Roberto Duran vs. Felipe 'The Flash' Torres ~ March 28, 1970
March 28, 1970
Arena Coliseo ~ Mexico City, Federal District ~ Mexico
This would be Roberto Duran's 1st-Bout outside of Panama.
Roberto {Age; 18 years, 9 months} had a record of 15-0-0 {13 KO's} and
was now competing in the 130 lb. Super-Featherweight Division.
His opponent would be Mexican - Felipe Torres, a tricky-and-tough Featherweight
boxer who was based out of Los Angeles, California.
Felipe {Age; 22 years, 8 months} and a Professional since June 1967 {2 1/2 years},
had comprised a record of 19-8-1 {7 KO's} during that time.
Felipe had a reputation of a being a tough fighter who could 'bring it', despite
not being a big-puncher.
Felipe first brought some good attention to himself, after battling 'Top 10 Rated'
Raul Montoya to a 10-Round Draw in August 1968.
And in January 1969, Felipe upset {TKO 6} the World-Rated 'highly-regarded' Bobby Valdez,
and then in March 1969 he scored a 10-Round Majority-Decision over another World-Rated
fighter in the 'touted' Pete Gonzalez.
Re: Roberto Duran vs. Felipe Torres ~ March 28, 1970
Bobby 'Be-Bop' Valdez
Bobby was from San Diego, and was the California State Featherweight Champion
from 1967 thru 1969.
He was 'not' Cuban.
Re: Roberto Duran vs. Felipe 'The Flash' Torres ~ March 28, 1970
Felipe 'The Flash' Torres
Was not a nobody.
January 13, 1969 ~ Coliseum ~ San Diego, California
Felipe Torres {TKO 6} over Bobby Valdez
"Unrated Torres Scores Upset"
Unheralded 21 year-old ~ Felipe 'The Flash' Torres scored a major upset when he stopped
#6 WBA-ranked Featherweight and California State Featherweight Champion - Bobby Valdez.
The bout was fairly even during the first 4-Rounds, as each fighter landed solid punches in heated
exchanges.
But, Torres took command in Round 5 when he landed some hard head-blows, and hurt Bobby with several straight right-hands to the chin.
Felipe then 'dropped' Bobby for a '4-Count' when he caught him with a straight right to the face.
Bobby bounced back up, but was 'decked' again when Felipe nailed him with another straight
right-hand to the chin. Bobby got up, and barely survived until the end of the Round.
In Round 6, 'The Flash' poured it on and staggered a 'dazed' Valdez who had not fully recovered
from the 5th Round knockdowns.
Referee - Hal Rickards stopped the bout @ 0:38 of Round 6.
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March 4, 1969
Felipe Torres was the #10 WBA-ranked Featherweight with a record of {17-4-1}
when he faced 'highly-regarded' and favored #8 WBA-ranked Featherweight
Pete Gonzalez.
Felipe scored another 'upset' when he won a 10-Round Split-Decision over Pete Gonzalez.
Re: Roberto Duran vs. Felipe 'The Flash' Torres ~ March 28, 1970
Felipe 'The Flash' Torres
Es muy macho.
The Boxing Review in his bout with Roberto Duran.
18 1/2 year-old - Roberto got off to a fast start, and won Rounds 1 and 2
by using hard left-hands to the body, and straight right-hands to the upper-body.
But 22 1/2 year-old - Felipe Torres took it right to the Panamanian Devil, and
slammed Roberto with numerous right-hands in Rounds 3, 4 and 5.
The Panamanian Team got very worried near the end of Round 5, when Felipe
'staggered' Roberto with a '2' straight right-hands to the cheek and puffed up his
left-eye.
Re: Roberto Duran vs. Felipe 'The Flash' Torres ~ March 28, 1970
'Round 6'
The 'Duran Team' told Roberto to come out and force Felipe into the Corner, and
smother him with blows.
On the outside, Felipe was getting the better of the exchanges.
At the Bell, Roberto charged out and immediately bulled Felipe into the
front-right Corner.
There, Roberto unloaded with heavy-blows to the body as Felipe kept his
guard up to protect his chin.
Amazingly, Roberto kept Felipe 'pinned' for the entire 3-Minutes, and
worked Felipe's body hard.
Felipe was only able to land a few light counters, as he was 'smothered and
mauled'.
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