Ex-NSAC chairman Durden dies after bout with cancer

Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2000 | 11:02 a.m.

Former Nevada State Athletic Commission chairman Duke Durden died early Monday after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Durden, 62, was a Las Vegas resident dating from the 1950s. Aside from his tenure on the athletic commission, he was a semi-pro baseball player, a football and basketball official with the Western Athletic Conference, an employee of the City of Las Vegas Recreation Dept., and an executive with Don King Productions.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

In recent months he had worked with Momentum Enterprises, which promotes monthly boxing cards at the Orleans.

"I liked Duke a lot," said NSAC chairman Dr. Elias Ghanem. "We were good friends for a long time and I always found him to be a straight shooter.

"He was a tough guy, but he was legitimate and strong. He did a lot of things not only for boxing and boxers, but for the local community."

Durden, who grew up in Louisiana, was a big man who liked to smoke huge cigars and speak in deep, dulcet tones. He was appointed to the NSAC in 1978, became chairman in 1979 and left the post in 1982, when his term expired.

During his time on the commission, where Durden served with noted Las Vegas political advisor and advertising mogul Sig Rogich, Las Vegas served as host for some of boxing's biggest fights. Those included Larry Holmes' 1980 victory over an aging Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard's win over Thomas Hearns in 1981.

Because he took such an active role in securing major fights, Durden was criticized in some circles of being too close to promoters -- specifically Don King.

King and Larry Holmes were among Durden's visitors in the days leading up to his death.