Roberto Duran takes on Iran Barkley for the WBC World Middleweight title in what would be the last big win of Roberto Duran's career. See more info below...
Iran Barkley was shot into the boxing limelight after knocking out Thomas Hearns in 3 rounds and winning the WBC World Middleweight title in 1988. Although he had beaten other good fighters like Wilford Scypion and James Kinchen, it was his upset win over Hearns that showed the boxing public he was not a fighter to be taken lightly. He had a 25-4 record, stood 6'1" tall and had a 74" reach. Although his record was nowhere near as impressive as Roberto Duran's, Barkley did have all the physical advantages not to mention he was 10 years younger and had just beaten the only man to knock Roberto Duran out cold. All these facts made Barkley a betting favorite at 2.5 to1.
Robert Duran was a living legend and had been boxing since 1968, over 20 years! He had fought the best in the business. His boxing record contained names like Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, Marvin Hagler, Ken Buchanan, Esteban De Jesus, Wilfred Benitez, Kirkland Laing, Davey Moore and Robbie Sims. He was on a 6 win streak at this point however none were by KO. Most people felt he was far past his prime and had lost the knock out power he once possessed in the lighter divisions. His moniker of Hands of Stone had lost it's meaning.
Once the fight got underway however, Duran showed he still had the same heart and determination that he always possessed. He fought better than he had done in years. Although Barkley would catch Duran a couple times with good head shots, Duran never left his feet and gave as good as he got. In the 11th round Duran summed up all the energy he had and went on an all out attack flooring Barkley with a good combination. Barkley however showed his own heart by getting to his feet and continuing to survive, even with a badly swollen left eye. After 12 rounds, and a little bit of a wait, the scorecards were announced and Duran had pulled off a 12 round split decision claiming the WBC Middleweight Championship of the World.
Roberto Duran would put his newly won WBC belt on the line against old foe, Sugar Ray Leonard in his very next fight however he could not summon the same performance he did against Barkley and subsequently lost a 12 round decision. Although Duran would challenge for the IBC and WBA world titles in the 90's, he would never win another world title and the Barkley fight would turn out to be his last great performance in a 33 year, 119 fight career.
Barkley in his next 2 fights would challenge for the IBF and WBO versions of the Middleweight World title but came up short on both occasions. In 1992 however he would win the IBF World Super Middleweight title and just 2 months after that he would beat Thomas Hearns for a second time, albeit by split decision, and claimed the WBA World Light Heavyweight title. His last big win came in 1997 when he beat Gerrie Coetzee by TKO for the lightly regarded World Boxing Board Heavyweight title. He retired after losing 6 straight fights with a record of 43-19-1.
