Roberto Duran was one of boxing’s famous ‘Four Kings.’
The legendary quartet was made up of Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns, with each of them involved in epic clashes with one another throughout the 1980s.
Reflecting on those battles, Duran didn’t hesitate when, asked by the Ring Magazine, which of his opponents had the best chin.
“I hit Hagler with a lot of punches and he just kept coming. I didn’t find him as skillful as some of the opponents I faced but he was the toughest.”
As well as praising Hagler’s chin, ‘Hands of Stone’ also branded him the strongest he faced.
“It was an extremely close fight but he got me tired late. Even though I built myself up to middleweight, Hagler was much bigger and used his strength on the inside. After making weight, a fighter rehydrates and there was a big difference there. Still, even when I was tired, Hagler couldn’t get me down. There was no way I was going to get the decision but some fans and reporters thought I’d done enough. Hagler had big American fights pending with Leonard and Hearns so there was a lot of money at stake.”
Duran and Hagler fought at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas in November 1983, with Hagler claiming a unanimous decision victory after 15 rounds to retain his undisputed middleweight crown.
The respect between Duran and Hagler clearly goes both ways, as Hagler once named the Panamanian as the best fighter he fought throughout his career.
