by James Slater: The date was June 20th, 1980 and the venue was The Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Canada. What followed was a boxing match that would go down in history as one of the very best ever in the welterweight division!
“Sugar” Ray Leonard was an unbeaten 24-year-old former Olympic gold medallist with a 27-0 record and the WBC welterweight title. His handsome face practically everywhere, Leonard, haling from Palmer Park, Maryland, was the new superstar of professional boxing. Roberto Duran was Leonard’s polar opposite. A former Panamanian street urchin, the 29-year-old was the former undisputed lightweight world champion (title vacated, not lost) and some were saying he might have been the best 135-pounder ever. Neither as flashy or as cute as Leonard, Duran, known as “Hands of Stone,” was nevertheless idolised the world over due to his own brand of boxing ability..
Duran, while he was more than adept at using ring subtleties, was looked upon as more of a tough guy and a rough fighter opposed to a fancy Dan. And while Leonard was capable of gutting it out in a fight when necessary, he was known more as a pretty boxer who dazzled his opponents in the ring – hence his nickname of “Sugar.” Now the two vastly different fighters, different not only in their ring styles but in their personalities also, were about to meet for Leonard’s WBC 147 pound championship.
Not a seat was left unsold that June night in Montreal, and those lucky enough to have been in attendance were about to see why. Quite simply put, Leonard and Duran put on a battle for the ages – giving us fifteen pulsating rounds that elevated both men to even greater fistic heights. Proving he was as tough as Duran, but losing in doing so, Leonard fought Duran’s fight. An inside, sometimes toe-to-toe battle ensued and Duran loved it. In absolutely perfect shape on this night, with no stone having been left unturned in training, Duran was very probably at his very peak – whereas Leonard’s still awaited him. It showed.
Leonard fought Duran’s fight all right, and admirably at that, he just didn’t do it as well as “Hands of Stone” did. Roberto, seething with a genuine hatred of the new golden boy, a fighter he perceived as not having had to work his way up anywhere near as hard as he had, was crammed full of intense energy. Leonard showed he was way more than just a pretty face and a talented boxer, but on this night Duran would not be denied.
When the fifteen great rounds were over Duran shoved Leonard away from him as Ray attempted to congratulate his foe. Even now Duran was still full of zest and anger and his virtual contempt for Leonard was there to be seen in plain view. The fight had been close, but Roberto knew he’d won. He knew in his heart he’d beaten the golden boy who’d had everything given to him on a platter thus far in his young career. This was how Duran looked at Leonard, and now he had taken away his title and unbeaten record.
The decision was unanimous and Roberto Duran was the new WBC welterweight champion of the world. Now owning an incredible record of 72 wins and just one ( subsequently avenged) loss, Duran was the pound-for-pound king of boxing. Leonard, who fell to 27-1, was FAR from done, however. Indeed, there was the certain matter of a rematch that would take place five months later, but that story is one befitting a whole other article! Boxing fans know to what this writer is referring, too. For now, Roberto Duran reigned supreme and he was now a two-weight world champion.
Seldom has there been a more mesmerising world title fight held in the welterweight division than the one that took place in Canada exactly twenty-eight years ago this very day!