On This Day June 16, 1983

[elanimalsantana]

 

[mozfonky]

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remember it like yesterday.

for those of you who don't know the history, Duran was huge in america after the Sugar Ray Leonard win and then immediately became a pariah and a has been overnight with "no mas". The quitting in the second fight is arguably the most infamous quit job in boxing history. People acted like few boxers ever quit before or since which wasn't true but to quit in a huge fight like that with so much on the line destroyed roberto. It was all mental though, from what I recall, Duran put on some lukewarm performances, lost clearly to Benitez and had his contract torn up by Don King right in front of him leaving him in tears. Bob Arum was approached and his matchmaker Teddy Brenner suspected rightly that it wasn't physical, it was maybe boredom or lack of interest but not talent. Duran was then matched with a comebacking Pipino Cuevas in a battle of faded champions. Duran dominated all the way against the bigger, natural welter and all time great puncher, kayoing in him, i think in 3. He was then matched with Davey Moore, really a fluke champion, good fighter but not brought along properly, managed to get a title shot, I think before his tenth pro fight, which is nearly unheard of but he was capable and had some good wins behind him. Nothing that would prepare him for the level Duran demanded of him. Duran gave him the beating of a lifetime in yet another career defining win. He did it with skill, expert slipping and veteran tricks like letting Davey land some shots to get him to open up more and create openings. All the boxing nerds know that duran was a lot more than a brawler and a mauler but his image as just a mean, surly angry guy even still makes it easy to forget just how skillful and tactical he was.