This Saturday night was the fortieth anniversary of Duran Vs Leonard 1, with all of its passion, ferocious toe to toe brawling, and to celebrate it Instituto de Formacion, Actualizacion y Desarollo with Sergio Tertusio hosting, melded and moulded the memories of Cholo himself and a bevvy of journalists who were there in midst of Montreal for this epic clash.
WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman remembers that his Father Don Jose banged the table, when it became known that the fight was signed and it was on! Ruben Dario Parades remembers the Bonjour Montreal tag and that the fans there were supporting Roberto. Roberto`s afternoon training sessions were packed out!
Juan Carlos Tapia remembers that despite the clamors of the big US networks, Roberto gave Panamanian Television the prime preference, and his victory was such a magnificent triumph for the Panamanian people, commenting: “All of Latin America was totally united in support of Roberto.”
Daniel Alonso smiles as he compares the then and the now, because back then Roberto Duran fully lived up to his nickname of Stone Hands and that he was just hard, putting the fear of God into ALL opponents. Roberto recalls: “He told me he was going to knock me out and I replied, you`re NOT going to beat me!”
Roberto also agrees with Daniel, about how important it was that Ismael “Tigre Colonense” Laguna, a former lightweight champion of the World was in the middle of the ring that night to be introduced. Roberto said it gave him tremendous pride and great inspiration, and by that time: “We were also the kings of New York.”
Roberto says that he remembers after his victory, the pride of being greeted by the President of Panama and the Panamanian people, saying: “I`m a Panamanian and I`ve got a Panamanian passport, and proud of it.”
WBC Governor and compatriot of Roberto, Alberto Guerra said it was a phenomenal and enormous night of patriotism for Panama and for all of Latin America. Mauricio agrees it was a forever unforgettable night.
It was Roberto`s birthday on June 16th, then the fortieth anniversary on Saturday night and Father`s Day on Sunday. It doesn`t get much better than that!