Roberto Durán
Hands of stone, and the craft to land them.
- Born
- June 16, 1951, Guararé, Panama
- Nationality
Panama- Height
- 170 cm (5′7″)
- Reach
- 168 cm (5′6″)
- Stance
- Orthodox
- Style
- Technical pressure fighter
- Weight
- Lightweight, Welterweight, Light middleweight, Middleweight, Super middleweight
- Active
- 1968–2001
- Status
- Retired · age 75
The record
Professional; matches IBHOF record
The story
orn in Guararé, Panama, in 1951, Durán turned pro at 16 and was unbeaten when he stopped Ken Buchanan in 1972 to win the lightweight title. He defended it 12 times, 11 by knockout, and unified the division by stopping Esteban de Jesús in 1978. Moving up, he beat Sugar Ray Leonard over 15 furious rounds in Montreal in 1980, then walked away in the eighth round of their rematch, the infamous 'No Más' fight. He rebuilt his name with titles at light middleweight and, at 37, middleweight, becoming one of only two boxers to compete across five decades. A car accident in 2001 ended his career. The Associated Press named him the best lightweight of the 20th century.
Tap a technique with an arrow to learn how it works.
- Lightweight champion (1972–1979; undisputed from 1978; 12 defences)
- WBC welterweight champion (1980)
- WBA light middleweight champion (1983)
- WBC middleweight champion (1989)
- International Boxing Hall of Fame (2007)
- World Boxing Hall of Fame (2006)
- Named best lightweight of the 20th century by the Associated Press
Defining fights
- 1972WINvs Ken Buchanan (TKO 13, won lightweight title)
- 1978WINvs Esteban de Jesús (TKO 12, undisputed lightweight title)
- 1980WINvs Sugar Ray Leonard (UD 15, won WBC welterweight title)
- 1980LOSSvs Sugar Ray Leonard (TKO 8, 'No Más')
- 1989WINvs Iran Barkley (SD 12, won WBC middleweight title)
Steal his inside game: Durán used head movement and defence to get close, then did his damage at short range. Practise stepping in behind a slip and punching from the pocket instead of reaching from outside.
