BLTV Highlights the big 2 fight saga between the legendary Roberto Duran & Vinny Pazienza. Duran was entering the twilight of his career, so it was a tall order matching up with a man 10 years younger, and considerably faster
There is. Paz broke his neck in a car crash. Doctors told him he would never box again. He said no I am gonna fight again and took a harder solution to his broken neck with the halo procedure rather than getting his spine fused. Got himself stronger than ever and jumped up weight to fight a still dangerous Duran and won. It's a pretty crazy story of the human will.
I remember this fight. Roy Jones said after the fight that if Duran was three years younger he would have lnocked out Paz. Duran was clearly way past his best years and kept fighting pretty much out of financial need.
Vinny had heart no doubt ,his performances were so so at best, but labeling a fight thag went the distance with the Paz hitting the deck once isn't nightmare worthy.
Roberto Duran was a true champion and a man who didn’t retire until 50 or 51 years of age and he was 4 time champion in 4 weight classes can’t beat that man.
And then Roy was Paz’ worst nightmare. But as old as Duran was he was still holding his own in there. That short chopping straight right that put so many down still put Paz down. Duran was a beast. No fear.
Vinny Paz had a spinal injury in 1991 and fought Duran in 94 and 95 , Paz was not 100% and have problems with mobility and pain in his back. Duran fought and injured Paz and still lost twice.
Duran should have retired after the excellent victory against Barkley for the middleweight title. Unfortunately the greatest boxers go on for way longer than they need to.
@@lime455 Roberto is the greatest lightweight in the history of boxing and one of the pound 4 pound grates, Ray Robinson, Henry, Armstrong, and Roberto Duran, and that order
I can honestly tell you that Paz was HEAVY on the juice when he fought this fight. Duran was a 4 time champ in 4 different weight classes. As much as you want to hate him for his attitude, you have to respect him as one of the all time greats.
Facts. That's exactly what it is. I feel Roberto won the Camacho Fight even more convincing. Paz's arm punches do very little to to Duran even at what, 44-45 here. I hate that he fought past the Barkley Victory, but that's what he did. That was his trade. The man's my Hero.
I love both of these dudes. These were real fighters who were as tough as they come. I love how they settled their differences in the ring, and became great friends afterwards. It was a great time in boxing for every weight class.
Duran won that first fight. Duran was robbed a few times late in his career. The judges just didn't want to give him any decisions at the tail end of his boxing career.
Add Foremans "win" against Briggs to the list. The powers that be in the boxing world dont like 47 year old guys making their 27 year old "up and coming stars" look bad
I totally agree. Later after his fights with Duran were well behind he stated the hardest punch he took in his career was one of the punches thrown by Duran. I tend to think it was the knockdown punch in this fight.
Roberto Duran's worst nightmare became the brutal hard 2nd round knockout at the hands of Thomas "Hitman" Hearns back in 1984. Those punches Hearns landed on Duran are some of the deadliest seen in a elite match and that brutal stone-cold KO punch sent Duran crashing to the canvas like he had been shot to the head by a gun (!) And remember, Duran was a tough guy with an iron chin and Hearns crushed that chin like wet clay....
After the Hagler fight, Duran was in Miami partying.....a rep from Hearns' camp came up to Roberto and told him he could have the briefcase full of cash that was in his hand, if he signed for a fight with Hearns. Roberto, with his pride and all, especially when he had been drinking.....signed. He had just had 3 big fights with Cuevas, Moore and Hagler. Many said that Roberto needed a couple of softer fights before he fought Tommy. Duran was way out of shape by the time he got into training and he never got into good shape for Tommy......made for an easy win for Tommy. Tommy then said that "Hagler must be shaking like a leaf on a tree" after his ko of Duran. Hagler took that to heart and vowed to crush Tommy....and he did.
@@blite13 Wow! I can really see this bee. Duran was from time-to-time sloppy in-between his fights and being confident having lasted all rounds with the dangerous Marvin Hagler, Duran thought Hearns would not be any different....beside that while both men was true hard punchers, Hearns had more sting and speed while Hagler was stronger and had a solid granite chin that separated there physical athletic gifts + of course different styles (!) Indeed Hagler took that to heart, he never ducked any man challanging for his MW crown and he knew that Hearns was the man, the real deal that could take his crown by a KO!
Duran was the greatest lightweight in history period ,relentless offense,slipped puches,went to the body ,great infighter a beast...the punches that would stop lightweights didn't work as well against welters and especially middle weights
@@thomasespositio3139Dont tell Barkley or Davey Moore that. Duran didnt lose his power, but he did lose some of his ability to land those punches. Why? Because he just didnt have the reach to box on an even field with those bigger guys. He did get a chance to cock that right hand against Moore. He put everything behind it, and hit Moore so hard that when he landed on his ass, he slid backwards another foot, at least. But the only reason he could land it is that Moore's eye was swollen shut, and he couldnt see it coming. Im glad Duran won that fight, but I don't see enough people calling this fight what it really was. That would be that Davey Moore's corner should be banned from boxing. Shame on them throwing a guy with just 12 pro fights experience in with a warrior like Duran. They should be ashamed. Greed, thats why they threw Davey to the Lion.....
