Roberto Durán

For the baseball player, see Roberto Durán (baseball).
This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Durán and the second or maternal family name is Samaniego.
Roberto Durán

Roberto Durán in 1994, before the fight with Vinny Paz.
Statistics
Real name Roberto Carlos Durán Samaniego
Nickname(s) Manos de Piedra
("Hands of Stone"),
El Cholo
Rocky
Rated at Lightweight
Welterweight
Light Middleweight
Middleweight
Super Middleweight
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Reach 66 in (168 cm)
Nationality Panamanian
Born June 16, 1951
El Chorrillo, Panama
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights 119
Wins 103
Wins by KO 79
Losses 16
Draws 0
No contests 0

Roberto Durán Samaniego (born June 16, 1951) is a Panamanian former professional boxer, widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time. A versatile brawler in the ring, he was nicknamed "Manos de Piedra" ("Hands of Stone") during his career.[1]

In 2002, he was chosen by The Ring to be the fifth greatest fighter of the last 80 years.[2] Bert Sugar rated him as the eighth greatest fighter of all-time and the Associated Press voted Duran as the #1 lightweight of the 20th century.[3] Many even consider him the greatest lightweight of all time. He held world titles at four different weights—lightweight (1972–79), welterweight (1980), light middleweight (1983–84) and middleweight (1989). He was the second boxer to have fought a span of five decades, the first being Jack Johnson. However, he is most infamous for abruptly forfeiting his welterweight title in the middle of his 1980 rematch with challenger Sugar Ray Leonard.

He finally retired in January 2002 at age 50 (having previously retired in 1998) following a bad car crash in October 2001, with a professional record of 120 fights, 104 wins with 69 KOs. Up until the second Ray Leonard fight, he was trained by legendary boxing trainer Ray Arcel.

Early life

Roberto Durán was born on June 16, 1951 in Guarare, Panama. His mother, Clara Samaniego, was a native of Guararé, Panama, and his father, Margarito Durán Sanchez, was from Arizona, United States of Mexican descent.[4] He was raised in the slums of El Chorrillo in the district "La Casa de Piedra" (The House of Stone) Panama. He began sparring with experienced boxers at the Neco de La Guardia gymnasium when he was only eight years old.[5] He made his professional debut in 1968 at the age of 16.[6]

Professional career

Lightweight

After an initial adjustment he won thirty in a row, and scored knockout victories over future Featherweight Champion Ernesto Marcel and former Super Featherweight Champion Hiroshi Kobayashi, culminating in his first title bout in June 1972, where he controversially defeated Ken Buchanan in Madison Square Garden, New York for the WBA Lightweight Championship. Durán, as a 2-to-1 underdog, scored a knock down against the defending champion just fifteen seconds into the opening round and battered him throughout the bout.[7] He was well ahead on all three cards as the bell rang to end the 13th round, at which time Durán (apparently not hearing the bell due to crowd noise and the heat of the moment) continued to throw a couple of extra punches as Buchanan lay on the ropes. Upon closer inspection of the famed low blow, referee Johnny LoBianco can be seen standing behind Durán as the bell rang and immediately grabbed Durán in a bear hug-like style to pull Durán away from Buchanan. LoBianco can clearly be seen in the video altering the direction of Duran's right arm, pulling it downward as Durán attempted to throw a clean body punch at Buchanan; thus the infamous ridicule of Durán intentionally throwing a low blow was born. Buchanan immediately dropped to the canvas writhing in pain from a groin punch, that Buchanan's trainer, Gil Clancy, said was caused by a knee to the groin (which it wasn't). Referee Johnny LoBianco awarded the fight to Durán, insisting that the blow that took down Buchanan was "in the abdomen, not any lower" (the punch did land below belt line, LoBianco was out of position to see it) and that he felt that Buchanan would be unable to continue fighting.[8] Columnist Red Smith of The New York Times wrote that LoBianco had to award the victory to Durán, even if the punch was a low blow, as "anything short of pulling a knife is regarded indulgently" in American boxing.[9] Buchanan said he left the fight, "with sore balls".[10]

Durán followed up on his title winning performance with several non-title matches. Later that year, in another non-title bout, he lost a ten round decision to Esteban De Jesús. Durán got back on track with successful title defenses against Jimmy Robertson, Hector Thompson and future Lightweight Champion Guts Ishimatsu. In 1974, Durán avenged his loss to De Jesus with a brutal eleventh round knock out. In 1976, he defeated future Light Welterweight Champion Saoul Mamby. Overall, Durán made twelve successful defenses of his title (eleven coming by knock out) and amassed a record of 62-1, his last defense coming in 1978 where Durán fought a third bout with De Jesus, a unification match where Durán once again knocked out De Jesus and captured his WBC Lightweight Championship. Durán gave up the Undisputed Lightweight Championship in February 1979.

