Roberto Duran...HOF ?

Without a doubt Roberto 'Hands of Stone' Duran should be in HOF! Once this guy hit you you were going to sleep! He's a 'REAL OLD SCHOOL WARRIOR'! Put it this way most people wouldn't wanna trade stamps with the man let alone trade punches with him! Duran was also s very smart boxer who also had a very good defence with constant head and body movement. This guy generated so much patriotic pride in Panama that when he fell behind with his taxes the Panamanian Government wiped them completely! This goes to show you how highly he is regarded! Sugar Ray Leonard even admitted that he never knew Duran was so quick or that he punched so hard! 120 fights, 104 wins with 69 KOs really says it all. Tell me one 'other new school' fighter has had over 100 fights??? Even 50?? You start calling yourself a 'REAL FIGHTER' once you've had 50+ fights, not 30 with two plastic belts either!!! In 2002, he was chosen by The Ring Magazine to be the 5th greatest fighter of the last 80 years. He held world titles at four different weights! What more could the guy have on his CV in order to make a statement! To sum up Roberto Duran, the guy's a "PURE ANIMAL"! One of the GREATEST!!!!

Had you read at least one key post on this thread before posting yourself, you would have known that your prediction had already come to pass last June. ;) thanx brother, for filling me in.

Roberto "Hands of Stone" Duran will be a first round ballot into The International Boxing Hall Of Fame.Had you read at least one key post on this thread before posting yourself, you would have known that your prediction had already come to pass last June. ;)

One of the all time greats. IMO.

Roberto "Hands of Stone" Duran will be a first round ballot into The International Boxing Hall Of Fame.

i know the rules, i'm saying some of the article made it sound like it was an essay stating the case for duran being a hofer, and trying to push for him to be inducted. that's something you do for guys like gatti, who don't necessarily deserve it but you may want him to get in. it was obvious that duran would get in as soon as he was eligible.I see. Well, maybe the thread-starter was so blown-away by Durán's resumé, he wanted to share his enthusiasm...

Here is (was) the point: -> At the time of the thread-starter's post (11-17-06), Duran had yet to be inducted into the INTERNATIONAL Boxing Hall of Fame (although he was already enshrined into the World BHOF). A mere three weeks after the initial post (12-7-06), the IBHOF announced the 2007 class of inductees - Roberto Durán, Ricardo Lopez and Pernell Whitaker. The three fighters were officially inducted into the IBHOF on 6-7-07. In most sports (incl. boxing), a prospective inductee must be retired for 5 years before being eligible for the Hall of Fame. In Duran's case, he retired in 2001 and didn't qualify until 2006. Get it? i know the rules, i'm saying some of the article made it sound like it was an essay stating the case for duran being a hofer, and trying to push for him to be inducted. that's something you do for guys like gatti, who don't necessarily deserve it but you may want him to get in. it was obvious that duran would get in as soon as he was eligible.

Clarification: Duran is one of the 5 very best fighters p4p in the history of boxing.Typo corrected.

Duran is of of the 5 very best fighter p4p in the history of boxing.

what was the point of this? duran being a HOFer was a given and he made it on first ballot.Here is (was) the point: -> At the time of the thread-starter's post (11-17-06), Duran had yet to be inducted into the INTERNATIONAL Boxing Hall of Fame (although he was already enshrined into the World BHOF). A mere three weeks after the initial post (12-7-06), the IBHOF announced the 2007 class of inductees - Roberto Durán, Ricardo Lopez and Pernell Whitaker. The three fighters were officially inducted into the IBHOF on 6-7-07. In most sports (incl. boxing), a prospective inductee must be retired for 5 years before being eligible for the Hall of Fame. In Duran's case, he retired in 2001 and didn't qualify until 2006. Get it?

what was the point of this? duran being a HOFer was a given and he made it on first ballot.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Dominance Of Roberto Duran And Why He Should Be In The I.B.H.O.F. Roberto Duran is already enshrined in the World Boxing Hall Of Fame. He is on the ballot for induction into the International Boxing Hall Of Fame in 2007. In reviewing his record I was absolutely amazed at what he had accomplished. This is a man who turned pro in 1968 and had his last fight in 2001 ! He competed in five decades. There is more to the Duran story, much more. His first major win was in 1970 when he stopped future featherweight champion Ernesto Marcel. Interesting note, Marcel's last fight was in 1974 when he outpointed the great Alexis Arguello in defense of his featherweight title. Duran impressed the boxing world on September 13, 1971 when he destroyed Benny Huertas in one round. Later that year he knocked out former junior lightweight champion, Hiroshi Kobayashi. On June 26, 1972, the undefeated Duran halted the formidable Ken Buchanan to win the world's lightweight title. The reign of terror had begun. Duran's last title defense was in 1978. During that stretch Roberto only lost one fight, a non title decision to the superb Esteban DeJesus. He would later stop Esteban twice in subsequent title fight rematches. In all Roberto made twelve successful defenses of his title. An often overlooked fact though is that during his tenure as lightweight champion, he also had 22 non title bouts. I guess Duran's handler's, the legendary pair of Ray Arcel and Freddie Brown felt the best way to keep Roberto in shape was to keep him busy. Some of those non title affairs were against stiff competition. Future junior welterweight titleholder Saoul Mamby, Edwin Viruet who later challenge Roberto for the crown. Hector Matta, Doc McClendon, Javier Ayala...These men were no walk in the park opposition. After Roberto abdicated his lightweight title in 1978 he would box for 23 years in higher weight classes. He would win titles at welterweight, junior middleweight and middleweight. He completely skipped over the junior welterweight division. From 1978 until his last bout in 2001 he met twelve world champions. Although his combined record against these champions was 6-11 you must understand he was fighting well above his natural weight. In all Roberto had 119 fights. He won 103 of them, 70 by knockout. Now that's impressive. Does he belong in the Hall Of Fame ? Now that's a no brainer.Yours is one of the more compelling arguments ever made on the merits of the panamanian's HOF credentials. Even so, you are - in essence - preachin' to the converted, as Duran's staunchest detractors unanimously agree that he belongs in boxing's enshrinement. Worth adding to the sentence I highlighted in your post with bold red print is the fact that eleven of those twelve succesful defenses were by KO! - the main reason his tenure as champion in that division was often referred to as a "reign of terror."

Roberto Duran was a pure fighting animal... no doubt HoF... one of the greatest if not the greatest, in my personal opinion... :boxing:

Roberto "Duran, Duran" Duran ftw.

Just because he fought on waaaaaaay past his prime should not negate the skills that he showed in his youth. Hall of Fame material all the way!!!!!!!!!!...............Rockin':boxing: Even then he had a lot left. He was 38 when he beat Iran Barkley, who was considered a big strong middleweight. Barkley called him a LEGEND.

It is not taking much to get into the IBHOF these days sadly. They are running out of cats to induct. That doesn't reflect on Duran. He fought from 1968 all the way up till 2001. First man to beat SRL. Lightweight Champion, Welterweight Champion, Jr. Middleweight Champion, Middleweight Champion. Went 15 rounds against Marvin Hagler. When he fought Leonard he was 72-1. Career record 103-16- 70 KO's. Total fights 119. If that ain't HOF, then nothing is.

He is very worthy of being in the WBHF and the IBHF.....What a great career he had.

It is not taking much to get into the IBHOF these days sadly. They are running out of cats to induct.

duran - moore was one of the greatest boxing masterpieces i have ever witnessed. Moore wasnt exactly a challenge tho. The young inexperienced champion was just a snack for Duran, who was on form that night. Anyway, fuck the hall of fame. We all know who is great and who aint.