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09/15/2006 Archived Entry: "Retro Photo of the Day: 'Gato' Gonzales & Roberto Duran in 1973!"
Retro Photo of the Day: 'El Gato' Gonzales & Roberto Duran in 1973!
Courtesy of Rodolfo Gonzalez
A young Roberto Duran (left) looks on as Rodolfo Gonzalez points out something
above in Los Angeles' skyline
LOS ANGELES - They came so close to fighting. And, oh, what an explosion that would have been!
On March 17, 1973, then WBA Lightweight Champion Roberto "Manos de Piedra" Duran fought and defeated Javier Ayala in 10 rounds at the Sports Arena, while on the same show, WBC Lightweight champion Rodolfo "El Gato" Gonzalez successfully defended his title in stopping Ruben Navarro in nine.
Although there had been some talk of a unification bout, it never came to pass.
Although the two never met in the ring, they spent a little time together that day, as documented by this photograph.
Commenting on this photo, Gonzalez said, it was "taken on March 17, 1973 On Main St. in downtown Los Angeles about 1:15 in the afternoon after we had weighed ourselves for that night's boxing card."
* * *
You can read our Juan C. Ayllon's recent interview of Roberto Duran in the September issue of "Wail!" at:
http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/w0906-juan2.html
Moreover, you can read and communicate with Rodolfo "Gato" Gonzalez in the "Old Timers" section of the Cyber Boxing Zone's Message Board at the link below:
http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/cbzforum/showthread.php?t=1048
