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The CyberBoxingZone News |
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Fireworks at Legends...Duran Wins with Injured Pinky
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Katherine Dunn |
Sat. Aug. 12, 00
Yakama Nation Legends Casino
Toppenish, WA
Promoter: Ringside Ticket, Inc.
Matchmaker: Peter Brody
Referees: Mike Fisher, Jeff Macaluso, Guy Villegas
Judges: Larry Glover, Denis Ryan, Bruce Siebol, Tom Sporar
Ringside Physician: Paul Emmans, M.D.
Outside on a warm, moonlit night in the dry, high Yakama country,
a sold out crowd of close to three thousand cheered a six bout
card punctuated by real fireworks and featuring "A Fight in
the Fifth Decade" for Roberto Duran, who debuted as a pro in
1967 and has never retired. The posters said "At the end of
the trail...there's one last battle," but the word is
that Duran isn't ready to quit yet. CBZ didn't get to attend, but
multiple witnesses claim this was a thoroughly entertaining event.
The 49 year-old Panamanian legend, Roberto Duran (now 104-15, 69
KO's), 167 1/2 lbs, looked trim according to witnesses,
"except when he bent over and a drooping chicken skin was
visible around his middle." Duran stayed the busy aggressor
for ten rounds and won a unanimous decision over 30 year-old
Patrick " P.J." Goossen (now 19-3, 13 KO's), 167 lbs, of
North Hollywood, CA. The three judges saw it: 98-94, 98-92,
and 97-93, all for Duran. An inflamed right pinky knuckle had
irritated Duran during training, and he commented afterwards that
the finger prevented him from throwing his right hand as hard as
he wanted. After the bout the pinky was packed in ice.
In a ten round Women's International Boxing Federation Americas
126 lb title bout, 24 year-old Kelsey Jeffries (now 8-1), 123 lbs,
of Gilroy, CA won a lopsided decision over 36 year-old Cynthia
Prouder (now 5-8-1), 126 lbs, fighting out of Freddie
Roach's Wildcard Boxing Gym in Los Angeles. Both women are
described as well-schooled boxers. The scores were 99-91, 99-92,
100-94.
In a lightweight six, rugged 20 year-old, Eleazar Contreras (now
25-1, 13 KO), 135 lbs, of Bakersfield, CA decisioned Victor
Mendoza, 23, (now 11-10, 4 K0), 133 lbs, of Nogales, Mexico.
59-56, 60-54,58-55.
A busy six-round featherweight match pitted Juan Carlos Martinez,
23, (now 9-14), 127 1/2 lbs, of Guadalajara, Mex. vs 23 year-old
Ramon Aragon (now 4-10), 126 1/2 lbs, of Sinaloa, Mex. All
three judges called it 58-56.
A four round Jr. welterweight encounter is scheduled between Mike
Lucero (now 6-4-1), 24 years, 139 lbs, of Westland, Oregon won a
unanimous decision in four over 22 year-old Gerardo Pacheco
(announced as now1-2, though the Fight Fax record book has him as
0-5 going in), 139 1/2 lbs, of Hermosillo, Mexico.
In the only stoppage of the night, heavyweight Cody Gray (1-0),
220 lbs, of Seattle, Washington looked impressive as he KO'd
flabby, unimpressive Ben Pearson (1-2-1), 248 lbs, of Nampa, Idaho
at :35 of the first round in a scheduled four.
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