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Roberto Duran has fought over 100 fights, but he says one fighter stood out as his toughest opponent

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Roberto Duran had over 100 fights but says one man stood out as his toughest opponent

While Roberto Duran faced plenty of elite operators in his extraordinary 119-fight career, there was one man in particular who stood out as an extremely tough opponent.

After cementing his legacy at 135 pounds, Duran moved up through the weight classes and was found to be drastically undersized compared to the likes of Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns.

He first lost a 15-round unanimous decision to the former middleweight, then moved down to 154 pounds and suffered a second-round stoppage defeat to Hearns.

These losses came in 1983 and 1984 respectively, although Duran had already had problems with Sugar Ray Leonard, Wilfred Benitez and Kirkland Laing earlier in the decade.

Duran gave Leonard an incredible point advantage in their first welterweight clash, but ultimately lost the immediate rematch via eighth-round stoppage.

Many consider this period to be the most testing period of the Panamanian’s career, considering he competed in his more natural weight class and often faced fierce opposition.

Oddly enough, however, it was in the lightweight division – his richest environment – that Duran met one of his toughest opponents.

While talking to ESNEWSformer four-division world champion reveals that Ken Buchanan, whom he fought in 1972, was probably his roughest dancing partner.

“All the fighters are tough, and one of the toughest was Ken Buchanan… the hardest fight of my career was the Buchanan fight because I had an away fight, it was 15 rounds and that was his title.”

Scotsman Buchanan entered the 1972 fight as the WBA world champion and a significant favorite before ultimately suffering a 13th round defeat to ‘Hands of Stone’.

However, much of their rivalry was tainted by controversy as Duran, for all his talent and persistence, frustrated his opponent with a series of headbutts and low blows.

Buchanan was previously the undisputed champion – his country’s first and only one until Josh Taylor came along – at lightweight and is recognized as one of the best technical operators in the UK. Unfortunately, he died in April 2023 at the age of 77.

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Boxing

Jarrell Miller Targets Long-Awaited Heavyweight Fight After Pero Victory: ‘Let’s Do It’

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Jarrell Miller targets long awaited heavyweight fight after Pero win: “Let’s make it happen”

Jarrell Miller defeated Lenier Pero this weekend at Las Vega to fulfill his world champion dreams, although he may first want to end a long-running feud beyond the title picture

The controversial American heavyweight fighter defeated Olympian Pero over the distancelanding an incredible number of punches en route to a clear unanimous decision victory.

Although winning the final elimination puts him close to a chance to fight champion Oleksandr Usyk, after the fight Miller saw the appeal of an all-American fight with Deontay Wilder.

I’m talking to Fighting Hub TV“Substantial Baby” called for the fight to continue.

“I think if the fans call him out enough, they’ll want to make this fight happen. Everyone says Deontay will beat me, knock me out – there’s only one way to find out. He’s been knocked out multiple times, I haven’t. Let’s make this fight happen. We’re two of the top American heavyweights. We can both get people tuned in. Me and my brilliant speech, him and his weird, dramatic speeches and entrances… I think it would be fun.”

With Miller unlikely to be on Usyk’s radar as the Ukrainian only has a narrow number of fights remaining before he retires, Wilder presents an opportunity to settle a dispute – including claims related to weighty sparring and personal grievances – that has been brewing for years.

Wilder revitalized his career earlier this year with a hard-fought victory over Derek Chisora ​​and will likely miss the opportunity to fight Anthony Joshua as the Briton focuses on a warm-up fight for his fight with Tyson Fury.

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Ryan Garcia signals doubts about Benn’s fight, calling Rolly to reserve

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Image: Ryan Garcia Won’t Accept Terms For Stevenson Fight

In recent comments, Garcia said that Benn is the fight he wants. At the same time, he openly announced the emergency plan.

“If Conor doesn’t want it, we’ll go back to it with Rolly,” Ryan Garcia told Ring Magazine, referring to Rolando Romero.

That alone was revealing. Players who believe that an agreement is imminent tend to limit their message. When alternative opponents are publicly mentioned, it often means that there are still obstacles related to money, timing, broadcasters or promotional control.

Then another wrinkle appeared when Óscar De La Hoya publicly supported a completely different fight.

“I’m most interested in a rematch with Devin Haney,” De La Hoya said, adding that it could be massive enough to accommodate Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Now Garcia’s public trail includes three separate names: Benn, Romero and Devin Haney. Rarely does a finalized fight sound like this.

Benn’s matchup still makes sense on paper. Benn has become one of the more recognizable names in the UK and has now added to his profile after signing with Zuffa Boxing. Garcia remains one of boxing’s biggest social media attractions and continues to attract attention regardless of the results.

Put these names together and you have clear commercial value.

But picking a fight and liking the fight are two different things. Garcia has ties to the Golden Boy. Benn’s modern setting creates fresh business layers. Place also matters. An event in the US, an event in the UK, or support from Saudi Arabia would change the economy.

This helps explain why backup options are already provided.

A rematch with Haney also remains valuable as unfinished business continues to sell. Their first meeting generated headlines, controversy and debate. Whether fans loved the event or not, they remember it. In state-of-the-art boxing, remembered fights are often easier to sell than fresh ones.

Meanwhile, Romero proposes the simplest, practical way. It is known, accessible and connected to Garcia’s recent history.

Ryan may really prefer Benn, but preference doesn’t always dictate the schedule. This is usually what promoters, networks and time do.

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Ryan Garcia and Oscar De La Hoya disagree on who he should fight next

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Ryan Garcia and Oscar De La Hoya disagree on who he should fight next

Ryan Garcia and Oscar De La Hoya have offered conflicting perspectives on a potential rematch with Devin Haney, while rumors of a Conor Benn fight become more likely.

Garcia won the welterweight world title in February, dethroning Mario Barrios by unanimous decision following a first-round knockout.

Since then, his name has been most closely linked to Benn, the WBC No. 1 contender at 147 pounds, whose last fight was at 150 pounds against Regis Prograis.

In a recent interview with Fighting Hub TVGarcia confirmed that this is the fight he wants.

“Devin Haney never wanted this. He doesn’t want a rematch at all… [I’m going to return in] August. Can’t wait. I just want Conor [Benn]”

Unlike Garcia, said Golden Boy promoter De La Hoya Fight the noise that he “would like” to make a rematch with Haney a priority.

“I’m most interested in the rematch with Devin Haney. It could be a blockbuster event.

“I would love for this fight to take place in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium – it could be such a substantial fight.

“I believe this fight is the best fight that can be had right now.”

Garcia reached a majority decision against Haney in April 2024, but the result was declared a no contest after he tested positive twice for the banned substance Ostarine. It remains one of the most intriguing fights in boxing, especially considering the doubts surrounding the first result and the fact that it is currently a unification fight in the welterweight ranks.

But it appears Benn will take his shot despite recently signing a contract with Zuffa Boxing, the latest major promotion of the sport whose frontman Dana White has no interest in working with the four customary sanctioning bodies.

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