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Was Duran On Steroids?
In February of 1968, the 16-year old Roberto Duran began his career 1 ¼ pounds (a four-round unanimous decision win over Carlos Mendoza) over the bantamweight limit of 118; finally retiring in January of 2002. Duran fought last, at the age of 50, (at a weight of 162) in July of 2001; losing to Hector Camacho via unanimous decision. In 33 years and five months, Duran made stops in ten weight classes (to be technical, including non-contention, stay-busy fights): 122, 126, 130, 135, 140, 147, 154, 160, 168 and 175 (this was for one fight in March, 1999, a ten-round unanimous decision loss to Omar Gonzalez. Gonzalez weighed in at 171).
Duran may have made stops in ten weight classes (covering title contention, title bouts and non-title bouts) but “Hands of Stone” won significant titles in four of them. In June of 1972, Duran beat Ken Buchanan by 13th round TKO to win the WBA lightweight title; simultaneously winning THE RING’s distinction as World Champion. Over 5½ years and 12 defenses later, in January of 1978, Duran unified the division by defeating Esteban DeJesus via 12th round TKO in their third fight. Duran held the championship for one more year, albeit not defending it, before vacating in order to compete north of 135.
Duran’s next title reign was short but, nonetheless, prolific. On June 20, 1980, Duran beat Sugar Ray Leonard via 15-round unanimous decision for Leonard’s WBC welterweight title. Five months later, on the receiving end of a would-be losing decision, Duran capitulated in the eighth and Leonard regained his strap. Truth be told, Duran couldn’t deal with Leonard’s slick approach so soon after their first match...if five months could really be considered “so soon.” Duran was well-known for his weight gain between fights and Leonard capitalized on the Panamanian’s lack of discipline.
On June 16, 1983, on Duran’s 32nd birthday, he came back to beat a 24-year old Davey Moore via eighth round stoppage for the WBA super welterweight title. One year later, Duran was stripped of the belt when he opted to face Thomas Hearns for “The Hitman’s” WBC 154-pound belt. Duran was brutally knocked out in two.
In February of 1989, Duran beat Iran Barkley via split decision for “The Blade’s” WBC middleweight title. The fight was also awarded THE RING’s “Fight of the Year” award for the same year. This would be Duran’s final significant title win, despite subsequent attempts at sanctioning body distinctions (a wide unanimous decision loss to Leonard for the WBC super middleweight title in December of 1989 and an August 1998 third round TKO loss to William Joppy for the WBA middleweight title). The second fight against Leonard would be the only occasion when Duran lost a belt between the ropes.
POWER AND KNOCKOUT PERCENTAGES WITH EACH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AND TITLE WIN (records and knockout ratios relation to wins, not total fights, at the time of each title win)
WBA lightweight/THE RING World Lightweight Championship, 29-0 (25)/86%, WBC lightweight, 63-1 (52)/83%, WBC welterweight, 72-1 (56)/78%, WBA super welterweight, 77-4 (58)/75%, WBC middleweight, 85-7 (61)/72%
Over 16 years and eight months (from his first to last title wins) and five title wins in four weight classes, Duran’s KO ratio, in relation to his win column, dropped 14%.
Or was he simply a unique human specimen like Manny Pacquiao?
data culled from secondsout.com
In February of 1968, the 16-year old Roberto Duran began his career 1 ¼ pounds (a four-round unanimous decision win over Carlos Mendoza) over the bantamweight limit of 118; finally retiring in January of 2002. Duran fought last, at the age of 50, (at a weight of 162) in July of 2001; losing to Hector Camacho via unanimous decision. In 33 years and five months, Duran made stops in ten weight classes (to be technical, including non-contention, stay-busy fights): 122, 126, 130, 135, 140, 147, 154, 160, 168 and 175 (this was for one fight in March, 1999, a ten-round unanimous decision loss to Omar Gonzalez. Gonzalez weighed in at 171).
Duran may have made stops in ten weight classes (covering title contention, title bouts and non-title bouts) but “Hands of Stone” won significant titles in four of them. In June of 1972, Duran beat Ken Buchanan by 13th round TKO to win the WBA lightweight title; simultaneously winning THE RING’s distinction as World Champion. Over 5½ years and 12 defenses later, in January of 1978, Duran unified the division by defeating Esteban DeJesus via 12th round TKO in their third fight. Duran held the championship for one more year, albeit not defending it, before vacating in order to compete north of 135.
Duran’s next title reign was short but, nonetheless, prolific. On June 20, 1980, Duran beat Sugar Ray Leonard via 15-round unanimous decision for Leonard’s WBC welterweight title. Five months later, on the receiving end of a would-be losing decision, Duran capitulated in the eighth and Leonard regained his strap. Truth be told, Duran couldn’t deal with Leonard’s slick approach so soon after their first match...if five months could really be considered “so soon.” Duran was well-known for his weight gain between fights and Leonard capitalized on the Panamanian’s lack of discipline.
On June 16, 1983, on Duran’s 32nd birthday, he came back to beat a 24-year old Davey Moore via eighth round stoppage for the WBA super welterweight title. One year later, Duran was stripped of the belt when he opted to face Thomas Hearns for “The Hitman’s” WBC 154-pound belt. Duran was brutally knocked out in two.
In February of 1989, Duran beat Iran Barkley via split decision for “The Blade’s” WBC middleweight title. The fight was also awarded THE RING’s “Fight of the Year” award for the same year. This would be Duran’s final significant title win, despite subsequent attempts at sanctioning body distinctions (a wide unanimous decision loss to Leonard for the WBC super middleweight title in December of 1989 and an August 1998 third round TKO loss to William Joppy for the WBA middleweight title). The second fight against Leonard would be the only occasion when Duran lost a belt between the ropes.
POWER AND KNOCKOUT PERCENTAGES WITH EACH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AND TITLE WIN (records and knockout ratios relation to wins, not total fights, at the time of each title win)
WBA lightweight/THE RING World Lightweight Championship, 29-0 (25)/86%, WBC lightweight, 63-1 (52)/83%, WBC welterweight, 72-1 (56)/78%, WBA super welterweight, 77-4 (58)/75%, WBC middleweight, 85-7 (61)/72%
Over 16 years and eight months (from his first to last title wins) and five title wins in four weight classes, Duran’s KO ratio, in relation to his win column, dropped 14%.
Or was he simply a unique human specimen like Manny Pacquiao?
data culled from secondsout.com
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