@@milojanis4901 he had the same power it just didn't have the same affect on bigger men, Duran was one of the 3 greatest lightweights in boxing history PERIOD, but lets face when he went up in weight the results were mediocre, I think Leonard beat him the 1st fight as well
I got to meet RD about 5 yrs ago. He was shadow boxing with Jessie Vargas just before the Vargas Paquio fight. I’m a PAC-MAN fan but after meeting Jessie who was soooo nice, sooo humble, soooo polite, and seeing him and Duran giving pointers to each other… what can I say ?? Legends respect. I rooted for Jessie in the Pac-Man fight because what a nice man he is and a champ in his own right… pac had been on too forever and I wanted Jessie to go get some!!! But Jessie and Duran were extremely nice, polite, friendly and we had a great time in Vegas. Looking back I think Duran knew Jessie was gonna be fighting Pac-Man so he was giving Jessie pointers but nobody in the casino knew.. I didn’t but man what a memory seeing these guys together!.. awesome night.
Durans biggest and worst opponent was the buffet table. when focused and disciplined ne was unbeatable. Hearns fight was the one fight he didn't show.. but fought the wrong kinda of fight for Hearns.
I give Pazienza credit for coming back from his injury. But Duran now 42 was a shell of the fighter he once was yet Paz couldn’t put the old man away in 24 rounds. Duran was still fighting because there were bums like Paz who wanted to make a name for themselves for beating the Legendary Duran no matter how old he was.
@@Niklasholmenhi niklas i agree re tommy hearns beating duran better than anyone has done but looking back at this it was poor matchmaking by duran camp. It was a mismatch (admittedly with hindsight). Hearns had tremendous height and reach, and still had devastating power. He fought at lightheavy. Oddly duran did better than tommy against their common foes - leonard and hagler.
I saw an off the cuff interview with Paz where he was laughing and playing down his win over Duran. He said something like what was he, eighty something? It was good to see some honesty from a fighter.
I remember Roy Jones knowing about him, breaking his neck a few years before their fight, and didn’t want to hit him in that fight. Then just put him out of his misery. I think it’s pretty extraordinary that he came back from that broken neck and did what he did overall.
coming back within a year of a broken neck, not only to the ring but to title calibre, is the biggest red flag to steroids you could possibly ask for lol
Duran’s dad was Mexican-American who was in the US army station in Panama. After the Army moved him out of Panama, he broke up with Roberto’s mother and abandoning them. Strange how life turns out, if Duran’s dad never abandoned them, Roberto would never have become the world famous “Hands of Stone.”
Duran's match against the Hitman Hearns was pure poetry.. I always dig Duran's fighting style and his effort here is a true testimony that Duran is and always will be the Bull!
What I remember from watching Vinnies fights , he had endless stamina, constantly put pressure on the other fighters by pressing the action throwing a flurry of punches and was actually a physically strong guy but didn't have any serious knock out power to be a top tier fighter, but he always gave a good account of himself in all of his fights and wasn't a bum that quit or gave a sorry effort
I met Vinny many times at Foxwoods Casino. I went to many of his fights. I went to a meet and greet dinner with Vinny and Roberto Duran. Great fighters great guys. I also had the opportunity to meet Kevin Rooney on the 9th floor at breakfast. Love all these guys! Thanks for the memories Champs! 🏆 ❤️ 🥊🥊
The fact that Duran almost won shows how amazing he was and how Pazienza could be proud of almost losing to a guy whose peak was in the 70's and about five weights lower shows how deluded and bad he was. Roy Jones showed that Duran was right about Vinny being a roided up nonentity.
@gavinbrando8255: You're quite right. Pazienza couldn't beat Duran on Duran's worst day. Duran, the legend, fought him as a natural man. Paz had to fill himself full of external elements before facing Duran and can only win by a unanimous decision.
Manos de Piedra " one of the top 10 middle weights . Pazmania was short lived and never reached the caliber of Hearns or Duran who showed both showed the world what equally matched gunslinging was all about. Long live Duran Long live Tommy.
Duran was 42 years old and well over the hill when he fought Vinny. Duran had first won the title 20 + years earlier at lightweight and fought until he was nearly 50 years old, fighting from lightweight to super middleweight with over 100 fights. A true legend.
duran was like a crazy bull, the man was feared 4 his skill of which he had no shortage of. I always enjoyed watching him fight- I never liked him, but I respected him none the less
Vinny was on the juice...vinny knew roy jobes was on it so thought what the hell....boxing became real dirty at this time and it never rwally got clean
I remember all these fights . Paz was an inspiration in that he overcame a great physical injury to become a better fighter than he was before his injury . Roy got it right with Duran , legend for sure .
