STAR T.R.E.C. - 2008 (FightNight 2008)

Thank God for the Real Estate Council and its immeasurable impact on the city of Dallas.  Since 1989, their “Fight Night” series has generated more than $16 million for community redevelopment.  That’s a staggering amount by any charitable standard, especially a non-profit organization.  On Thursday, May 1st, 2008, the Real Estate Council (T.R.E.C.) held it’s 20th annual “Fight Night”.  By the end of the evening, over $1.5 million was raised and with that T.R.E.C. will provide grants and professional assistance to local associations focused on societal revitalization and affordable housing.

More than 1,800 of Dallas’ elite showed up, dressed to the nines, to mingle with living legends and enjoy the manly art of self-defense.  In the past, Muhammad Ali, Larry Holmes, Evander Holyfield, “Sugar” Ray Leonard, Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, Roger Staubach and President George W. Bush have been the celebrity guests.  At this year’s edition, Roberto Duran and Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini were featured.  Though completely different in terms of personality, Duran and Mancini were equally engaging.  Throughout the night, I lived a boxing fan’s dream; discussing the sweet science in depth with all time great fighters.

As expected, Roberto Duran was over the top with bluntness and a sense of humor, as I asked him about various mythical match-ups.  “Duran vs. Oscar DeLa Hoya?” I wondered out loud.  The former undisputed lightweight, welterweight, jr. middle and middleweight champion didn’t bite his tongue, dismissively answering, “Duran, 5 round, no problema.”  I couldn’t resist the urge to further pick his brain.  “Duran vs. Felix Trinidad?”  “1 round.  Trinidad no chin.” He lightly punched his own chin and shook his head “no” for emphasis.

An interpreter who works with Ricardo Mayorga was sitting next to Duran, so I figured I’d ask the original master of machismo his thoughts on a fight with Mayorga, the latest practitioner.  “Duran, 2 round.”  Since Mayorga was known for his pre-fight and press conference antics, I asked “Hands of Stone” what would happen if Mayorga was bold enough to provoke him in such a manner.  This particular answer was longer, so after attempting English, Duran spoke to the interpreter who relayed the message.  “He says if Mayorga talked trash to him, he’d knock him out at the press conference and there wouldn’t be a fight.  And if they actually fought, Mayorga wouldn’t last 2 rounds.” That was the G-rated version of the translation, I was told.  “Duran vs. Kostya Tszyu?”  “Duran, 3 round.  No heart.”  At this point, I was as giddy as humanly possible and since Duran seemed to enjoy the line of questioning himself, I pressed onwards.  “Duran vs. Julio Cesar Chavez?”  “5 round.  No mind, no intelligente”, Roberto replied, pointing at his temple.  The only fighter Duran wasn’t absolutely certain he’d destroy was Aaron “The Hawk” Pryor.  “Duran, 10 round.  No promise.  He’s my friend.”  I ended my conversation by asking who was the best out of the “Sugar” Ray Leonard-Thomas “Hitman” Hearns-“Marvelous” Marvin Hagler trifecta.  Duran quickly answered, “Leonard”, and seemed to exclude Hagler from that select company when he said, “I beat Hagler.”

By this point, Ray Mancini was getting a kick out of my back and forth with Duran, so why not get his own opinions, right?  “Boom Boom” revealed that the highlight of his career was his 1st round KO of Art Frias, when he won the WBA lightweight title and fulfilled his championship promise to his father, Lenny.  I asked Ray what would happen if he met up with fellow action hero, Arturo Gatti.  Mancini was the polar opposite of Duran, in terms of bravado when predicting his own mythical match-ups.  “It’s hard to say and Arturo’s a good guy, a good friend of mine, so I don’t know.  I would like to think that I had a little bit more skill and strength than him, but it’d be a helluva fight that wouldn’t go the distance.  That’s for sure.”  Mancini then spoke glowingly of his Youngstown, Ohio neighbor, Kelly Pavlik (reigning middleweight champion of the world).  “I’ve known Kelly Pavlik since he was 10 years old. Nicest kid you’d ever want to meet.”

Believe it or not, there was an actual fight card going on in the midst of my conversations with Duran and Mancini.  The main event was a WBC Continental America’s light heavyweight title bout between Cedric Agnew (8-0, 4 KO’s) and Rayco Saunders (15-10-2, 8 KO’s).  Saunders survived the worst 1st round imaginable, tasting the canvas on three separate occasions.  Admirably, he rose each time en route to losing a unanimous 10 round decision.  In other bouts, Derrick Moon (12-19-1, 2 KO’s) seemed to deserve the verdict (or a draw at worst) but lost a 6 round majority decision to Adrian Navarette (17-5-1, 13 KO’s).  Gilbert Vera (9-1, 4 KO’s) unanimously out pointed Carlos Dela Cruz (10-12-1, 5 KO’s).  Gilbert’s biggest fan, his brother Brian (fresh off an upset KO win over Andy Lee), was in attendance lending verbal encouragement.  In the opening affair, Jesus Rodarte (4-0, 2 KO’s) remained undefeated with a 4 round majority nod against Rocky Rubaldino (2-2).

In a touching gesture, practically every fighter on the bill personally acknowledged Duran as he sat ringside, some even coming back to pose for pictures with him, after showering.  On a personal note, I give thanks to T.R.E.C. for affording me the opportunity to meet some of my fistic heroes.  In the last four years, I’ve met Joe and Marvis Frazier, Lennox Lewis and Hasim Rahman, among others.  As each year passes, my confidence as a boxing journalist grows after repeatedly breaking bread with one prizefighting Hall of Famer after another. “Fight Night” is undoubtedly the highlight of my yearly boxing calendar, with this year standing out as my most cherished pugilistic memory yet.  I can’t wait until May of 2009.