Page 35 - Boxing News Magazine (January 2020)

in history once could, but that he is the one judging
them means that there is little they can do to avoid
their heart and desire coming under greater scrutiny
than anything else.
By that same token there are no complaints in
Ruiz’s favour about the size of the ring – or indeed
about the fight being staged where it is. When in the
seventh – before which further guests arrive – Ruiz
again attempted to fight dirtily, “The Hands of Stone”
again laughed his approval before insisting on again
bumping fists with BN, as he has already on multiple
occasions. It’s enough, simply, to be a new face,
and to also have an interest in the sport he once so
memorably graced.
Finishing a can of Panamanian beer, he routinely
crushes it in his hands before tossing it on to the
coffee table in front of him and opening another.
With more than a hint of mischief he then demands
his friend Jose swaps seats with another also sat on
the same sofa, so that he can translate. BN is quickly
informed that Duran wants to repeat that Joshua’s “a
big chicken”.
In case Jose hasn’t made it clear enough, Duran
then adds “Ingles”. “Ruiz’s corner is no good. He’s
not too small. He needs to be smart,” he adds, via
his translator. Easier for Duran than perhaps any
other, but, unquestionably, ultimately accurate. At
the same time, while he is contributing to a separate
conversation, the dissatisfied Roberto Jnr again leaves
his stool to demonstrate a combination he believes
would succeed. visiting the room where so many keepsakes from WHERE IT BEGAN:
It is at the end of the 10th that his father concludes one of the finest careers of all time are retained. The site where
that Ruiz has already lost, and he therefore again Among the numerous fight posters, gloves, belts and Duran was born
and raised
seeks to entertain. He explains to BN that one of his shorts are some traditional scales, a photo of Nelson
guests, sat on a further stool to his left, is a dominoes Mandela, memorabilia from Rocky and, unexpectedly,
champion; Umberto, who has largely stood in the a British police hat and a photo of Sean Connery as
corner to Roberto Snr’s left, is then asked to show the James Bond – suggesting a potential fondness for the
photos on his phone of the four members of an older UK.
generation of the Duran family – another is called Jose similarly insists on offering BN a lift via a brief
Roberto – who fought in the army for the US. tour of where his friend “El Cholo” was born
Beyond his “family” – the description and raised – no more than 15 minutes’ drive
given to all of those, even those who are from his modern-day home, in the slums of
not relatives, who evidently routinely visit El Chorrillo and walking distance from the
the Duran household for the Panama canal. If his description
occasion of a big fight – he also of the area as a “red zone” evokes
keeps a baseball cap, a bottle THE BLACK MAN visions of prostitution, he almost
of local spirit and an unusual immediately clarifies that it simply
number of television controllers IS NERVOUS... means El Chorrillo is particularly
within reach, something that unsafe; the only reason he feels
becomes apparent when the THE FAT BOY comfortable risking the visit is
11th and 12th pass with little IS STRONG... because the combination of it
incident, reflecting his declining remaining light with the next
interest in the fight as a contest JOSHUA IS A day’s Mother’s Day celebrations
and in supporting Ruiz. Even and the bank holiday that follows
within a crowd that approved of BIG CHICKEN... it guarantees a less menacing
Ruiz’s performance more than I ALWAYS BACK mood.
most, and to the extent that it Pulling up outside of a once-
threatened to resemble a more THE LATIN white, now-derelict-and-listless
competitive fight, the final bell building with an open doorway,
is acknowledged only by the FIGHTER” he confirms with one of the two
majority of those watching almost middle-aged men standing and
immediately preparing to leave. chatting within that doorway
Within minutes the sound on the television has that he has, indeed, found the property he intended.
been reduced, the channel has been changed, and A further, older man is sat to the right of them on a
the less patient guests have already left. Duran plastic chair and next to a plastic crate, watching the
remains in his favoured seat; encouraging him to world pass.
remain there – not that encouragement were needed It is in that very same building that one of the
– is a sign of respect for the decorated head of the world’s finest, and most celebrated, fighters was
house. Significantly, those that remain and who have born, and most likely on those pavements or the
adopted new seats are of the same generation – his street corner just yards away where his first punches
longest-serving friends. were thrown. Sixty-eight years later, unusually and
Before BN can leave but after a fist bump is encouragingly he shows few signs of what could have
replaced by the warmest of handshakes and followed been so taxing a career and lifestyle – his charisma
with a hug from Duran’s wife “Fula”, Jose insists on entirely intact, despite everything he once gave. bn

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