Roberto Durán facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Roberto Durán |
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Durán before his 1994 fight with Vinny Pazienza
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| Real name | Roberto Carlos Durán Samaniego |
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| Height | 5 ft 7 in |
| Reach | 66 in |
| Born | June 16, 1951 Guararé, Panama |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 119 |
| Wins | 103 |
| Wins by KO | 70 |
| Losses | 16 |
Roberto Carlos Durán Samaniego (born June 16, 1951) is a former professional boxer from Panama who is known as one of the greatest fighters in history. He competed from 1968 to 2001 and won world championships in four different weight classes. Because of his powerful punches, he earned the nickname "Manos de Piedra" which is Spanish for "Hands of Stone."
Durán was a versatile fighter who could brawl and put constant pressure on his opponents. Many experts consider him the greatest Latino boxer of all time. In 2002, The Ring magazine named him the fifth-greatest fighter of the last 80 years. He is also famous for being the second boxer ever to fight across five different decades.
He officially retired in 2002 at age 50 after being injured in a car accident. Over his long career, Durán fought in 119 professional matches, winning 103 of them, with 70 of those wins by knockout.
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Early Life and Career
Roberto Durán was born in Guararé, Panama. He grew up in the poor neighborhood of El Chorrillo in Panama City. He started sparring with other boxers at a local gym when he was only eight years old.
After a short amateur career, Durán turned professional in 1968 at the age of 16. He quickly became known for his aggressive style and incredible punching power.
Professional Boxing Career
Becoming a Champion
Durán won his first 31 professional fights in a row. In June 1972, he got his first shot at a world title. He fought Ken Buchanan for the WBA Lightweight Championship at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Even though he was the underdog, Durán knocked Buchanan down just 15 seconds into the first round. He dominated the fight and won by a technical knockout in the 13th round to become a world champion.
Durán successfully defended his lightweight title 12 times. One of his biggest rivals during this time was Esteban de Jesús. After losing to De Jesús in a non-title fight, Durán came back to beat him twice, unifying the lightweight titles in their third match. Years later, when De Jesús was very sick, Durán visited him in the hospital, showing great compassion for his former rival.
Famous Fights at Welterweight
In 1979, Durán moved up to the welterweight division to challenge the undefeated champion, Sugar Ray Leonard. Their first fight, held in Montreal, Canada, on June 20, 1980, is famously known as "The Brawl in Montreal." Durán fought aggressively, forcing Leonard into a tough, close-quarters battle. After 15 intense rounds, Durán won by unanimous decision, handing Leonard his first-ever professional loss and capturing the WBC Welterweight title.
The "No Más" Rematch
A rematch was held just five months later in New Orleans. This time, Leonard changed his strategy. He used his speed and footwork to stay away from Durán, frustrating the powerful brawler.
In the eighth round, Durán suddenly stopped fighting. He turned to the referee and reportedly said "No más" (Spanish for "no more"). Leonard won the fight by technical knockout. This moment became one of the most talked-about events in boxing history. Durán later said he had to stop because of painful stomach cramps.
More World Titles
Durán didn't let the "No Más" fight define him. He moved up in weight again and, in 1983, he fought Davey Moore for the WBA Light Middleweight title. On his 32nd birthday, Durán put on a spectacular performance, winning the fight by technical knockout. It was his third world title in a third weight class.
Later that year, he challenged Marvelous Marvin Hagler for the undisputed middleweight championship. Durán fought bravely for 15 rounds but lost a very close decision. He was one of the few fighters to go the distance with the powerful Hagler.
In 1989, at the age of 37, Durán achieved one of his greatest victories. He defeated Iran Barkley to win the WBC Middleweight title. This made him a champion in four different weight classes, a huge accomplishment for a former lightweight. The fight was so exciting that The Ring magazine named it the "Fight of the Year."
Later Career and Retirement
Durán continued to fight into the 1990s and early 2000s. He had a third fight with Sugar Ray Leonard in 1989, which Leonard won. He also had memorable fights against other top boxers like Vinny Pazienza and Héctor Camacho.
In 1998, at age 47, he fought for a world title again but lost to the much younger champion, William Joppy. His final fight was a rematch against Héctor Camacho in 2001.
Later that year, Durán was in a serious car accident in Argentina. After recovering from his injuries, he announced his final retirement from boxing at the age of 50.
Life After Boxing
After retiring, Roberto Durán has remained a celebrated figure in Panama and around the world. In 2006, he was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame, and in 2007, he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
In 1993, his five world title belts were stolen from his home. Thankfully, the belts were recovered by the FBI and returned to him in 2003.
In March 2024, it was announced that Durán had a heart condition. He had surgery to have a pacemaker put in, and his family reported that the procedure was a success.
Durán has also appeared in movies, including a small part in Rocky II as one of Rocky's sparring partners. His life story was told in the 2016 movie Hands of Stone, starring Édgar Ramírez as Durán and Robert De Niro as his trainer, Ray Arcel.
See also
In Spanish: Roberto Durán para niños
- List of undisputed boxing champions
- List of boxing families
- List of boxing quadruple champions
- List of Panamanians