Welterweight

Vacating the Lightweight title was a buildup for an attempt at the Welterweight title. Durán earned a pair of wins against former WBC Welterweight Champion Carlos Palomino and Zeferino Gonzales, setting the stage for a title bout against then undefeated WBC Welterweight Champion Sugar Ray Leonard. The venue chosen was the Olympic Stadium in Montreal, the same location where Leonard won an Olympic gold medal during the 1976 Summer Olympics. Durán resented the fact that he was getting only one-fifth the money Leonard would make despite the fact that he was entering the bout with an incredible 71-1 record. On June 20, 1980, Durán captured the WBC Welterweight title by defeating Leonard via a 15-round unanimous- decision. The fight became known as "The Brawl in Montreal."

"No Más"

In the November rematch, Durán quit. He was not in good shape, which is why Leonard wanted a rematch. Leonard has said that his strategy was to use speed and agility to taunt and frustrate Durán, believing it was his best chance of winning the fight.[11] In the seventh round, Leonard started to taunt Durán. His most memorable punch came late in the round. Winding up with his right hand, as if to throw a bolo punch, Leonard hit Durán flush in the face with a left. In the eighth round, Durán, slightly behind on all three scorecards, shortly after a vicious right uppercut from Leonard, turned around, walked to his corner and gave up, supposedly saying the now famous words, "no más" (no more). However, he claims to have actually said, "No quiero pelear con el payaso." (Meaning, "I do not want to fight with this clown.") Another version of events has him saying, in Spanish, "I can't continue." Referee Octavio Meyran, perhaps as incredulous as was the rest of the world at what he was seeing, asked Durán if he was sure, and Durán then said, "No más, no más" (no more, no more). In violation of what any professional fighter does on the day of a fight, Durán gorged himself after the weigh-in and claimed he quit because he was having stomach cramps.[12] However, Durán's manager, Carlos Eleta, said, "Durán didn't quit because of stomach cramps. He quit because he was embarrassed. I know this."[13]

Middleweight

He took some time to recover from that fight and gained even more weight to contend for the WBC Light Middleweight title, but losing in his first attempt at a championship in that division on January 30, 1982, against Wilfred Benítez by a 15 round unanimous decision. Durán was also to lose his comeback fight in September 1982 in Detroit. Kirkland Laing, from London, shocked the boxing world, producing the type of display his talents promised yet he so rarely produced, taking the split decision. After being relegated to a 10 round walk out win over Englishman Jimmy Batten at The Battle of The Champions in Miami, Durán signed with promoter Bob Arum. This marked the beginning of a comeback in which he beat former world champion and now hall of famer Pipino Cuevas via a fourth round knock-out, which earned him a second crack at the light middleweight title, this time against WBA Champion Davey Moore.

The WBA title bout took place at Madison Square Garden on June 16, 1983, which also happened to be Durán's 32nd birthday. The still inexperienced Moore (12-0) was game through the first three rounds, but by the 4th, Durán said he knew Moore couldn't hurt him, and an onslaught began.[14] The pro-Durán crowd at ringside cheered as Durán relentlessly punished Moore. By the end of the sixth round, Moore's eye had swollen shut and he was floored near the end of the seventh. Finally the fight was stopped in the eighth round as Moore was taking such a horrific beating and Durán won his third world title. After the victory, Durán was hoisted up in the air as the crowd sang "Happy Birthday" to a sobbing Durán.[15]

Durán later fought for the World Middleweight Championship, meeting Marvelous Marvin Hagler in Las Vegas in November 1983, but losing in a very competitive fight that went the full fifteen rounds, although after 12 rounds two of the judges had Durán ahead on points. Hagler fought tenaciously over the final three rounds to earn a unanimous decision. Despite the loss, Durán became the second man to take Hagler to a fifteen round decision (Vito Antuofermo was the other) and the only one to do so while Hagler was the world champion.

