Hands of Stone - Christian Giudice [154]
Duran was at home in Miami, similar in climate and atmosphere to Panama City but without the endless throng of fans. He had a house there and friends, and he trained hard. Among his sparring partners was cruiserweight Leroy Heavens. According to childhood friend “Chapparro” Pinzon, who described himself as Duran’s valet, Heavens refused to step back into the ring after one brutal four-round session, complaining of pains all over his body.
Certainly his passion, and anger, seemed to have returned. By earning $350,000 to Barkley’s $500,000, Duran felt he wasn’t getting the respect he deserved. “Another rumor spread that I was burned out and finished,” said Duran. “I started again to train, and I was going to teach all these Panamanians and shut the press up that talks a lot of shit here in Panama. I inspired myself. I had a fight with Spada [and] I left and found a new manager in Carl Hibbard. Then I get the fight with Iran Barkley, that’s the toughest man to show the Panamanian public. When I fought with Davey Moore, the people weren’t on my side. I’m sitting there thinking I had to be champion again.”
The people’s doubts fired up Duran. The less supportive they were, the more determined he became. Yet what Duran called the “rumor” of him being burned out was, as far as anyone could tell, reality. Ray Arcel said that the Panamanian people didn’t like losers. Barkley could be his final vindication.
Members of Duran’s camp needed to spice things up. Was it possible that the death of Moore could work as motivation for both fighters? “There were a lot of things said like this was payback for Davey Moore, who had just died before the bout,” said DeCubas. “It got personal and we tried to get Duran psyched up.” It worked. Duran was pumped. “I heard what Barkley said, he said he was going to avenge the defeat of Davey Moore. I tell Plomo, ‘This motherfucker acts as if I killed Davey Moore. But this one I am going to kill. Wait.’”
In the locker room before the fight, Duran burned. “You should have seen him,” said Mike Acri. “He was just sitting there, rocking back and forth chanting Barkley’s name. He was so focused. The morning of the fight, Duran was eating breakfast and he just kept saying, ‘I feel like fighting tonight. I feel like fighting tonight.’”
A 3-1 underdog by fight time, Duran couldn’t go in there and brawl with Barkley. At least, that wasn’t the strategy. Three punches had served Duran especially well in his career: the straight right, the left hook (often thrown after faking the right and sliding over) and the uppercut, a devastating weapon on the inside and he could throw it from all angles. He would have to land all of those patented shots while avoiding Barkley’s booming hooks. Speed and stealth would blunt the Blade. “I was sparring with this guy who was really fast and tried to pummel me. His name was Carlos Montero and he later fought with me,” recalled Duran. “He was really fast, didn’t know nothing but I couldn’t keep my eyes off him because he would hit me. He was really quick. I’m ready now when I see Iran Barkley. I just look at him and I just tell Plomo, ‘This black guy is really big dude. But don’t worry Plomo. No te preocupes. I’m going to make him eat punches.’ And that’s what I did. I beat him. I shut the Panamanian public’s mouth.”
Years later Barkley would downplay the claim of exacting revenge for Moore’s defeat. “Everybody built that fight up like it was a grudge match for my best friend Davey Moore, who got destroyed by Duran,” said Barkley. “Sure, I