Sugar Ray Leonard, Bob Arum reflect on Roberto Duran’s legendary career
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said it best when describing boxing legend Roberto Duran.
“He had a fierce determination, that’s one of the things that made him the great fighter that he was,” Arum said. “He just refused to quit, and he refused to lose, and he knew how to box, and he knew how to punch.”
All that was true, but there was that one time Duran did quit: his second fight against Sugar Ray Leonard in November 1980, the infamous “No Mas” (no more) fight.
Duran stunned the thousands of spectators at the Superdome in New Orleans and the millions watching in his native Panama, when Duran turned his back to Leonard toward the end of the eighth round and waved the hands that made him famous at the referee. “Manos de Piedra” (Hands of Stone) had waved the white flag, and his reputation was lost.
The most dumbfounded person in the stadium that night might have been Leonard.
“This was ‘Hands of Stone’ that was quitting,” Leonard said. “I couldn’t believe it.”
Leonard-Duran II will be in the spotlight again when the film “Hands of Stone,” the biopic of Duran’s legendary career, is released in theaters Friday. Actor Edgar Ramirez plays the role of Duran, and singer Usher portrays Leonard.
The film details Duran’s tough childhood growing up in poverty near the Panama Canal and how he learned to unleash the rage he had for his father’s abandonment and the U.S. military in the ring with the guidance of Hall of Fame trainer Ray Arcel.
What pushed Duran, now 65, to stardom was his confidence and flair, with his downfall being alcohol and late-night parties, mainly in Las Vegas.
“Roberto was extraordinary big in Las Vegas,” said Arum, who promoted many of Duran’s fights. “He was a big draw card. He had a big following.”
The film portrays the highs and lows of Duran, from his victory over Leonard in the first meeting to him insulting Leonard’s wife.
“With Duran, it was psychological warfare,” Leonard said. “He set a fire under my skin. He made me forget the talents I had. I tried to knock his (explicit) out. He got to me, but that didn’t happen again.”
Leonard defeated Duran for the second time during the “Uno Mas” trilogy fight in 1989 when the two welterweight greats opened The Mirage. Duran, a former four-division champion, fought in Las Vegas 14 times and started with a 6-0 record. But he then lost his next eight fights on the Strip.
The Panamanian struggled to win back his fans after the “No Mas” bout. Arum helped to revive Duran’s career.
“We handled and directed his comeback,” Arum said. “We did the fight with him and Pipino Cuevas in the Sports Arena in L.A., and that win led to the junior middleweight championship before a sold-out Madison Square Garden with him and Davey Moore, and he won the title and was greeted as a hero once again by the Panamanian people.”
Duran, who dominated the 1970s in the lightweight division, got new life from the Moore victory and joined the top-tier class of Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns and Leonard of the 1980s.
Duran got title shots against Hagler in 1983 and Hearns in 1984, with both fights at Caesars Palace and promoted by Arum. Duran lost both fights, but had his respect back. He finished with 103 wins, 16 losses and 70 knockouts in a career that spanned five decades, from 1968 to 2001.
Leonard, 60, was Duran’s fiercest opponent, but he was rooting for Duran’s comeback.
“Everyone turned their backs on this legend,” said Leonard, who remains a close friend of Duran. “I felt bad for him. It was very difficult coming back from that.”
Contact Gilbert Manzano at gmanzano@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0492. Follow on Twitter: @gmanzano24
