The Cyber Boxing Zone -- Garfield's Corner

Connections:
Roberto Duran

Back to index
Bulletin Board
Email John Garfield

January 21, 2003:
Roberto Duran and the Heckler

When Roberto Duran was training for the welterweight title against Carlos Palomino at Madison Square Garden, he worked out at Howard Alpert's gym in the garment center, just a few blocks from the Garden.

It was summertime, and sweltering, and every Spanish-speaking worker in the garment area-- and their families-- would go to watch their hero train at lunch time.

The gym was stifling, and jammed cheek-to-jowl with adoring admirers. They barely left Duran enough room to do his floor exercises. And then he went into the ring to shadowbox.

Looking around the room, you could see chests swell and faces full of pride. Plump mothers holding babies in their arms stood right at the ring apron, while their little children looked up moon-eyed at their idol.

In the midst of all of this, somebody in the back kept yelling at Duran in Spanish: "PIPINO CUEVAS WILL KILL YOU!

Duran paid him no mind and continued to shadowbox. But the heckler was relentless.

Finally, Duran whirled on the heckler and leaned over the top strand of the ropes, right above where the mothers and children where worshiping him, and he pulled down his trunks, grabbed his nuts, and yelled at the heckler in Spanish: "PIPINO CUEVAS CAN SUCK MY COCK!

- John Garfield