Panamanian boxing legend Roberto Duran will visit South Korea later this month to meet with local boxing executives, officials in the country confirmed on Friday.
According to Korea Boxing Commission (KBC) officials, Duran will visit the country with Panamanian boxer-turned-congressman Hector Carrasquilla. The two will attend an event in Seoul on Monday that commemorates South Korean boxing icon Hong Soo-hwan's memorable victory against Carrasquilla 40 years ago.
Hong and Carrasquilla delivered a memorable bout in Panama City on Nov. 26, 1977. Hong, who is now head of the KBC, was floored four times in the second round of the World Boxing Association (WBA) super bantamweight title bout against Carrasquilla, but he got right back up each time. Just when the situation looked grim, Hong knocked out Carrasquilla with a left hook 50 seconds into the third round and claimed the world title.
Carrasquilla reunited with Hong in South Korea last year, but this will be Duran's first trip to the country.
Duran, 66, was the top boxer in four different weight classes. He fought for nearly five decades before hanging up his gloves in January 2002.
With the nickname "hands of stone" for his powerful punch, Duran was also a member of the so-called "Fabulous Four" in the 1980s that includes Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns and Marvin Hagler. Duran ended his pro boxing career with a record of 103 wins and 16 losses.
IN OTHER NEWS: In one of the principal press rooms of the Senate, Senator Marco Antonio Blásquez Salinas, President of the Special Commission for the Prevention of Attacks on the Media, announced the names of the winning journalists, for the third edition of "Sports Glory Award.”
This is a special annual recognition for outstanding chroniclers who`ve impressed and inspired readers, viewers and radio audiences with their stories, commentaries, articles and of course via invaluable teachings as well as examples for the next generations.
The prestigious "Dr. Jose Sulaiman Chagnon" Award has been won by beloved chronicler and historian Victor Cota Leon, an expert of our sport, who`s revered, respected and admired.
On behalf of the President of the WBC, Mauricio Sulaiman, his sister Lucy thanked the Senator for bravely and steadfastly defending the profession of journalism and recognizing excellence through this award. She also said that the Sulaiman family is deeply honoured that this magnificent award is named after his father.
"My dad was a man who transformed boxing into family, and I think that's his greatest legacy. I have no words to describe what this prize represents for us, except that it`s such a tremendous honor."
