Roberto Duran

IBHoF Bio

Name: Roberto Duran
Alias: Manos de Piedra / El Cholo
Birth Name: Roberto Duran Samaniego
Hometown: Panama City, Panama
Birthplace: El Chorrillo, Panama
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 170cm
Reach: 168cm
Pro Boxer: Record

• Managers: Carlos Eleta, Luis Spada, Carlos Hibbard
• Trainers: Nestor "Plomo" Quinones, Ray Arcel, Pepe Correa
• Cut Man: Freddie Brown
• Roberto Duran Gallery

Career Overview

Roberto Duran vs. Sugar Ray Leonard on June 20, 1980

• At the age of 21, Duran stopped Ken Buchanan in thirteen rounds to win the WBA Lightweight Championship on June 26, 1972. Duran dropped Buchanan at the end of the thirteenth round with an apparent low blow. Duran was given a TKO victory when Buchanan was ruled unfit to continue. Duran was ahead 8-3-1 on two scorecards and 9-3 on the other.
• On November 17, 1972, Duran suffered his first defeat, losing to Esteban De Jesús by a ten-round unanimous decision in a non-title fight. Duran was dropped in the first round by a left hook.
• On April 21, 1973, the NYSAC suspended Duran's boxing license in NY and gave him 90 days to agree to "the fullfillment of a contract entered into on October 25, 1972, to defend the title against Ken Buchanan in Madison square Garden on or before June 30, 1973." NY Commissioner Edwin Dooley steted that Duran's manager Carlos Eleta had said he would meet with the commission on July 9th to discuss a Duran - Buchanan title fight and had failed to do so. On July 10, 1973 the NYSAC withdrew recognition of Roberto Duran as lightweight champion.
• Duran avenged his loss to De Jesús on March 16, 1974. Duran, who was dropped by a left hook in the first round, put De Jesús down for the count in the eleventh round to successfully defend the WBA title.
• On January 21, 1978, Duran fought Esteban De Jesús for the third time. Duran stopped De Jesús, the WBC Lightweight Champion, in twelve rounds to unify the WBA and WBC titles. This was Duran's last fight as a lightweight. He vacated the title and moved up to welterweight.
• On June 20, 1980, Duran defeated Sugar Ray Leonard by a fifteen-round unanimous decision to win the WBC Welterweight Championship. Duran won by one point on two scorecards and two points on the other.
• Duran had a rematch with Leonard on November 25, 1980. Leonard regained the title when Duran quit in the eighth round. Duran said he quit because of stomach cramps, but many believe he quit out of frustration over Leonard's slick boxing and taunting. The bout has become known as the "No Mas" fight.
• On January 30, 1982, Duran challenged Wilfred Benitez for the WBC Super Welterweight Championship and lost by a fifteen-round unanimous decision. In his next fight, Duran lost to Kirkland Laing by a ten-round split decision in The Ring Magazine's 1982 Upset of the Year.
• After stopping Pipino Cuevas in four rounds, Duran got another title shot. On June 16, 1983, his 32nd birthday, Duran stopped Davey Moore in eight rounds to win the WBA Junior Middleweight Championship.
• On November 10, 1983, Duran fought Marvelous Marvin Hagler for the Undisputed World Middleweight Championship. Duran was attempting to become the first fighter to win world titles in four weight classes. Hagler won by a fifteen-round unanimous decision, winning by one point on two scorecards and two points on the other.
• Duran was stripped of the WBA Junior Middleweight Championship for not fighting the #1 contender, Mike McCallum. Instead, Duran fought Thomas Hearns for the WBC Super Welterweight Championship on June 15, 1984, and was knocked out in two rounds.
• On February 24, 1989, Duran defeated Iran Barkley by a twelve-round split decision to win the WBC Middleweight Championship. Duran became the third fighter in history to win world titles in four weight classes. The Ring Magazine named the bout Fight of the Year for 1989.
• Duran fought Sugar Ray Leonard for the WBC Super Middleweight Championship on December 7, 1989. Duran opened cuts over both of Leonard's eyes late in the fight, but Leonard outboxed Duran to win by a lopsided twelve-round unanimous decision.
• On October 4, 2001, the 50-year-old Duran was injured after the car in which he was a passenger crashed on a highway in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His injuries included broken ribs and a collapsed lung. Duran announced his retirement in January 2002. "I can't return to fight anymore because this (recovering from the injuries) is going to take a lot more time," Duran said.

Professional Record

• 15 opponents (12 by KO) beaten in world championship bouts.
  • 1 opponent (0 by KO) in World Middleweight Title bouts.
  • 1 opponent (1 by KO) in World Super Welterweight Title bouts.
  • 1 opponent (0 by KO) in World Welterweight Title bouts.
  • 12 opponents (11 by KO) in World Lightweight Title bouts.
• Has a record of 16-5 (13 KOs) in World Title fights.
• Has a record of 13-12 (8 KOs) against former world titleists.
  • Won against Ernesto Marcel, Hiroshi Kobayashi, Ken Buchanan, Guts Ishimatsu, Esteban De Jesus (twice), Saoul Mamby, Carlos Palomino, Ray Leonard, Pipino Cuevas, Davey Moore, Iran Barkley, and Jorge Fernando Castro.
  • Lost against Esteban De Jesus, Ray Leonard (twice), Wilfred Benitez, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns, Vinny Pazienza (twice), Hector Camacho (twice), Jorge Fernando Castro, and William Joppy.

Awards & Recognition

• Duran received The Ring Magazine Comeback of the Year award for 1983 and 1989. He is the only fighter to win it twice.
• The Associated Press ranked Duran as the greatest lightweight and the 7th greatest fighter of the 20th century in 1999.
• The Ring Magazine ranked Duran as the greatest lightweight of all-time in 2001.
• The Ring Magazine ranked Duran as the 5th best fighter of the past 80 years in 2002.
• Duran was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2007.

External Links

• Official Web site
• 2016 bio-pic Hands of Stone
• "Summer Hurricane: The First Roar of Roberto Duran" by Mike Casey: [1]
• "A Panamanian Devil" by Kelly Nicholson: [2]

Preceded by: Ken Buchanan	WBA Lightweight Champion 1972 Jun 26 – 1979 Jan Vacated	Succeeded by: Ernesto Espana
Preceded by: Esteban De Jesus	WBC Lightweight Champion 1978 Jan 21 – 1979 Jan Vacated	Succeeded by: Jim Watt
Preceded by: Sugar Ray Leonard	WBC Welterweight Champion 1980 Jun 20 – 1980 Nov 25	Succeeded by: Sugar Ray Leonard
Preceded by: Davey Moore	WBA Light Middleweight Champion 1983 Jun 16 – 1984 Stripped	Succeeded by: Mike McCallum
Preceded by: Iran Barkley	WBC Middleweight Champion 1989 Feb 24 – 1990 Vacated	Succeeded by: Julian Jackson