In his dark-eyed, snarling prime, Roberto Duran really was as frightening as he was superbly skilled. Duran – who had a facial resemblance to notorious murderer and cult leader Charles Manson in the opinion of Sugar Ray Leonard, those dark eyes in particular forcing Leonard to conjure up images of the man who all but killed the 1960s hippy dream – deserves to rank as THE greatest lightweight ever.
For some fans, historians, and fellow fighters, it ranks as one of the greatest fights in the sport’s history. For many, the Roberto Duran vs.
Over a decade, the ‘Four Kings’ thrilled the world. The various styles, characters, and personalities of the four greats – Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, Marvin Hagler, and Roberto Duran – served up one of the hottest, most followed, in fact, unmissable rivalries ever seen in boxing.
Living legend and absolute all-time great Roberto Duran is reportedly in hospital right now, the 72 year old receiving care for a heart condition.
Muhammad Ali aside, Roberto Duran was the boxing king of the 1970s (indeed, it would be an interesting debate – who was the fighter of that so utterly talent-rich decade, “The Greatest” or “Hands of Stone?”)
Former welterweight champion Carlos Palomino met numerous great fighters during his fine career, with the Mexican warrior defeating plenty of good men.
As fight fans know all too well, the great, the beloved Marvelous Marvin Hagler passed away in 2021, at the far too young age of just 66.
On this day back in 1984, two all-time greats climbed into the ring at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Less than six minutes later, the fight, such as it was, a display of utter destruction a more apt description, was over.
Two former world champions, one from Panama, the other from Mexico, both seemingly past their best but still having fire in the belly.
Roberto Duran’s most celebrated rivalry is arguably the one he had with Sugar Ray Leonard. The first fight Duran had with Leonard is ranked by all as an absolute classic (it’s Mike Tyson’s favorite fight), while fight two is famous, or infamous, due to what Duran did in the eighth round, as well as for the two words, he (allegedly) said – these being “No Mas.”