Iron Fists: Roberto Duran

Duran Was Given The Moniker Manos de Piedra, Meaning "Hands of Stone"

Boxer Roberto Duran a Panamanian born in Guarare on the 16th  June1951. Roberto Duran held world titles at four different weights lightweight from 1972 through to 1979 won the, welterweight in 1980 won the junior middleweight title which he held from 1983  to 1984, won the middleweight title in1989. The Panamanian Roberto Duran was also the only boxer to have fought in five different decades. Duran finally retired in January 2002 having previously retired in 1998 following a really bad car crash in October 2001, aged 52 with a professional record of 120 fights winning a total of 104 with 69 KOs. Roberto Duran was given the moniker Manos de Piedra meaning "Hands of Stone." It is said  that as a youngster, he once knocked out a horse with just one punch. This legend contrasts with a famous personal side of  Roberto Duran who is also a well known animal lover. He once had Sports Illustrated take pictures of several animals living at a special zoo he built for himself which is situated in his mansion.

Roberto Duran "No Mas" Fight Against Sugar Ray Leonard in June 1980

Roberto Duran had his first professional fight when he was just 16 years old  in 1967. After an initial adjustment he won thirty boxing matches in a row, culminating in his first title bout in June 1972, by beating Ken Buchanan in New York for the WBA world lightweight title. Roberto Duran made twelve successful defences of his title before relinquishing  the belt in February of 1979. Roberto Duran then built up his weight for an attempt at the world welterweight title, he fought and beat Sugar Ray Leonard in June 1980 to win the title but in a re-match in November of that same year he horrifically quit in the eighth round. Duran felt that Sugar Ray Leonard wasn't fighting as a boxer should as Leonard mesmerised him with both speed of footwork and speed of hands which became known to boxing fans all over the world as the "No Mas" fight. "No Mas" is a phase coined by Duran. He took a while to recover from that fight, gaining more mass to contend for the WBC world junior middleweight title, losing in his first effort in a championship bout in that division on the 30th of January 1982, against Wilfredo Benitez. Roberto Duran lost by a 15 round unanimous decision.

 Roberto Duran Met With Marvin Hagler In Las Vegas November 1983

After being relegated to a 10 round walk out win over hard-hitting British fighter Jimmy Batten from London, England, at The Battle of The Champions in Miami. After that fight with Jimmy Batten, Roberto Duran signed a contract with promoter Bob Arum. This then marked the beginning of a comeback to winning ways, beating a former world welterweight champion Jose "Pipino" Cuevas , who in 2002 became an acclaimed member of the International Hall of Fame. Roberta Duran knocked out Pipino Cuevas in 4 rounds, earning his second crack at the junior middleweight title, this time against the WBA champion Davey Moore. Duran conquered his third title on his birthday, 16th June 1983, defeating champion Moore, when the fight was stopped in the 8th. Roberto Duran later tried to take the World middleweight title, he met Marvin Hagler in Las Vegas in November 1983, and he lost over fifteen rounds. In June 1984 he lost his junior middleweight title when the WBA did not approve of his fight with WBC world champion Thomas "Hitman" Hearns, taking away recognition of Roberto Duran as world champion the moment he stepped into the ring to box Tommy Hearns.

 In June 2000 Roberto Duran Won A Minor Super Middleweight Title

During his fight with Tommy Hearns, Roberto Duran lost by knockout in round two. Roberto Duran did not contend for another title fight until 1989, in which he won the WBC middleweight crown from Iran Barkley in February but lost it and a chance to win the super middleweight title in a third clash with Sugar Ray Leonard in December. Although seemingly in decline he tried to win further middleweight titles in 1994, 1995 and 1996 for the minor IBC title , and then in 1998 for the WBA title. After a defeat to William Joppy in three rounds in 1998 he announced his retirement in August 1998, but was back fighting in 1999. In June 2000 Roberto Duran won a minor super middleweight title from Pat Lawlor. He lost that title when he was beaten by Hector Camacho after splitting fights with Jorge Castro and losing a rematch to Camacho. Roberto Duran went to Argentina to promote a Salsa music CD of his that he had just released. While there, he was involved in a dramatic car crash that required life-saving surgery. After that, Roberto Duran announced his retirement from the  boxing ring.

Roberto Duran Has a Record 69 Knockouts

Roberto Duran's five world title belts, which he won in four different divisions, were stolen from his home in Panama in 1993, during a robbery that was allegedly staged by his brother in law, who, in turn, gave them to memorabilia seller Luis Gonzalez Baez, who  was put trial for trying to sell stolen goods. Gonzalez Baez allegedly sold the belts to undercover FBI agents. He alleges that Duran authorised the sale of the five belts to him during a time that Roberto Duran was facing financial difficulty. On September 23, 2003, a federal judge in Florida ordered the five belts to be returned to Roberto Duran. His 69 wins by knockout placing him in the exclusive group of boxers who have won 50 or more fights by knockout.  Duran moniker "Hands of Stone."

Iron Fists: Roberto Duran