Roberto Duran was born on June 16, 1951 in Guarare, Panama. He was raised in the slums of Panama City, and began a boxing career in February of 1965. His record as an amateur was 29-3, with all three of his losses coming in his first three bouts.
He made his professional debut at age 16 in February of 1968, and won his first 31 fights. His first title shot came on June 26, 1972 vs. Ken Buchanan at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The bout came to and end in the 13th round, when Duran hit Buchanan low, and should have been disqualified. Instead, he was awarded a TKO victory, and left with Buchanan’s WBA lightweight title.
Duran fought two non-title bouts after that controversial stoppage, and then lost to Esteban De Jesus. Roberto avenged that loss in 1974, when he knocked De Jesus out in the 11th round. His last defense of his lightweight title came in 1978, since he was having increasing difficulty in making the 135 lb. weight limit. He defeated De Jesus in his last lightweight bout by knockout to take his WBC title as well.
Roberto gave up his lightweight titles in February of 1979, and moved up two weight classes to the welterweight division. The ‘Hands of Stone’ was only 28 years old, had lots left in his tank, and more titles to win.
Duran scored victories over Carlos Palomino, Zeferino Gonzales, and other welterweights to earn a shot at WBC champion Sugar Ray Leonard. Their historic battle on June 20, 1980 in Montreal, Canada, would usher in the next phase of Roberto’s career, and make him a huge part of the boxing landscape for the new decade of the 1980’s.
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