his WBA World Lightweight title. Duran lost to Jorge Castro over ten rounds in February 2997 in Mar De La Plata, Argentina, then defeated Castro over ten rounds in Panama City in June 1997.
After defeating Ray Leonard in June 1980 to win the WBC World Welterweight title in 15 rounds in Montreal, Canada, Duran lost the “No Mas” rematch in November 1980 at the Superdome in New Orleans in the eighth round, complaining of stomach cramps, probably associated with rapid weight loss. Duran lost to the late Hector “Macho” Camacho twice, in Atlantic City, New Jersey over 12 rounds in June 1996, and in the final bout of his career, another 12 round loss in July 2001. Duran lost twelve round decisions to Vinnie Pazienza twice, in June 1994 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, and January 1995 in Convention Hall in Atlantic City.
Duran lost fights to Wilfredo Benitez, Thomas Hearns, Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Robbie Simms, beat Iran Barkley and Ken Buchanan and others. Duran was a regular Harry Houdini of the weight classes, always a big draw and fan favorite. His different results came at different ages in different weight classes. Styles make fights. Hearns knocked Duran out, then lost to Iran Barkley twice, including getting knocked out the first time. Duran dropped and defeated Barkley to win the World Middleweight title quite easily.
Duran was what he was when he was in his time. In regards to Hearns. Hagler, and Leonard, they dominated the scene for many years in the televised draw. They were the big names a way back then, and they don’t make ’em like they used to. Duran’s passion for boxing extended his career light-years beyond the point where most careers end, and he enjoyed every bout with passion, though he no longer had the speed and power in the higher weight classes and at advanced age which he had when he was in the lower weight classes at a younger age.
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