Roberto Duran vs Pipino Cuevas 29.1.1983

Roberto Duran takes on former WBA World Welterweight Champion, Pipino Cuevas. It was a must win fight for both men who were struggling to comeback after big career losses. More info below...
Cuevas is one of the many great Mexican fighters to enter the squared circle. Cuevas debuted in 1971 at just 13 years old but his early career was not exactly easy. Within his first 2 years Cuevas racked up a less than spectacular 7-5 record. However from 1974 his fortunes changed and in 1975 he won the Mexican Welterweight title. The following year Cuevas earned a shot at WBA Welterweight World Champion, Angel Espada, and in a huge upset he stopped the champion within 2 rounds becoming the youngest World Welterweight Champion ever at just 18 years old. Cuevas would go on to successfully defend the title 11 times over the next 4 years against men such as Japanese Welterweight Champion Shoji Tsujimoto, Argentina Welterweight Champion Miguel Angel Campanino, Commonwealth Welterweight Champion Clyde Gray, former World Welterweight Champion Billy Backus, NABF Welterweight Champion Pete Ranzany and South African Welterweight Champion Harold Volbrecht. In 1980 however Cuevas finally met his match against Thomas Hearns, being demolished within 2 rounds by the bigger and faster challenger. Cuevas bounced back with 2 easy wins following the loss, including one against European Welterweight Champion, Joergen Hansen. In his most recent fight however, Cuevas was surprisingly outpointed by Roger Stafford in November of 1981. It was named Upset of the Year by Ring Magazine. Cuevas record was now 29-8.
Since his rematch against Sugar Ray Leonard in 1980 during the infamous "no mas" fight, Duran was struggling to rebuild his career. In January 1982 he dropped a decision to Wilfred Benitez and later that same year he lost a split decision to Kirkland Laing which Ring Magazine called Upset of the Year. In his most recent fight Duran ground out a 10 Rd decision over former BBBoC Super Welterweight champion, Jimmy Batten to extend his record to 75-4. The win was less than impressive however as many were expecting a knockout...
This fight was important to both men as the World Super Welterweight Champion, Davey Moore, was in attendance and they both needed an impressive win. In the 1st round, Cuevas was throwing heavy bombs at the body and head of Duran while Duran was content to establish his jab and make Cuevas miss. In Rd 2 Duran was more aggressive with his jab and coming forward looking for the counter hook. Cuevas wasn't backing up and he started taking the fight to Duran late in the round, landing a couple glancing shots but nothing that bothered Duran. In Rd 3 both men were warned about keeping their punches up while fighting in close. Midway through the 3rd Cuevas was landing some good power combos but once again Duran was not bothered. Rd 4 and the fight would come to a surprising end... Duran was aggressive with the jab again and landed a solid straight right early on that rocks Cuevas and sends him back into the ropes. Although Cuevas tried to fight back, Duran pounced and landed a flurry of shots to put Cuevas down against the ropes for a knockdown. Cuevas beat the count but he was hurt and Duran could smell blood. For a whole minute Duran unloaded on poor Cuevas who was not fighting back and eventually he went down again. Although Cuevas beat the count the ref felt he was in no condition to continue and stopped the fight.
Although Cuevas' kept boxing for a further 6 years, his career was effectively over. Cuevas only won 6 of his next 12 fights. He eventually retired in 1989 after being knocked out in 2 rounds by Lupe Aquino for a final record of 35-15.
The win was just what Duran needed to revitalise his career and in his very next fight, he would go on to win the WBA World Super Welterweight title from Davey Moore.

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