A day like today, Durand defended his world title

December 21, 1974.- Roberto “Hands of Stone” Duran, from Panama, defended his lightweight championship after easily defeating Japan’s  Masataka Takayama by TKO in the first round. The  brief encounter was at the  Ring Bull “El Zapote” in San Josa, Costa Rica.  After Takayama was dropped to the canvass several times, Referee Julio César Soto saved him.