When reflecting on his decorated professional career, Roberto Duran believes he should have had his hand raised after facing one legendary former rival in particular.
The storied career of the Panamanian great spanned across five decades, with many considering him one of the greatest fighters to have ever laced up a pair of boxing gloves.
Duran held world honours in four weight divisions which included a reign as the undisputed lightweight champion, a feat he accomplished back in 1978 when he defeated Esteban de Jesus at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
He later became one of the sport’s ‘Four Kings’ alongside legendary trio Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas ‘The Hitman’ Hearns.
Duran shared the ring with Hagler, Leonard and Hearns on at least one occasion each during his career in what was one of the greatest eras in boxing history.
In an interview with ProBox TV, Duran reflected on his 1983 showdown with Hagler as he says he still believes he had done enough to defeat the legendary American to become the undisputed middleweight champion.
“I still feel in my heart that I won the fight against Marvin Hagler. Nobody wanted to fight Marvin because he was knocking off everyone. And this journalist said to me, ‘Roberto, why would you want to fight Marvin? He’s going to knock you out.’ I said, ‘Why? I’m young, I’m strong, he’s not going to knock me out. That bald head won’t beat me.’ And I feel like I won.”
After a gruelling 15-round battle at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Hagler was declared the winner via unanimous decision in what was the maiden defence of his world middleweight championship.
Hagler would go on to make a further four defences of his crown before he was eventually beaten by Sugar Ray Leonard in the 67th and final bout of his professional career.
