Crossing the Threshold to Immortality(AWESOME read,check it)

http://www.maxboxing.com/Groves/groves103106.asp

The International Boxing Hall of Fame’s Class of 2007, if form holds, will represent a rare confluence of history. Three men whose careers are the very definition of greatness will stand together next June to accept their rightful place in boxing’s pantheon. Roberto Duran, Pernell Whitaker and Ricardo Lopez boast a combined record of 194-20-1 with 125 knockouts and 10 divisional championships between them. But what makes these men special are not the weight classes they’ve conquered but the way they fought inside the ropes.

At his best, Duran was a scientist in savage’s clothing as he wreaked havoc on his fellow lightweights with ferocity and underrated cunning while Whitaker was a boxing professor who was so advanced in his craft that he not only defeated but dominated the best his era had to offer. The long line of prone bodies symbolized Duran’s dominance while the judge’s scorecards reflected Whitaker’s. Of the 256 rounds available to win in Whitaker’s fights against Greg Haugen, Louie Lomeli, Jose Luis Ramirez II, Freddie Pendleton, Azumah Nelson, Anthony Jones, Poli Diaz and Jorge Paez, Whitaker won 214 and lost just 44.

Ricardo Lopez, one of the few men with more than 50 fights to retire unbeaten, was a blend of Duran and Whitaker in both style and substance. The native of Cuemavaca, Mexico was an absolutely joy to watch in the ring and his style offered something for every boxing fan. For those who love to see bodies hit the floor, all one has to do is see his 18 knockouts in title fights, including strings of six and eight. For the purists, Lopez blended his offensive firepower with a textbook hands-up style (a stance he maintained even as he stood in his corner to begin every round) and flawless execution of every punch in the book.

Every great fighter’s career follows a progression toward the tip of the pyramid only occupied by the best of the best. When judging candidates for Hall of Fame consideration there are two points of demarcation, with a third one reserved for the special few. The first is the point at which they make their way onto an elector’s radar, where their mounting accomplishments deserve extra attention. If they stumble, they will fall off the radar and be remembered as merely good for their time. If they continue to succeed then they move toward the second threshold, which is Hall of Famer. This marks the fight that certifies them as worthy of enshrinement, after which nothing that happens could endanger their legacy. The third threshold, Legend, is reserved for those who reach heights that only the elite of the elite could approach, like an honors student who earns grades of 110 percent on every test because a mere 100 percent wouldn’t do justice to the quality of work. These are men who are able to separate themselves from an already select group, a group whose names are spoken with awe and reverence among those who have the deepest respect for boxing and its history.

In the next few paragraphs, the careers of Duran, Whitaker and Lopez will be dissected through one elector’s eyes to see when they approached and crossed the first two lines. As for their standing on the third line, read on.

Roberto Duran (1968-2001, 103-16 with 70 knockouts)

Onto the Radar – March 16, 1974, KO 11 Esteban DeJesus II: This was Duran’s fourth defense of the WBA lightweight title, though it was also his 14th fight since capturing the belt from Ken Buchanan via controversial 13th round TKO. The reason the Buchanan fight was controversial was because the final blow appeared to strike Buchanan well below the belt, but by then Duran had already proven his superiority. Duran was 12-1 since capturing the belt, with the lone loss coming against DeJesus in a non-title 10 rounder. In that fight, a less-than-primed Duran was dropped in the first round with a left hook and was generally outboxed the rest of the way. This time, Duran entered the ring in pristine condition and was hell-bent on exacting revenge. Again, a left hook floored Duran in the opening seconds but this time the Panamanian roared back behind his trademark ferocity. Duran’s debilitating body attack and the 100-degree heat eventually wore DeJesus out and Duran applied the final touches early in the 11th. When referee Isaac Herrera counted "10," Duran had not only avenged his only loss but also, at three months short of 23, sowed the seeds of greatness.

Hall of Famer – June 16, 1983, KO 8 Davey Moore: A good argument can be made that Duran actually achieved Hall of Fame status when he tore apart Sugar Ray Leonard in their first fight three years before. On that night, Duran was at his zenith as he ferociously imposed his will on the 1976 Olympic gold medalist and captured his second divisional belt. Many were shocked beyond description when Duran uttered the infamous words "no mas" in the rematch with Leonard, and his action effectively ended the careers of legendary trainers Ray Arcel and Freddie Brown. They were heartbroken because they could not understand how such a beast could suddenly surrender so easily. While some remained loyal to Duran, many more were not and Duran himself went through a period of listlessness that included less than impressive victories over Nino Gonzalez, Luigi Minchillo and Jimmy Batten as well as losses to Wilfred Benitez and especially Kirkland Laing. Duran appeared all but finished as a top-level fighter and many urged Duran to put himself – and everyone else – out of their collective misery by retiring.

