Historical Boxing Analysis: Roberto Duran – Iran Barkley

Duran’s Last Great Win!

Roberto “Hands of Stone” Duran was put on the short end of 3-1 odds for his bout with Iran “The Blade” Barkley back in 1989. The fight was set for February 24th at the Convention Centre in Atlantic City and most people were expecting a successful first defence by Barkley, who had just snatched the WBC middleweight title from Thomas Hearns via a shocking third round KO. But in yet another of the upsets that boxing can produce – it is this unpredictability that makes it such a thrilling sport – Duran turned back the clock one more miraculous time and fought a superb fight, capturing his fourth world title in different divisions at the advanced age of thirty seven. This was an incredible result.

It wasn’t just that Duran won but the way in which he did so. Roberto performed with the excellent stamina one would normally associate with a man at least ten years his junior!

On a snowy February evening these two rival gladiators locked horns and they produced what turned out to be an absolutely thrilling fight. Both started at a fast pace, especially Barkley – the punching was truly intense! Could the old man Duran endure in such a furious brawl? At the end of the opener it was Barkley who had to answer this question as he was hurt by a great right hand by his challenger. It was a good start to a good fight, indicative of the superb action to come.

Iran landed some wicked body work in the next few rounds but Duran appeared unfazed, not backing up at all. By the middle of the third the crowd was cheering every punch Duran threw. His jab was fast and accurate and he was countering Barkley’s jab with more sharp right hands. The fight was already shaping up as a classic. There were furious exchanges throughout and the chin Duran showed was truly amazing.

At the end of the fifth Barkley’s mouth was starting to drop open and he had a cut above his left eye. But he had one of his best rounds in the seventh as he cracked two left hooks flush on Roberto’s chin. Duran was hurt no doubt yet still he hung tough. He came back with another right and at the bell they were trading. In the eighth he was badly hurt by another left hook by Barkley, his best weapon in this fight, and this time only his great ring smarts got him through. Iran raised his arms at the end of this round.

At the start of the ninth the eye damage had worsened to a noticeable degree though and Iran was really looking tired now. Roberto’s ring general ship was bossing the action and he dominated with his right. He was completely unmarked and had paced the fight brilliantly. Roberto put the finishing touches to his latest masterpiece with a knockdown in the eleventh, throwing a beautiful four punch combination that sent Iran crashing to the floor. He really did reach back in time to his heyday to produce such brilliant punches, thrown with stunning accuracy. Barkley did well to regain his feet, yet then again no one ever had any cause to doubt his fighting heart.

By now the crowd was most definitely in Roberto’s corner and most of them undoubtedly had him ahead on the scorecards they had in their own minds. But it was desperately close and after the twelfth and final round everyone waited with baited breath, even announcer Michael Buffer who, in an incredible scene, had to quieten down everyone in the audience and the ring
so that he could be heard without the aid of his microphone, which had for some reason stopped working! It all added to the drama.

In a fight that really could have gone either way, a split decision was awarded to Duran. The crowd went wild. Some were even in tears. On this occasion Duran was absolutely loved by his fans. Even those who had started off supporting Barkley were gradually overcome during the course of this fight.

Yes, this night belonged to Duran. But then another even more remarkable thing occurred, perhaps even more remarkable than the upset victory itself. These two bitter rivals who had been snarling and throwing such haymakers at one another only minutes earlier now actually embraced. This was amazing and if anyone had dared to say that this was going to happen in the days leading up to the fight they would have been laughed at, or slapped, or both! Yet they were doing it now in ring centre, they had both earned genuine respect for each other. Another example of the uniqueness of this remarkable sport.

Can you name another where the opponents can literally hate each other beforehand yet afterwards have such a changed attitude, even if they have lost; that they can show each other genuine admiration? I can’t. Boxing stands alone in the world of sport in this regard and is all the more special for it.

Speaking of special, Roberto Duran had just proved, yet again, just how much he was this very word personified. He was the king of the world all over again at the age of thirty seven!