Panamanian great Roberto Duran was no stranger to a challenge, facing a number of legendary opponents during his decorated 33-year professional career.
Known more commonly as ‘Hands Of Stone’, Duran began making a name for himself during the 1970s where he eventually became the undisputed lightweight champion with a memorable win over Esteban De Jesus.
He produced arguably the best win of his career just two years later, defeating Sugar Ray Leonard by unanimous decision to capture the WBC world welterweight title at the Olympic Stadium in Montreal.
Duran eventually earned himself a spot amongst boxing’s ‘Four Kings’ alongside Leonard, Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns, playing his part in what was one of boxing’s most memorable era’s.
Having shared the ring with Leonard, Hagler and Hearns on at least one occasion each, Duran once revealed his smartest ever opponent in a round of ‘Best I Faced’ with The Ring Magazine.
“Sugar Ray Leonard: He was the fastest fighter I ever fought but in the first fight I saw everything that was coming at me.”
After his iconic win over Leonard in the summer of 1980, Duran was matched with the legendary American for the second time just six months later, although the outcome was very different this time around.
After seven thrilling rounds, Leonard sensationally forced ‘Hands Of Stone’ to quit in round eight of their rematch at the Superdome in New Orleans to get his revenge and reclaim his WBC welterweight title in dramatic fashion.
‘Sugar Ray’ walked away from their third and final bout eight years later, defeating Duran by unanimous decision to retain his WBC world super-middleweight title for the second time.
