Duran Scores Stunning Win : Takes Barkley’s WBC Title on a Split Decision

He was considered an embarrassment when he walked out of the ring against Sugar Ray Leonard in 1980, finished when he was defeated by Wilfred Benitez in 1982, washed up when he was whipped by Marvelous Marvin Hagler in 1983, and done for good when Thomas Hearns smashed him to the canvas in two rounds in 1984.

By 1989, what could Roberto Duran possibly have left? After 91 professional fights over 21 years in the ring, operating on 37-year-old legs and with hands that had long since supposedly turned from stone to powder, he figured to be lucky to survive Friday’s 12-round World Boxing Council middleweight title fight against champion Iran Barkley at the Atlantic City Convention Center.

So much for conventional logic.

Instead, it was back to the future, back to the Stone Age.

Using those legendary manos de piedras, those Hands of Stone, Duran reached down for one more brilliant performance, winning a split decision and his fourth world title in a fight that did not seem all that close.

Duran dominated inside, repeatedly hit Barkley with his right hand, constantly counterpunched successfully, and put Barkley down in the 11th round with yet another right.

Barkley got up, but he never got back into the fight.

“I am like a bottle of wine,” Duran said. “The older I get, the better I get.”

Judges Giuseppe Ferrai and Tom Kaczmarek gave the fight to Duran by scores of 118-112 and 116-112, respectively. Judge Dave Brown had it 116-113 for Barkley. The Times had Duran winning, 115-112.

This had been an emotional fight for Barkley. He had talked all week about his late friend and sparring partner, Davey Moore, who had lost a title fight to Duran in 1983. Barkley talked about how he felt Duran had cheated by thumbing Moore, who died last year in a freak Jeep accident.

“I pushed it for Davey,” Barkley said after the final bell. “We did our best.

“But I knew Duran was going to be tough because this would be his last hurrah. I don’t care what anybody thinks or how anybody feels. I still think I’m the best.”

He won’t get a lot of agreement on that point outside of his own camp. Nobody is ever going to mistake Barkley for Leonard or Hearns or any of the other great middleweights. Despite a 25-5 record and 16 knockouts, this survivor from the Bronx had built his reputation on one punch, a lucky punch, some said.

That was the blow last June that floored Hearns and gave Barkley the WBC title.

Until then, Barkley was considered little better than a journeyman. Even in that fight. He was bloodied and bruised in that third round and appeared ready to go until he reversed the course of events with one shocking right hand.

He tried to do the same thing Friday night. Time and again.

And he connected with the right, and the left. The three best punches Barkley threw in the fight were left hands, one of which straightened up Duran, sweat flying off his face.

But the Panamanian never appeared in serious trouble. Regardless of the quality of the opposition, he showed that, at 37, he could still go a punishing, bruising 12 rounds with barely a breather.

Time and again, this pair stood toe-to-toe and matched blows. This was a “Rocky” movie without a director to yell, “Cut.”

There had been enough drama throughout the day for several movies.

Before dawn, this seaside city had been raked by a blizzard that brought 40-m.p.h. winds and more than a foot of snow. The airport was closed. The famed Boardwalk was deserted.

The cold, seemingly emotionless mood of Duran at the early-morning weigh-in matched the weather.

Then his camp perhaps threw the first blow of the day--a psychological blow.

After Duran had weighed in at 156 1/4 pounds for the 160-pound bout, Barkley stepped on the scales and was told he weighed 164.

Shock went through the room. Had he already lost his crown by default?

He stepped off, back on again, and this time the scale read 159 1/4.

It was later claimed that one of Duran’s people had put a foot on the scale to scare Barkley.

The war already had begun.

And now where does it lead?

Contractually, Duran is obligated to fight the winner of the March 25 Las Vegas middleweight title bout between International Boxing Federation champion Michael Nunn and World Boxing Assn. champion Sumbu Kalambay. That unification fight is tentatively set for July 8 in Las Vegas.

But there is a loophole in the contract. Duran, now an incredible 85-7, does not have to honor it if he can get a fight with one of the other big names in the division--Leonard, Hearns or Hagler.

Hagler insists he is retired. Leonard and Hearns will fight in June.

Duran’s people indicated that the man they want is Leonard. The two have split their two previous fights, Duran handing Leonard the only defeat of his career.

So that bout might certainly appeal to Leonard.

After all, who wouldn’t want to fight a 37-year-old guy who can’t possibly have anything left?