Steve Somerville
Boxer Roberto Duran says to become a boxer, you have to stay committed and train all the time. He says back then, it was about respect and representing your country and people. But today, boxers only think about the money, the women and the fame.
Vaughan
November 22, 2008 10:02 PM
Stefania Lamacchia
Porqué ‘no mås’ (why no more)?
This is every boxing fan’s first thought when they hear the name Roberto Duran.
To ensure the boxing gloves weren’t pulled out, this was the last question the Citizen reporter asked the legendary boxer, who was in Vaughan Friday to launch a business venture with local company The Milan Group.
The Milan Group was founded in 1988 and consists of a number of international companies ranging from financial and development to entertainment.
The group and Mr. Duran will launch casinos in Panama, as well as team up with Title Fight Promotions to organize boxing fights here at home beginning in 2009.
“Panama is famous for two things, the Panama Canal and Roberto Duran,” said Antonio Carvalho, president of Milan Sports and Gaming.
It only made sense to partner up with Mr. Duran, who is now a Panamanian ambassador.
Now that the tough suits were out of the way, it was time for the real fight.
Picture this: A dimly lit room with all the important representatives standing on the outside. The Citizen reporter in one corner and Manos de Piedra (Hands of Stone) in the other.
The interview was intense. Mix of Spanish and a dash of English. Suffice to say, we were both ready and little was lost in translation.
Mr. Duran began with detailing the tough streets of Panama. He cast his first blow against the changing image of boxing.
“To become a boxer, you have to stay committed and train all the time. Back then it was about respect and representing your country and people,” Mr. Duran said. “Today, boxers only think about the money, the women and the fame,” he said.
Mr. Duran — with translation help from his business partners — said a professional has to do it seriously, otherwise there’s no point.
Point noted.
But Mr. Duran, or his business mates, didn’t know how serious this writer was. Armed with her pen and notepad.
If given the chance to fight again, the retired boxer-tured-promoter said he would take on Sugar Ray Leonard and Hectar “Macho” Camacho.
It was time to launch the Citizen sucker punch. And out it came.
“I’m only going to ask because you brought up Mr. Leonard’s name,” the reporter said. “Why no mås?”
The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Eyes bulged from the sidelines.
Mr. Duran said it was too long a story to get into, but he did say he never said the famous two words — no more — in his second fight against Mr. Leonard in 1989.
“It was Howard Cosell who said it,” Mr. Duran said.
Milan Sports and Gaming president Mr. Carvalho translated from Mr. Duran that the boxer was ill the night of the fight and suffering from stomach pains.
Mr. Duran said he asked for a rematch, but Mr. Leonard refused. By the time his opponent agreed to a rematch, Mr. Duran was already 30 pounds heavier than the competition and wasn’t willing to lose the weight.
But the man wasn’t fazed, not by the question or by the infamous fight.
“There’s only one Roberto Duran and I’m the best fighter,” he said with a smile.
Back to business.
Mr. Duran is excited about his Canadian business endeavours, but maintains there aren’t many great fighters in the sport right now.
He was willing to give his expert predictions on the upcoming fight against Oscar De La Hoya and Manny “Pac Man” Pacquaio, slated for Dec. 6.
“Even though Pacquaio is not in his prime, De La Hoya is too much size for him. De La Hoya will win,” said Mr. Duran, translated by a Milan Group official.
For more information on the Milan Group and its upcoming work with Mr. Duran, go to
www.milangroup.ca.