Roberto Durán vs. Ray Lampkin
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| Date | March 2, 1975 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Venue | Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Title(s) on the line | WBA and The Ring lightweight titles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tale of the tape | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Result | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Durán wins via 14th round KO | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Roberto Durán vs. Ray Lampkin was a professional boxing match contested on March 2, 1975, for the WBA and The Ring lightweight titles.[1]
In January 1975, arrangements were made that would see reigning WBA and The Ring lightweight champion Roberto Durán face top ranked lightweight contender Ray Lampkin. Original plans called for the fight to take place in Miami Beach, Florida, in what would have been Durán's first defense in the United States, however the fight ultimately took place in Durán's native Panama instead.[2][3]
Lampkin came into the fight holding the NABF lightweight title, having won the vacant title by defeating Nick Alfaro, becoming the number-one ranked lightweight in the process.[4] Though the fight with Durán was already signed, Lampkin chose to accept a tune-up fight, putting his title shot on the line in an WBA lightweight title "eliminator" bout against Miguel Mayon, the #7 ranked lightweight. Lampkin won the fight in unimpressive fashion, besting Mayon by a relatively close unanimous decision. Said Lampkin about the fight, "Yeah, the win was nice, but I'll have to do a lot better to bring home the title. This was my first fight in 3 1/2 months, and I wasn't sharp, but it was a good workout. Some people asked me why I took this fight, but if I can't beat him, why would I go to Panama at all?"[1] Durán also took a tune-up bout in preparation for his title defense, knocking out Andres Salgado in the first round two weeks before facing Lampkin.
The fight
Lampkin held his own with Durán, becoming his longest lasting opponent at the time. Though Lampkin started off strong, Durán's constant pressure coupled with the intense heat and humidity of Panama's climate tired Lampkin and Durán controlled the fight during the mid to late rounds. 39 seconds into the 14th round, Durán would finally end the fight after a big left hook sent Lampkin down for the count with his head smacking hard against the canvas and rendering him unconscious.