With the promise of a title shot against WBA junior middleweight champion Davey Moore in the offing, Duran weighed a trim 152 and fought with a renewed fervor in stopping Pipino Cuevas in four rounds. But on the night of June 16, 1983, Duran’s 32nd birthday, the Panamanian’s fistic resurrection was completed as he battered Moore to the head and body before referee Ernesto Magana called a far-too-late stoppage in the eighth. Duran was great against Leonard, but he proved himself a true Hall of Famer by capturing his third world title (a rare feat in those days), regaining the faith of his fans and reaching the pinnacle of his sport after experiencing depths of depressions few athletes could ever know.

Is Duran a Legend and if so, when? – Unquestionably yes. When I assembled my all-time top 10 pound-for-pound list, I placed Duran fourth behind Willie Pep, Henry Armstrong and Sugar Ray Robinson. Duran fits comfortably in this group and more than one old-timer has said that Duran is one of the few fighters of recent vintage who could have excelled during any era. While Duran had been a Hall of Famer for some time, there was a point when he entered the most exclusive pantheon of all:

February 24, 1989, W 12 Iran Barkley: The 37-year-old Duran was being served up as a "name opponent" for newly crowned WBC middleweight champion Iran Barkley, who shocked the world by knocking out Thomas Hearns in three rounds. Five years earlier, Hearns obliterated Duran with perhaps the most destructive right cross since Rocky Marciano’s caved in Jersey Joe Walcott in 1952, so if one subscribed to the "triangle" theory, then Duran had no chance against Barkley, the man who knocked out Duran’s conqueror. Adding to the fuel was Duran’s last outing, a lackluster split decision against Jeff Lanas four months earlier.

But what many didn’t figure was that Duran was always capable of shining the brightest when the stakes were highest and that’s what he did against Barkley. Weighing a svelte 156 ¼, Duran was in fantastic condition and against a come-forward slugger like Barkley, "Manos de Piedra" had the canvas on which he could paint a final masterpiece. Duran’s astoundingly accurate blows and a shocking 11th round knockdown paved the way to a split decision victory – and Duran’s fourth divisional crown. The bout was named Ring Magazine’s Fight of the Year for 1989 and it established Duran as a bona fide ring immortal.

Pernell Whitaker (1984-2001, 40-4-1 with 17 knockouts)

On the Radar – May 19, 1990, W 12 Azumah Nelson: The Nelson fight was Whitaker’s fourth defense of the IBF title he captured from Greg Haugen and the second of the WBC belt he won in his shutout rematch win over Jose Luis Ramirez. In Nelson, Whitaker was meeting his most accomplished opponent to date and on paper he represented a serious threat to his belts. Nelson was on a seven-year, 19-fight undefeated streak and was attempting to win his third divisional crown after wearing the WBC featherweight and super featherweight belts. But Whitaker was more than up to the challenge. Boxing brilliantly throughout, Whitaker withstood Nelson’s relentless pressure to score a close but unanimous decision. He consolidated his "radar" status in his next fight 11 weeks later when he unified the 135-pound title via one-round KO of WBA king Juan Nazario.

Hall of Famer – September 10, 1993, D 12 Julio Cesar Chavez: After beating Nazario, Whitaker continued on his journey by defending his unified belt three times, moving up to 140 to defeat IBF titlist Rafael Pineda and capturing his third divisional crown by beating WBC welterweight champ James "Buddy" McGirt. That set the stage for a fight that would end up defining a pair of Hall of Fame caliber careers.

Julio Cesar Chavez was 87-0 and was making the only credible run in the last 40 years toward unseating Sugar Ray Robinson as, in many eyes, the greatest pound-for-pound fighter in history. His stated goal was to win four divisional belts and retire with a 100-0 record. Whitaker was viewed as a significant roadblock to Chavez’s quest, but one who could be beaten with a supreme effort. In the end, however, Chavez didn’t summon that supreme effort and though the fight went into the record books as a draw most who witnessed it believed that Whitaker won seven rounds at the very least and perhaps as many as nine or even 10. The southpaw Whitaker masterfully blunted Chavez’s pressure, though several low blows could have easily cost him a point – a point that would have handed Chavez the victory and Whitaker’s belt. Whitaker’s performance on this night certified him as a true great in the sport and moved many observers to replace Chavez’s name with Whitaker’s at the top of pound-for-pound lists. As for Chavez, this fight marked the beginning of a long and precipitous decline.

Is Whitaker a Legend and if so, when? –Yes, "Sweet Pete" (this was his true nickname, but because some writers misheard the crowd’s chant he was known as "Sweet Pea") is a Legend, but not as much of one as Duran. That could change as his accomplishments gain in stature with historians over time, something that is already starting to take place as many fans believe him to be deserving of a spot in boxing’s all-time top 10 list. Though Legendhood wasn’t bestowed upon him at the time, one could say that a certain fight completed his resume as an all-around fighter:

January 24, 1997, KO 11 Diosbelys Hurtado: After "drawing" with Chavez, Whitaker made a pit stop at 154 to lift Julio Cesar Vasquez’s WBA belt, then dropped back down to 147 to resume his reign there. The Hurtado bout was Whitaker’s eighth defense of the WBC welterweight title and a superfight with Oscar de la Hoya was all but signed. All he had to do was get past Cuban expatriate Hurtado, who was undefeated in 20 fights and showed very good pop in the right hand. Whitaker found that out first hand as he was dropped in the first five seconds with a right to the jaw and was floored a second time with a left hook in the sixth. Though Hurtado lost a point for hitting in the back of the head, Whitaker lost a point for the same infraction a few rounds later. Trailing by one, two and five points on the scorecards after 10 rounds, Whitaker was forced to dig down and find something special. Midway through the 11th, he found it as he nailed Hurtado with a massive left cross. "Sweet Pete" turned pit bull as he hammered nine more lefts that eventually drove Hurtado through the ropes and prompted referee Arthur Mercante Jr. to delcare Whitaker the winner and still champion.