In June 1984, Durán was stripped of his Light Middleweight title when the WBA did not approve of his fight with WBC Champion Thomas "Hitman" Hearns and took away recognition of Durán as world champion the moment Durán stepped into the ring to box Hearns. Durán again made history in the fight, but this time it was the wrong kind. Hearns dropped Durán twice in the first round and as he rose to his feet after the second knockdown, which ended the round, the former champion did not know where his corner was. Hearns went on to knock Duran down a third time in the second round and the fight was stopped, marking the first time in his career that Durán had been knocked out in a fight (the "No Más" fight was officially recorded as a technical knockout, because Duran quit).

Durán did not contend another title fight until 1989, but made the shot count when he won the WBC Middleweight title from Iran Barkley in February. The fight is considered one of Durán's greatest achievements, as the 37 year old former lightweight champion took the middleweight crown, his fourth title. In a tough, back and forth fight, Durán knocked Barkley down in the eleventh round and won a close decision. The bout was named the 1989 "Fight of the Year" by The Ring.

Super Middleweight

His reign was short lived once again as Duran moved up to super middleweight (although both fighters weighed in at the middleweight limit) for a third clash with Sugar Ray Leonard in December 1990 (a fight dubbed Uno Más—One More—by promoters), which Leonard won by wide unanimous decision. Durán seemed to be in decline after the fight, he attempted to win further middleweight titles in 1994, 1995 and 1996 (fighting for the minor International Boxing Council (IBC) belt).

Durán fought Vinny Pazienza in 1994 and 1995 for the IBC Super Middleweight Championship and was defeated both times by unanimous decision, but many people felt Duran clearly won the first bout and he was robbed of the victory.

In 1996, he was challenged by Héctor Camacho for the vacant IBC Middleweight Championship but lost by a very controversial unanimous decision. In 1997, Durán was defeated by former champion Jorge Castro. Durán fought Castro in a rematch bout and won via unanimous decision.

In 1998, at the age of 47, he challenged 28 year old WBA Middleweight Champion William Joppy. Joppy, a trim, quick-fisted fighter, battered Durán to defeat in just 3 rounds. It was Duran's most emphatic loss since the Hearns fight, over a decade earlier. Durán then announced his retirement in August 1998, but was back fighting in 1999.

In June 2000, Durán avenged a previous loss to Pat Lawlor and won the NBA Super Middleweight Championship on his 49th birthday. He lost the title a year later to Héctor Camacho in a rematch bout and in what would be Durán's final fight.

Retirement

Duran signs autographs at a Houston sports collectors show in January 2014.

In 2001, Durán traveled to Argentina to promote a salsa music CD that he had just released. While there, he was involved in a car crash and required life-saving surgery. After that incident, he announced his retirement from boxing at the age of 50.[16]

Announcing his retirement, Durán cited the weight issues of his friend, Argentinian football legend Diego Maradona, as motivation for getting back in shape, stating: "As of now, I am exercising so that when the [retirement] honors arrive the people will see me in shape. I don't want to [look] like Maradona did, all fat."[16]

Durán's five world title belts, which he won in four different divisions, were stolen from his house in Panama in 1993 during a robbery allegedly staged by his brother-in-law, who gave them to memorabilia seller Luis González Báez, who will stand trial for trying to sell stolen goods. González Báez allegedly sold the belts to undercover FBI agents. He alleges that Durán authorized the sale of the five belts to him during a time that Durán was facing financial trouble. On September 23, 2003, a federal judge in Florida ordered the five belts returned to Durán.

His 69 wins by knockout place him in an exclusive group of boxers who have won 50 or more fights by knockout. He is ranked number 28 on The Ring's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time.

On October 14, 2006, Durán was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in Riverside, California,[17] and on June 10, 2007, into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York.

Today he is the brand ambassador of Panama Blue, Panamas premium bottled water.[18]

Duran is a licensed ultralight aircraft pilot in Panama. He flew a Quick Silver MX model.[19]

Appearances in film/music

Film

Durán (right) appeared in a book by Prvoslav Vujčić (left)

Durán's first appearance in a movie was in the 1979 film Rocky II as a lightning-fast sparring partner for Rocky Balboa. Outside of this, Durán had a minor role in Harlem Nights.

