Duran, Roberto
Boxing
b. June 16, 1951, Guarare, Panama
Known as "Manos de Piedra," Spanish for "Hands of Stone," Duran learned to fight on the streets as a youngster and he was a street fighter in the ring, unshaven and glaring, pounding opponents with non-stop punches. "I am not an animal outside the ring," he has said, "but when I am fighting, there is much animal in me."
He won his first 28 professional fights, 23 by knockout, before facing Ken Buchanan of Scotland for the world lightweight title on June 26, 1972, in Madison Square Garden. When the 13th round ended, Buchanan dropped, claiming he'd been hit by a low blow. But Duran was awarded the victory and the championship.
Duran held the title until February 1, 1979, when he resigned to fight as a welterweight. He won that championship on June 20, 1980, with a 15-round decision over Sugar Ray Leonard in Montreal.
His reputation lost much of its luster in the rematch with Leonard on November 28, 1980. Stung by Leonard's taunts and frustrated by his inability to land many punches on his speedier opponent, Duran suddenly dropped his hands in the 8th round and said, "No mas"--"No more" in Spanish--though he was apparently not hurt.
In 1982, Duran began fighting as a light middleweight. He won the World Boxing Association version of that championship by knocking out Davey Moore in the 8th round on June 16, 1983, in New York City.
After that, Duran's career was stop-and-go. He retired and came out of retirement several times, eventually moving up to the super middleweight class.