I know Hagler is your horse of the Kings but damn the first time you cover RD it was THIS one of all fights haha knowing you though I’m sure this just means we’re due for a piece covering the glory days of Duran and you’ll even it out. This was a great little scrap from a Duran old enough to be a proper grandfather
Loved Duran, Leonard, Hearns, Cuevas, Ali, Hagler, Holyfield.....all of them laid it on the line for us! Great fighters from Jack Johnson to Floyd Mayweather.. THANK YOU!!
Hearns was Duran`s biggest nightmare. Vinnie said Duran was the best righter he fought. Duran was also in his mid 40`s when he fought Vinnie and I thought Duran won one of their fights.
I started really watching boxing at 14 in 2005.... Never really seen Vinny except in Roy Jones Jr highlight...then in 2017-2019 I saw a movie about this guy Vinny thru my brother
Pazienza who? Roberto Duran is a living legend in boxing a true Champion of the people and will always be remembered for what he achieved in the sport. Pazienza is already forgotten.
Duran was way past his prime for both of these fights, at 43 years old. Duran was the harder puncher, and the greater fighter. If they were both in their prime Duran would have knocked him out.
Cruel hands, pit bull aggression, cunning fighter, relentless attacker. STEEL CHIN uhm I don't know bout all that Tommy's brutal overhand right August 1983 exposed Durans vulnerabilities. I think he had no respect or under estimated Tommys power and punch range Tommy had at that time easily a recorded 77% percent punching accuracy. He was 32-1-1 27 wins by KO Leaving Roberto stunned, paying the ultimate price a 3rd round 26 second knockout. Long live Roberto, Tommy, Marvin, Vito, Iran, Ray Leonard, and all the greats that made 80's boxing great.
@@johnalexander4940 Don't get me wrong, Hearns was a bad man. He certainly put some space in between Duran's next thoughts. He didn't have the grit or durability of Duran though. For Duran to have taken Hearns' punches in 1983 and to still be a champion at the age of 50, in 2001? Duran was 103-16, with only 4 KO/TKO losses, one of which was the "No Mas" to Leonard. Duran's chin outlasted everybody else's.
@@jrowlandj Bro I agree with you 💯 percent . Duran's chin was a blessing for him considering the wars he fought in, both from the inside and out where he was devastating. We both know that style, strategy and determination make fights as the different outcomes in the Leonard, Duran, and Hearns fights showed us. Boxers vs Bangers vs Brawlers that gave us the glorious 70s, 80s and 90s. Leonard loses to Duran Hagler takes a bitter split decision against Duran. Duran was flattened by Hearns 3 fighter 3 different outcomes. Hearns highlighted the ability to adapt his strategy and pressure Duran as no other fighter had done maybe other than Ivan De Jesus whom Duran dethroned as jr lightweight champion. He was floored but he got up and wore him down. So again his chin was strong but his hands were even more destructive. I loved Duran, even lived in Panama a few years n went to the gyms in El Chorrillo and San Francisco to watch him train. Man he was a beast for sure.
@@johnalexander4940 Absolutely true. The heyday of boxing. I don't believe that we'll ever see that amount of talent competing against each other ever again. We witnessed the sweetest that the science had to offer! My mind always goes back to Hagler/Hearns, wondering what would have happened if he wouldn't have broken his hand. I wish I could see that fight.
I met Duran in Guadalajara,Mexico in 68.at a huge flea market...he was just starting his pro career and only 17 ,..he approached me and my texas friend ( we were just 15)and he couldn't speak English...after a while we fiquired out that he was looking for an American Disco to meet American women. ..we laughed because we were looking for Spanish girls ..he was fairly good looking and very small looking ..he showed us a picture of himself shaking Joe Fraziers hand.in a gym ..but we didn't know who he was at the time ..but when I spotted him years later on TV moving up in rank ..I started to follow his career and I still remember his brutal fights and determination...and his nick name ( hands of stone) ..he apparently was from a bad part of Panama city and was a street brawler.( according to Howard Cosell)..seemed like a normal nice guy.with a plan 😮
You can’t see it but Durans punches are the hardest punches he’s taken said Vinnie. There solid. Vinnie puts on a tough cocky front fir whatever reason but I can’t help but admire this man for rising up after the tragic accident. Boy if he can do that how many excuses do we have for giving up. I salute him.
You should cover Alexis Arguello. He and Arron Pryor had some great fights. Alexis was a champion. He got into drugs and politics after boxing and wound up dead under suspicious circumstances while holding office.