Durán's life and boxing career are told in the documentary Los puños de una nación ("The Fists of a Nation") by Panamanian filmmaker Pituka Ortega-Heilbron. Durán also appears very briefly during an interview for the documentary The Panama Deception (1992), in which he recounts his experience during the United States invasion of Panama.

The biopic Hands of Stone will star Édgar Ramírez as Duran, Robert De Niro as Ray Arcel and Usher as Sugar Ray Leonard, and is due for release in late 2015.[20][21]

Television

Durán played the drug lord Jesus Maroto in Miami Vice season two, episode 19.

In the fourth episode of the second season of the hit American crime drama CSI: NY, Durán is mentioned by the medical examiner while discussing a dead man found to have metal screws put in his hands to boost his punching power.

Music

The song "The Eyes of Roberto Durán" by Tom Russell is featured on the album The Long Way Around, and contains the lyric, "Panama City it's three in the morning, they're talking 'bout the Hands of Stone."

Durán is mentioned in the third verse of Nas' original demo for It Ain't Hard to Tell in the line: "Metaphors of murder man, hittin' like Roberto Durán, hold the mic in my hand, my lifespan."[22]

The musician Jackie Leven recorded a song ("Museum of Childhood") that explores the events of the second world title fight between Durán and Sugar Ray Leonard.

Jazz musician Miles Davis, an avid boxing fan, recorded a tribute to Roberto Duran titled, "Duran".

Durán is also mentioned in the third verse of Paul Thorn's "Hammer and Nail," based on Thorn's nationally televised fight with Durán:

I climbed in the ring with Roberto Durán and the punches began to rain down

He hit me with a dozen hard uppercuts and my corner threw in the towel
I asked him why he had to knock me out and he summed it up real well
He said, 'I'd rather be a hammer than a nail'

Texas rockabilly band Reverend Horton Heat mentions Durán in their song "Eat Steak," off of their album Smoke 'Em If You Got 'Em.