Whitaker had been so dominant over his opponents that he never had to produce a fight-saving rally. By outboxing Whitaker for 10 rounds, Hurtado created that scenario and like all true Legends Whitaker came through. It would prove to be the final victory of his career, but despite the losing results in his final four bouts, three of which were tinged by controversy (De La Hoya, Andrei Pastraev and Carlos Bojorquez), Whitaker’s standing among the very best can’t be denied.

Ricardo Lopez (1985-2001, 51-0-1 with 38 knockouts)

On the Radar – November 12, 1994, KO 8 Javier Varguez: This was Lopez’s 12th defense of the WBC minimumweight title he captured from Hideyuki Ohashi four years before and since this fight was on the undercard of Humberto Gonzalez-Michael Carbajal III this was America’s first extended look at Lopez. Hardcore followers of the lower weights were familiar with Varguez, who pushed Carbajal to a close decision several years before. "El Finito" didn’t disappoint as he surgically carved up Varguez before putting him away midway through the eighth.

Hall of Famer – November 13, 1998, W 12 Rosendo Alvarez II: Over the years, one fighter after another was hyped as the man who would break Lopez’s stranglehold. At one point, Filipino sensation Ala Villamor was thought to be the one but a KO loss to IBF champ Ratanapol Sor Vorapin took a lot of the luster out of their March 1996 match. Lopez won every round against the 29-1-1 Villamor before stopping him in eight rounds, and Villamor never fought again. Then WBO Alex Sanchez was thought to be a threat but their unification bout in August 1997 turned out to be a rout as Lopez floored the Puerto Rican twice before registering a five-round TKO.

In Lopez’s next outing March 7, 1998 he met up with WBA champion Rosendo Alvarez, who was 24-0 and making his fifth title defense. Many insiders thought Alvarez had the goods to give Lopez a good fight but then again, all of us had heard it before only to see Lopez dominate. This time, however, Lopez was pushed to the limit. Lopez was floored for the first time in his boxing life – amateur or pro – with a booming right in round two and an accidental headbutt opened a dangerous gash over "El Finito’s" right eye. The fight went to the scorecards, which was ruled a three-way split draw.

With Lopez struggling mightily against Alvarez, the whispers about his demise turned into shouts. A rematch was scheduled eight months later but when Alvarez weighed 3 ¼ pounds over the 105-pound limit the fight was in danger of being cancelled. Aware that his legacy was at stake and that another date with Alvarez was unlikely to materialize if the fight were called off, Lopez permitted the fight to be staged at a higher weight. Alvarez started well and opened cuts over Lopez’s right eye in the fifth (headbutt) and sixth (from a right cross). But Lopez surged in the late rounds – and especially in the fight’s final 90 seconds – to capture a hard-earned split decision. Like Whitaker, Lopez dominated most of his opponents but when it came time to show his championship mettle he was more than equal to the task against the only opponent good enough to use every ounce of his talent.

Is Lopez a Legend and if so, when? – Yes, but to a point. Lopez is to the 105-pound class what Wayne Gretzky is to the NHL record books. He is so dominant over most of his peers that his greatness can’t be questioned. But Lopez never got the opportunity to test that greatness against the other outstanding fighters of his day like Gonzalez, Carbajal and Myung Woo Yuh (who should have been enshrined years ago). Yes, Lopez would have had to travel three pounds north to do so, but he proved in his final three fights that he could compete at 108. However, those fights came against Will Grigsby, a faded Ratanapol Sor Vorapin (who had 18 defenses of his own) and Zolani Petelo, who ended Sor Vorapin’s long reign. The 35-year-old Lopez looked like his excellent self against Petelo but his legacy would have been greatly enhanced had he met and beaten even one of the Gonzalez-Carbajal-Yuh troika. For that reason, he falls short of being a Legend. There is no doubt, however, that he is a true-blue Hall of Famer and for that he and his family should be justifiably proud.

Come next June, if the voters do their job, the IBHOF will have its deepest, most deserving class since the number of annual enshrinees was limited to four, and then three beginning last year. The flip side is that Duran, Whitaker and Lopez are the only first-time nominees so longtime and deserving entrants like Jung Koo Chang, Myung Woo Yuh, Hilario Zapata, Yoko Gushiken and Brian Mitchell will have to wait at least one more year for their rightful moment in the Canastota sun. After this year’s tremendous trio enters the gates in 2006, let’s hope the voters won’t forget these five when the ballot comes again next year.