Roberto Durán

Who Is Roberto Durán?

Roberto Durán is a legendary figure in the world of professional boxing, known for his extraordinary punching power and tenacity. Rising from a life of poverty, he achieved fame and success as a champion, winning world titles in four different weight classes. Despite experiencing a significant setback in his career following his infamous “no más” loss to Sugar Ray Leonard in 1980, Durán continued to be a prominent figure in the sport. He officially retired in 2002 and was inducted into both the World Boxing Hall of Fame and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006 and 2007, respectively.

Early Years

Roberto Durán Samaniego was born on June 16, 1951, in the impoverished neighborhood of El Chorrillo, Panama. His father, Margarito, an American of Mexican descent, was stationed in Panama with the U.S. Army at the time of his birth but left shortly thereafter. Durán grew up facing significant financial challenges, often hustling for money by shining shoes, selling newspapers, and performing on the streets. His journey into boxing began at the Neco de La Guardia Gym, where he honed his skills before turning professional at the young age of 16.

Professional Career

Durán’s rise in the boxing world was marked by a combination of speed, power, and relentless determination. He captured the WBA lightweight championship on June 26, 1972, with a 13-round TKO victory over Scotsman Ken Buchanan. Following a non-title light-welterweight loss to Esteban de Jesús later that year, Durán avenged this defeat decisively, ultimately racking up 41 consecutive wins.

During this era, Durán’s fierce tenacity and formidable punching power earned him the nickname “Manos de Piedra” (Hands of Stone). After adding the WBC lightweight title to his accolades, he moved up to the welterweight division in 1979, where he showcased his abilities by defeating former champion Carlos Palomino. The peak of his career occurred on June 20, 1980, during the “Brawl in Montreal,” where he outmatched the undefeated Leonard over 15 rounds to claim the WBC welterweight championship.

However, their rematch on November 25, 1980, took an unexpected turn when Durán seemingly quit in the eighth round, leading to Leonard regaining his title. The phrase “no más” (no more) has since been attributed to Durán during this moment, though he insists he never uttered those words.

Durán continued to fight, moving up to light middleweight and claiming the WBA title on his 32nd birthday, June 16, 1983, with a victory over Davey Moore. He later challenged middleweight champion Marvin Hagler, enduring a full 15 rounds before suffering defeat. However, a second-round knockout loss to Thomas “Hitman” Hearns marked a difficult period in his career.

Despite this, Durán experienced a resurgence later in the decade, winning the WBC middleweight title on February 24, 1989, after a grueling fight against Iran Barkley. He faced Leonard once more that same year for the WBC super-middleweight title but lost. Durán remained a competitive fighter for several years, culminating in a victory at the age of 49 against Pat Lawlor for the super middleweight title from a fringe organization. He ultimately lost the title to Héctor Camacho on July 14, 2001, in what would be his final match. After suffering injuries in a car accident later that year, Durán announced his retirement in January 2002, concluding his illustrious career with a record of 103 wins, 16 losses, and 70 knockouts. Recognized as one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters of all time, he is among the few boxers to have won sanctioned championships across four weight classes and to have competed professionally for five decades.

Out of the Ring

In his personal life, Durán had a poignant reunion with his father in 1976, forming a strong relationship thereafter. Following his retirement from boxing, Durán became active as a boxing promoter and continued to influence the sport.

Film Adaptation

The story of Roberto Durán’s life was captured in the film Hands of Stone, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2016. The movie features Édgar Ramírez portraying Durán, with Robert De Niro as his trainer, Ray Arcel, and Usher as Sugar Ray Leonard, highlighting the significant moments and challenges of Durán’s remarkable career.