Career record

104 Wins (69 knockouts, 32 decisions, 1 retirement), 16 Losses (4 knockouts, 12 decisions), 0 Draws[23]
Res. Record Opponent Type Rd., Time Date Location Notes
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 103-16 Puerto Rico Héctor Camacho UD 12 (12) 2001-07-14 United States Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado, United States Lost NBA Super Middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 103-15 United States Patrick Goossen UD 10 (10) 2000-08-12 United States Yakama Legends Casino, Toppenish, Washington, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 102-15 United States Pat Lawlor UD 12 (12) 2000-06-16 Panama Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Juan Diaz, Panama Won NBA Super Middleweight title.
One of the few boxers to compete in five different decades.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 101-15 Argentina Omar Gonzalez UD 10 (10) 1999-03-06 Argentina Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 101-14 United States William Joppy TKO 3 (12), 2:54 1998-08-28 United States Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States For WBA Middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 101-13 Colombia Felix Jose Hernandez UD 10 (10) 1998-01-31 Panama Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 100-13 United Kingdom David Radford UD 8 (8) 1997-11-15 South Africa Carousel Hotel & Casino, Temba, North-West, South Africa
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 99–13 Argentina Jorge Fernando Castro UD 10 (10) 1997-06-14 Panama Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 98–13 Argentina Jorge Fernando Castro UD 10 (10) 1997-02-15 Argentina Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 98–12 Republic of Ireland Mike Culbert TKO 6 (10) 1996-09-27 United States Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort, Chester, West Virginia, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 97–12 Mexico Ariel Cruz KO 1 (10) 1996-08-31 Panama Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 96–12 Puerto Rico Héctor Camacho UD 12 (12) 1996-06-22 United States Mark Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States For vacant IBC Middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 96–11 United States Ray Domenge UD 10 (10) 1996-02-20 United States Mahi Temple Shrine Auditorium, Miami, Florida, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 95–11 United States Wilbur Garst TKO 4 (10) 1995-12-21 United States Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 94–11 United States Roni Martinez TKO 7 (10), 2:59 1995-06-10 United States Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Missouri, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 93–11 United States Vinny Pazienza UD 12 (12) 1995-01-14 United States Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States For IBC Super Middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 93–10 United States Heath Todd TKO 7 (10) 1994-10-18 United States Casino Magic, Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 92–10 United States Vinny Pazienza UD 12 (12) 1994-06-25 United States MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States For IBC Super Middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 92–9 United States Terry Thomas TKO 4 (10) 1994-03-29 United States Casino Magic, Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 91–9 United States Carlos Montero UD 10 (10) 1994-02-22 France Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 90–9 United States Tony Menefee TKO 8 (10) 1993-12-14 United States Casino Magic, Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 89–9 United States Sean Fitzgerald KO 6 (10) 1993-08-17 United States Casino Magic, Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 88–9 Canada Jacques LeBlanc UD 10 (10) 1993-06-29 United States Casino Magic, Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 87–9 United States Ken Hulsey KO 2 (10), 2:45 1992-12-17 United States Cleveland, Ohio, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 86–9 United States Tony Biglen UD 10 (10) 1992-09-30 United States Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 85–9 United States Pat Lawlor TKO 6 (10), 1:50 1991-03-18 United States Mirage Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Durán injures his shoulder and is unable to continue.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 85–8 United States Sugar Ray Leonard UD 12 (12) 1989-12-07 United States Mirage Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States For WBC Super Middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 85–7 United States Iran Barkley SD 12 (12) 1989-02-24 United States Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Won WBC Middleweight title.
The Ring magazine's "Fight of the Year" (1989)
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 84–7 United States Jeff Lanas SD 10 (10) 1988-10-01 United States International Amphitheatre, Chicago, Illinois, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 83–7 United States Paul Thorn RTD 6 (10) 1988-04-14 United States Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 82–7 United States Ricky Stackhouse UD 10 (10) 1988-02-05 United States Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 81–7 Paraguay Juan Ferreyra UD 10 (10) 1987-09-12 United States James L. Knight Center, Miami Beach, Florida, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 80–7 Puerto Rico Victor Claudio UD 10 (10) 1987-05-16 United States Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 79–7 United States Robbie Sims SD 10 (10) 1986-06-23 United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 79–6 Dominican Republic Jorge Suero KO 2 (10), 1:45 1986-04-18 Panama Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 78–6 Colombia Manuel Zambrano KO 2 (10), 2:57 1986-01-31 Panama Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 77–6 United States Thomas Hearns KO 2 (15) 1984-06-15 United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States For WBC Light Middleweight title.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 77–5 United States Marvelous Marvin Hagler UD 15 (15) 1983-11-10 United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States For WBC, WBA, IBF & The Ring Middleweight titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 77–4 United States Davey Moore TKO 8 (15), 2:02 1983-06-16 United States Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States Won WBA Light Middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 76–4 Mexico Pipino Cuevas TKO 4 (12), 2:26 1983-01-29 United States Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 75–4 United Kingdom Jimmy Batten UD 10 (10) 1982-11-12 United States Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 74–4 United Kingdom Kirkland Laing SD 10 (10) 1982-09-04 United States Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan, United States 1982 Upset of the Year - Ring Magazine
