Panamanian professional boxer Roberto Duran: biography, achievements

The age of the athlete is fast enough, and the career of a boxer is no exception. Many of the representatives of this sport have left no bright impressions in history. But there are people whose fate turned out to be such that even after the end of their performances in the ring they are still being talked about. And one of these athletes is a famous man named Roberto Durand.

Panama is my native land!

Roberto Durand He saw this world on June 16, 1951 in one of the poorest areas of the Panamanian Republic. In the family of his parents he was the second child of nine. The father of the future boxing star by nationality was a Mexican, and his mother was a Panamanian citizen. The poverty in which little Roberto grew, left him no chance in choosing a profession. Since childhood, he had to be a shoe cleaner, and fisherman, and steal coconuts on the plantations of millionaire Carlos Elete.

Beginning of boxing

At the age of 14, Roberto Durand leaves school and begins boxing with his older brother. Persistence, which the young man showed in the boxing hall, impressed even the former winner of the championship of Panama - Sammy Medina. In the amateur ring, the young Panamanian had only 16 fights, of which he was victorious at thirteen.

The beginning of a professional career

The boxing talent that Durant possessed allowed him, as they say, "turn around" in the profiling. His heavy blows proved to be more effective in professional boxing than in amateur boxing. His first opponent was Carlos Mendoza, who eventually became the only of the first ten boxers to confront the young talent. Mendoza was able to stand up to the final bell and not fall under the hail of blows. It is noteworthy that his first fights phenomenal Panamanian held in the arena Nuevo Panama Coliseum, which eventually will bear a different name - Roberto Duran Coliseum.

Grandiose Starfights

The second professional fight for the "killer from Panama" was a fight with a rather sophisticated boxer named Benny Huertas. For Durant, this battle was the first in the US, held at the famous "Madison Square Garden" in New York. The ending of the fight was a knockout of the Panamanian opponent, which happened in one minute and six seconds of the first round.

October 16, 1971 Roberto Durand Met with ex-world champion in lightweight Japanese Hiroshi Kobiyashi. The representative of the Land of the Rising Sun was a very quick and clever boxer with a good school, but he also had the disadvantage of not having a knockout blow. If you draw a parallel, it's a prototype of Timothy Bradley. It can not be said that this fight was the beating of the baby by Duran, but still the knockout of the Japanese turned out to be a matter of time. After a series of four blows to the head, Hiroshi was on the canvas of the ring and was no longer able to continue the fight. By the way, this fight was the last in his career and only 26th for Roberto.

June 26, 1972 Panamanian boxer Became a crowned fighter. He managed to become the WBA world champion, having taken the title from Ken Buchanan. Already in the first round, Durant knocked down the current champion at that time. Bewkanen was able to rise, however, as it turned out, in vain. Panaman just killed Ken. In the last seconds of the thirteenth round, Bewkanen was knocked out after a strike, which still causes controversy. He fell into the belt of cowards. But the referee did not notice the violation and raised his hand to Duran. So the era of the new champion began.

After this battle, the Panamanian professional boxer held several non-title fights, which in our time the current champions already, unfortunately, do not. In total Roberto fought in 20 such fights.

"I'm not God, but I'm something of the sort"

It is this phrase that belongs to Durant, who has always been self-confident and assertive. And once it played a cruel joke with him. His rival, Esteban De Jesus, was able to outbox Roberto and even knock him down. But fate was destined for the defeat of Esteban in the rematch, and by knockout. In the eleventh round, the Puerto Rican could not stand a series of punches from the Panamanian.

Champions in boxing quite often hold unification battles. And so after a while, after several more fights, Duran again faces face to face in the ring with De Jesus in the third fight. The Puerto Rican by that time also became a champion, but according to another version, and went to battle with the goal to take the belt from Durant. In the 12th round the Panaman was able to finish the fight ahead of schedule. And it should be noted that to this battle, Roberto approached in optimal physical form and worked hard on his defense and balance. Specialists noted his mobility on his legs and maneuverability. This fight was the last in lightweight for Durant.

"Golden" fight

June 20, 1980. Montreal. Fight Duran against Leonard. Very heavy, viscous, fairly dense and dramatic duel. In a word - slaughter for every millimeter of the ring. Duran won, but it can not be said that Leonard was worse. The only thing that spoiled the impression of boxing two great athletes - this is a slap in the face, which Durant gave to Leonard after the fight instead of handshake.

But after five months, Sugar Ray took a more than convincing revenge, forcing the Panamanian to say the phrase that went down in history: "No Mas". This disgraceful defeat of Durant was not forgiven by either the fans or the coach.

However, Roberto Durand, whose fights still enjoyed a frenzied popularity, after a while could again enter the cohort of the best. He held a series of brilliant fights and again managed to win the championship title.

June 16, 1983 champions in boxing (only one former, and the other - acting) converge in the square of the ring. Duran vs. Davy Moore. Athletic American at bookmakers was considered the favorite, but, as the result of the fight showed, in vain. He lost, and ahead of time.

After that, Duran had a duel with the magnificent Hagler, but lost in a close battle on points. This remarkable victory of Marvin did not allow Duran to become the best fighter in the fourth for Panamanian weight class.

This defeat gave impetus to Durant, and he conducts a series of several fights in which victories alternated with defeats. But in the end at the age of 47 he again manages to win the title and try on the belt of the world champion.