Laing v Duran - 30 Years Today

There was an article by Bunce in this mornings Independent marking the 30th anniversary of Kirkland Laings shock defeat of Roberto Duran. Laing's old trainer claimed Duran was the only man Kirkland ever feared, and therefore the only fight he ever took seriously. That may be a bit fanciful, but there's no doubt of him being a classic case of wasted potential - British potential at that. Sad to see how pitiful the man has become. Here's the online version for any of you guys that may be interested:

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/others/boxing-how-kirkland-laing-went-from-hero-to-zero-in-30-years-8102784.html

Sad. Him and John Mugabi were a nightmare to manage.

He was a character but I'd rather talk about winners than losers...

Think history has shown that Duran struggled with boxers.....

Guys like Zaragoza and your Steve Robinson who have overachieved deserve more "airtime"

Not wallies like this guy..

Then start a thread about them.

When a poster who knows who they are.... comes on here....

I will!!

You got some balls Truss.

Article was in the paper today, because of the anniversary of his WIN. He had his moment. You wanna make a thread about Zaragoza or Robinson go ahead nobody's stopping you, but don't have your mid-life crisis here son.

Ok Dad...

Glad that's settled. Now do your homework and go to bed.

My homework was done twenty five years ago when I worked out my future father-in-law's net worth!!

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:He was a character but I'd rather talk about winners than losers...

Think history has shown that Duran struggled with boxers.....

Guys like Zaragoza and your Steve Robinson who have overachieved deserve more "airtime"

Not wallies like this guy..

At that time though Duran had only lost twice, once to De Jesus, a result that he had then reversed twice, and to Leonard having previously beaten him, so the history you refer to was had yet be written, and shouldn't detract form the fact that this was a seriously big upset, and as the article alludes to Laing didn't run from Duran (execept for the first couple of rounds) he outfought aswell as outboxed him. And as for him being a loser, well if winning the British and European championships make you a loser,then I suppose he was.

Good stuff,in my article on the fight this year, it was great to see people remembering Laing..Thanks for the link.

Thanks for posting, Sugar Boy. A great link.

Certainly showed what a clever fighter he could be against Duran who, even if he was every so slightly podgy at that point, you'd still have expected to outclass Laing. In Christian Guidace's 'Hands of Stone' he describes how Duran, after the decision had been announced, walked over to Kirkland and said in broken English, "You a clever S.O.B."

As we know, Duran didn't hand out respect or compliments to his opponents easily, either.

A very fine talent and it's a shame to see how things panned out for him.

Horizontal dear boy..When a guy has the World at his feet and then blows it then he is the eternal loser..........

British titles don't mean a lot when you come from a heritage like mine!!