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 74–3 Puerto Rico Wilfred Benítez UD 15 (15) 1982-01-30 United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States For WBC Light Middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 74–2 Italy Luigi Minchillo UD 10 (10) 1981-09-26 United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 73–2 United States Nino Gonzalez UD 10 (10) 1981-08-09 United States Public Hall, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 72–2 United States Sugar Ray Leonard TKO 8 (15), 2:44 1980-11-25 United States Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States Lost WBC & The Ring Welterweight titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 72–1 United States Sugar Ray Leonard UD 15 (15) 1980-06-20 Canada Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Won WBC & The Ring Welterweight titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 71–1 Ecuador Wellington Wheatley TKO 6 (10) 1980-02-24 United States Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 70–1 Norway Joseph Nsubuga TKO 4 (10), 3:00 1980-01-13 United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 69–1 United States Zeferino Gonzalez UD 10 (10) 1979-09-28 United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 68–1 Mexico Carlos Palomino UD 10 (10) 1979-06-22 United States Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 67–1 United States Jimmy Heair UD 10 (10) 1979-04-08 United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 66–1 United States Monroe Brooks KO 8 (12), 1:59 1978-12-08 United States Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 65–1 Costa Rica Ezequiel Obando KO 2 (10), 1:09 1978-09-01 Panama Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 64–1 Puerto Rico Adolfo Viruet UD 10 (10) 1978-04-27 United States Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 63–1 Puerto Rico Esteban De Jesús TKO 12 (15), 2:32 1978-01-21 United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Retained WBA & The Ring & won WBC Lightweight titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 62–1 Puerto Rico Edwin Viruet UD 15 (15) 1977-09-17 United States Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Retained WBA & The Ring Lightweight titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 61–1 Dominican Republic Bernardo Diaz KO 1 (10), 1:29 1977-08-06 Panama Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 60–1 United States Javier Muniz UD 10 (10) 1977-05-16 United States Capitol Centre, Landover, Maryland, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 59–1 Dominican Republic Vilomar Fernandez KO 13 (15), 2:10 1977-01-29 United States Fontainbleau Hotel, Miami Beach, Florida, United States Retained WBA & The Ring Lightweight titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 58–1 Costa Rica Alvaro Rojas TKO 1 (15), 2:17 1976-10-15 United States Sportatorium, Hollywood, Florida, United States Retained WBA & The Ring Lightweight titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 57–1 Colombia Emiliano Villa TKO 7 (10), 2:00 1976-07-31 Panama Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 56–1 Italy Lou Bizzarro KO 14 (15), 2:15 1976-05-23 United States County Field House, Erie, Pennsylvania, United States Retained WBA & The Ring Lightweight titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 55–1 United States Saoul Mamby UD 10 (10) 1976-05-04 United States Miami Beach, Florida, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 54–1 Mexico Leoncio Ortiz KO 15 (15), 2:39 1975-12-20 Puerto Rico Roberto Clemente Coliseum, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico Retained WBA & The Ring Lightweight titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 53–1 Puerto Rico Edwin Viruet UD 10 (10) 1975-09-30 United States Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, New York, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 52–1 Venezuela Alirio Acuna KO 3 (10) 1975-09-13 Panama Gimnasio Jose D. Crespo, Chitré, Panama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 51–1 Nicaragua Pedro Mendoza KO 1 (10), 2:00 1975-08-02 Nicaragua Estadio Roberto Clemente, Managua, Nicaragua
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 50–1 Puerto Rico Jose Peterson TKO 1 (10) 1975-06-03 United States Convention Hall, Miami Beach, Florida, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 49–1 United States Ray Lampkin KO 14 (15), 0:39 1975-03-02 Panama Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama Retained WBA & The Ring Lightweight titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 48–1 Colombia Andres Salgado KO 1 (10), 1:00 1975-02-15 Panama Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 47–1 Japan Masataka Takayama KO 1 (15), 1:40 1974-12-21 Costa Rica Plaza de Toros El Zapote, San José, Costa Rica Retained WBA & The Ring Lightweight titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 46–1 Colombia Adalberto Vanegas KO 1 (10) 1974-11-16 Panama Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 45–1 Jose Vasquez KO 2 (10) 1974-10-31 Costa Rica Gimnasio Eddie Cortez, San José, Costa Rica
