#OnThisDay in 1999 William Joppy thrashed Roberto Duran in the Panamanian’s final world title fight. Despite his glorious past, very few felt that Duran – at 47 years old – could add to his hefty miracle list against a man 20 years younger. It wasn’t only Duran’s advanced age that was going against him ahead of the showdown at the Las Vegas Hilton; the location did not bode well either. Duran had not won in Sin City since outpointing Luigi Minchillo in 1981. Since then, he had lost to Wilfred Benitez, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns, Robbie Sims, Sugar Ray Leonard, Pat Lawlor, and Vinny Pazienza. Cries of “Duran! Duran!” were heard in the second round but they were desperate, not expectant. The old man began the third with a wild left and that was closer to a clip than a hook. It was perhaps Duran’s finest moment in a turgidly one-sided mauling, and the final punch he landed in world championship boxing. Joppy jumped on the eroding warrior, landed hard and fast blows, over and over. Duran was helpless, sagging in the corner. Joppy's joy struggled for attention among those mourning the end of Duran’s world championship career, but the 27-year-old – who supplemented his income from boxing with stints as a window cleaner – did his best to enjoy the moment. “He’s a great man,” he said of Duran. “I love him. I grew up watching him, but I got his name now.” #boxing #BoxingNews #WilliamJoppy #BoxingHistory #RobertoDuran (at Las Vegas Hilton Hotel) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnBG3brB6t8/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1s1mckik09occ
