Nice — here’s a compact, sourced profile of Roberto “Hands of Stone” Durán:

Quick facts

• Full name: Roberto Carlos Durán Samaniego — born June 16, 1951 (Panama). (Encyclopedia Britannica, Wikipedia)

• Pro career: 1968–2001. (Wikipedia, BoxRec)

• Career record: ~103–16 (≈70 KOs) — one of boxing’s most prolific punchers. (BoxRec, Medium)

Why he’s legendary

• Durán won world titles in four weight classes (notably lightweight, welterweight, junior-middle and middleweight), earning him elite status among multi-division champions. (Encyclopedia Britannica, ibhof.com)

• Nicknamed “Manos de Piedra” / “Hands of Stone”, he was famed for ferocious punching power, pressure fighting, iron chin and ringcraft. (Encyclopedia Britannica)

Signature moments

• Beating Sugar Ray Leonard (June 20, 1980) — Durán out-boxed Leonard in Montreal to take the WBC welterweight title, a huge upset at the time. (Diario AS, Wikipedia)

• The rematch — “No Más” (Nov 25, 1980) — Durán unexpectedly quit in round 8, saying “No más,” creating one of boxing’s most notorious and debated events. (Wikipedia)

• Huge wins over top contemporaries (e.g., Ken Buchanan for the lightweight title) and memorable bouts across decades; he fought in 22 world-title contests. (ibhof.com, World Boxing Association)

Later life & cultural impact

• Durán remained a public figure after retirement; his life was dramatized in the film Hands of Stone (2016), and he’s widely regarded as one of the greatest Latin American boxers ever. (TIME, ibhof.com)

• Inducted into boxing halls of fame and routinely listed among the sport’s all-time greats. (ibhof.com, Medium)

If you want, I can:

• Break down his top 10 fights with round-by-round notes.

• Explain the No Más theories (fatigue, stomach cramps, psychological factors).

• Pull up video highlights or a full timeline (dates, locations, judges’ scorecards). Which sounds best?

Of course. Roberto Durán is not just a boxer; he is a legend, a force of nature, and one of the most complex and fascinating characters in sports history.

Here is a breakdown of the man known as **"Manos de Piedra"** (Hands of Stone).

### **Who is Roberto Durán?**

Roberto Durán Samaniego is a Panamanian former professional boxer who competed from 1968 to 2001. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time, holding world championships in four weight classes:

* Lightweight

* Welterweight

* Light Middleweight

* Middleweight

His career spanned five decades, an almost unimaginable feat of longevity and durability.

### **The Fighting Style: "Manos de Piedra"**

Durán was the embodiment of a vicious, pressure-fighting *swarmer*.

* **Aggression:** He was constantly moving forward, cutting off the ring, and overwhelming his opponents with sheer will and volume punching.

* **Body Punching:** He was a master of breaking an opponent down with brutal shots to the ribs and liver. His body attack is considered among the best in history.

* **Power in Both Hands:** Despite his nickname focusing on his hands, his power was concussive and could end a fight with either fist.

* **Exceptional Defense:** Often overlooked was his brilliant upper-body movement and bobbing-and-weaving, which made him incredibly hard to hit cleanly, especially in his prime at lightweight.

### **Key Fights & Legacy**

His legacy is built on a trilogy of fights with two other all-time greats, Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvin Hagler, which defined an era of boxing known as the "Four Kings" (Durán, Leonard, Hagler, and Thomas Hearns).

**1. The Prime: Lightweight Dominance (1972-1979)**

Durán reigned as the undisputed lightweight champion for nearly seven years, defending the title 12 times. This period is considered by many purists to be his absolute peak, where he was virtually unstoppable.

**2. The Peak: vs. Sugar Ray Leonard I (June 20, 1980)**

* **"The Brawl in Montreal":** Durán moved up to welterweight to challenge the undefeated, golden-boy Olympic champion, Sugar Ray Leonard. In a brutal, tactical war, Durán forced Leonard to fight his fight, bullying him on the inside and winning a unanimous decision. This victory cemented his status as a pound-for-pound legend.

**3. The Infamous Night: vs. Sugar Ray Leonard II (November 25, 1980)**

* **"No Más" (No More):** Just five months later, the rematch took a bizarre turn. Leonard changed tactics, using speed and movement to frustrate and mock Durán. In the eighth round, after being made to look foolish, Durán suddenly turned to the referee and quit, uttering the words that would haunt him for years: *"No más"* (No more).

* **Why?** The reason is still debated. The official story was severe stomach cramps from a rapid weight loss regimen. Others believe it was sheer frustration at being humiliated by Leonard's style. This moment forever complicated his legacy, painting him as both supremely tough and shockingly human.

**4. The Redemption: vs. Davey Moore (1983)**

After a period of decline, Durán moved up to win the WBC Light Middleweight title by demolishing the favored champion Davey Moore. The fight, in Madison Square Garden, was a emotional triumph backed by a roaring Panamanian and Latino crowd, proving his greatness was not finished.

**5. The Ultimate Test: vs. Marvin Hagler (1984)**

* **"The Super Fight":** Durán moved up to middleweight to challenge the fearsome and dominant champion, Marvin Hagler. In a masterclass of survival and toughness, Durán went the full 15-round distance in a losing effort, becoming the first man to do so against Hagler in over five years. He earned Hagler's respect and proved his incredible heart and chin.

### **The Complex Legacy**

Roberto Durán is a paradox:

* **A National Hero:** In Panama, he is a god-like figure. His 1980 victory over Leonard was a moment of immense national pride.

* **A Fighter's Fighter:** Purists admire his technical brilliance, savage body attack, and relentless pressure during his prime.

* **The "No Más" Quitter:** To casual fans, he is often unfairly defined by that one moment of surrender against Leonard.

* **Longevity:** His career, with wins in the 1960s, 70s, 80s, and 90s, is a testament to his skill, adaptability, and love for the sport.

In summary, **Roberto Durán was a primal, unstoppable force in his prime whose career was a dramatic rollercoaster of supreme victory, shocking defeat, and ultimate redemption.** He remains one of the most respected and feared fighters to ever step into a ring.