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 44–1 Puerto Rico Hector Matta UD 10 (10) 1974-09-02 Puerto Rico Roberto Clemente Coliseum, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 43–1 Philippines Flash Gallego TKO 7 (10), 2:35 1974-07-06 Panama Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 42–1 Puerto Rico Esteban De Jesús KO 11 (15) 1974-03-16 Panama Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama Retained WBA & The Ring Lightweight titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 41–1 Venezuela Armando Mendoza TKO 3 (10), 1:50 1974-02-16 Panama Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 40–1 France Leonard Tavarez TKO 4 (10) 1974-01-21 France Palais des Sports, Paris, Paris, France
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 39–1 Puerto Rico Tony Garcia KO 3 (10) 1973-12-01 Panama Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Santiago, Panama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 38–1 Japan Guts Ishimatsu TKO 10 (15), 2:10 1973-09-08 Panama Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama Retained WBA & The Ring Lightweight titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 37–1 United States Doc McClendon UD 10 (10) 1973-08-04 Puerto Rico Roberto Clemente Coliseum, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 36–1 Australia Hector Thompson TKO 8 (15), 2:15 1973-06-02 Panama Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama Retained WBA & The Ring Lightweight titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 35–1 Mexico Gerardo Ferrat TKO 2 (10), 2:45 1973-04-14 Panama Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 34–1 Mexico Javier Ayala UD 10 (10) 1973-03-17 United States Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 33–1 Mexico Juan Medina KO 7 (10), 1:22 1973-02-22 United States Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 32–1 United States Jimmy Robertson KO 5 (15) 1973-01-20 Panama Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama Retained WBA & The Ring Lightweight titles.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 31–1 Puerto Rico Esteban De Jesús UD 10 (10) 1972-11-17 United States Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States A non-title fight at Light Welterweight.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 31–0 Mexico Lupe Ramirez KO 1 (10), 3:03 1972-10-28 Panama Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 30–0 United States Greg Potter KO 1 (10), 1:58 1972-09-02 Panama Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 29–0 United Kingdom Ken Buchanan TKO 13 (15) 1972-06-26 United States Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States Won WBA & The Ring Lightweight titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 28–0 Mexico Francisco Munoz TKO 1 (10), 2:34 1972-03-10 Panama Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 27–0 Cuba Angel 'Robinson' Garcia UD 10 (10) 1972-01-15 Panama Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 26–0 Japan Hiroshi Kobayashi KO 7 (10), 0:30 1971-10-16 Panama Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 25–0 Puerto Rico Benny Huertas TKO 1 (10), 1:06 1971-09-13 United States Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 24–0 Mexico Fermin Soto TKO 3 (10) 1971-07-18 Mexico Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 23–0 United States Lloyd Marshall TKO 6 (10), 1:37 1971-05-29 Panama Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 22–0 Venezuela Jose Acosta KO 1 (10), 1:55 1971-03-21 Panama Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 21–0 Mexico Jose Angel Herrera KO 6 (10) 1971-01-10 Mexico Toreo de Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 20–0 Mexico Ignacio Castaneda TKO 3 (10) 1970-10-18 Panama Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 19–0 Costa Rica Marvin Castaneda KO 1 (10), 1:30 1970-09-05 Panama Gimnasio Municipal, Puerto Armuelles, Panama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 18–0 Mexico Clemente Mucino KO 6 (10), 2:18 1970-07-18 Panama Arena de Colon, Colón, Panama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 17–0 Panama Ernesto Marcel TKO 10 (10) 1970-05-16 Panama Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 16–0 Mexico Felipe Torres UD 10 (10) 1970-03-28 Mexico Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 15–0 Panama Luis Patino TKO 8 (10) 1969-11-23 Panama Gimnasio Neco de la Guardia, Panama City, Panama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 14–0 Panama Serafin Garcia TKO 5 (8) 1969-09-21 Panama Gimnasio Neco de la Guardia, Panama City, Panama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 13–0 Panama Adolfo Osses TKO 7 (8) 1969-06-22 Panama Gimnasio Neco de la Guardia, Panama City, Panama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 12–0 Panama Jacinto Garcia TKO 4 (8) 1969-05-18 Panama Gimnasio Neco de la Guardia, Panama City, Panama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 11–0 Panama Eduardo Frutos UD 6 (6) 1969-02-01 Panama Estadio Nacional, Panama City, Panama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 10–0 Panama Alberto Brand TKO 4 (6) 1969-01-19 Panama Gimnasio Neco de la Guardia, Panama City, Panama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 9–0 Panama Carlos Howard TKO 1 (6) 1968-12-07 Panama Gimnasio Neco de la Guardia, Panama City, Panama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 8–0 Panama Juan Gondola KO 2 (6) 1968-11-16 Panama Arena de Colon, Colón, Panama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 7–0 Panama Cesar De Leon KO 1 (6), 1:20 1968-09-22 Panama Gimnasio Neco de la Guardia, Panama City, Panama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 6–0 Panama Leroy Carghill KO 1 (6) 1968-08-25 Panama Gimnasio Neco de la Guardia, Panama City, Panama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 5–0 Enrique Jacobo KO 1 (6) 1968-08-10 Panama Panama City, Panama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 4–0 Eduardo Morales KO 1 (4), 3:00 1968-06-30 Panama Gimnasio Neco de la Guardia, Panama City, Panama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 3–0 Dominican Republic Manuel Jiménez KO 1 (4) 1968-06-15 Panama Arena de Colon, Colón, Panama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 2–0 Panama Juan Gondola KO 1 (4) 1968-05-14 Panama Colón, Panama
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 1–0 Panama Carlos Mendoza UD 4 (4) 1968-02-23 Panama Arena de Colon, Colón, Panama Professional Debut

Titles in boxing

Major World Titles:

Minor World Titles:

The Ring/Lineal Championship Titles:

See also

References

  1. Giudice, Christian (2006). Hands of Stone: The Life and Legend of Roberto Durán. Milo Books. ISBN 1-903854-55-5.
  2. Ring Magazine's 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years
  3. ESPN.com: BOXING - AP Fighters of the Century list
  4. Giudice, Christian. (2009) "Hands of Stone: The Life and Legend of Roberto Duran", pp. 14-15. Milo Books Ltd, Lancashire, United Kingdom. ISBN 978-1-903854-75-4
  5. Giudice, Christian. (2009) "Hands of Stone: The Life and Legend of Roberto Duran", p. 27. Milo Books Ltd, Lancashire, United Kingdom. ISBN 978-1-903854-75-4
  6. A Night of Cheers for Roberto Duran and others | TheSweetScience.com Boxing
  7. The Windsor Star - Google News Archive Search
  8. Goldstein, Richard. "Johnny LoBianco, 85, Referee In Controversial Duran Bout", The New York Times, July 21, 2001. Accessed October 1, 2009.
  9. Smith, Red. "And New Champion", The New York Times, June 28, 1972. Accessed October 1, 2009.
  10. Ken Buchanan loss relived in De Niro film - The Scotsman
  11. Fox Sports, "Beyond The Glory" episode on YouTube
  12. ESPN.com - ESPN 25 - 66: Duran says 'no mas' vs. Leonard in title fight
  13. Roberto Duran Speaks: The Untold Story Is Finally Revealed!, Bill Brubaker, New York Daily News, 1981
  14. He That Was Lost Has Been Found, Sports Illustrated, June 27, 1983
  15. Boxingfanatics.com
  16. 16.0 16.1 "Roberto Duran quits boxing at 50 after car crash". usatoday.com. Retrieved January 26, 2002.
  17. "Duran inducted into World Boxing Hall of Fame". espn.com. Retrieved October 15, 2006.
  18. Reseña Empresarial - La Prensa
  19. Gran Portal de la Aviación - Toda la Aviación de Latinoamérica en un sólo lugar
  20. Hands of Stone (2015) - IMDb
  21. Gael Garcia Bernal Has 'Hands of Stone'
  22. On-line hip-hop lyrics archive
  23. Roberto Durán's Professional Boxing Record – BoxRec.com

External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to: Roberto Durán
Achievements
Preceded by
Ken Buchanan
WBA Lightweight Champion
June 26, 1972 – January 1979
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Ernesto España
The Ring Lightweight Champion
June 26, 1972 – January 1979
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Jim Watt
Preceded by
Esteban De Jesús
WBC Lightweight Champion
January 21, 1978 – January 1979
Vacated
Preceded by
Sugar Ray Leonard
WBC Welterweight Champion
June 20, 1980 – November 25, 1980
Succeeded by
Sugar Ray Leonard
The Ring Welterweight Champion
June 20, 1980 – November 25, 1980
Preceded by
Davey Moore
WBA Light Middleweight Champion
June 16, 1983 – June 15, 1984
Stripped
Vacant
Title next held by
Mike McCallum
Preceded by
Iran Barkley
WBC Middleweight Champion
February 24, 1989 – 1990
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Julian Jackson
Titles in pretence
Vacant World Super Middleweight Champion
NBA Recognition

June 16, 2000 - July 14, 2001
Succeeded by
Hector Camacho
Awards
Preceded by
Bobby Chacon
The Ring Magazine Comeback of the Year
1983
Succeeded by
Marvin Johnson
Previous:
Tony Lopez W12 Rocky Lockridge
The Ring Magazine Fight of the Year
W12 Iran Barkley

1989
Next:
Julio César Chávez KO 12 Meldrick Taylor
Preceded by
Michael Dokes
The Ring Magazine Comeback of the Year
1989
Succeeded by
Tony Lopez