Boxing Memorabilia > Boxing Autographs >
Roberto Duran 16x20 vs Sugar Ray Leonard
A Large 16x20 Action photo from the fight
against Ray Leonard, signed by Roberto Duran. This wonderful
item comes complete with our Certificate of Authenticity
and a photograph of the Hands of Stone Roberto Duran, signing
this great photograph, plus all attached security holograms
so you can be rest assured you are buying a genuine autograph.
One of only 4 fighters to hold 4 different
world titles— lightweight (1972-79), welterweight
(1980), junior middleweight (1983) and middleweight (1989-90).
finally retired in 2002 at the age of 50 with a record of
104-16 (69 KOs).This is a super rare signature. One of the
most popular fighters of all time !! Extremely hard to obtain
because he lives in Panama.
Roberto Duran
SOLD
Roberto Duran, who grew up in the tough streets
of Panama, was a natural born fighter. The son of a Mexican
father and a Panamanian mother, the Latin legend learned
to fight at a young age. Duran turned pro at 16 and went
on to become perhaps the best professional fighter since
the heyday of Ray Robinson.
Duran’s peak performance was his brilliant
title winning effort against then unbeaten Sugar Ray Leonard
for the world welterweight championship. In a bout that
featured ferocious infighting by both men Duran outworked,
out-hustled and yes, out-boxed Ray Leonard. The June 30,
1980 Sports Illustrated reported, “It was, from almost
the opening salvo, a fight that belonged to Roberto Duran.
The Panamanian seized the evening and gave it what shape
and momentum it had. He took control, attacking and driving
Leonard to the ropes, bulling him back, hitting him with
lefts and rights top the body as he maneuvered the champion
against the ropes from corner to corner.” Duran was
relentless as he pressured, mauled, and pounded his way
to a unanimous decision.
The one aberration on Duran’s record
is the infamous “No Mas” fight in his rematch
against Ray Leonard. It was highly controversial; many believing
Duran threw the fight for an 8 million dollar payday. He
resigned unhurt in the eighth round. Leonard was fast on
his feet and mocking Duran when Roberto mysteriously quit
claiming stomach cramps. Ray Arcel said, “That’s
nonsense. I just think Duran couldn’t accept Leonard’s
clowning, that Leonard got his goat and he couldn’t
handle it. Between rounds I kept telling Duran, “If
you crowd him, you can keep him from going through all these
motions.” That’s what Duran had done in Montreal,
and I kept reminding him, “Remember Montreal, shove
him, push him.” If anybody would have told Duran another
fighter would make him quit, he’d have got a gun and
killed him. I never worked with Duran again. When he finally
fought Leonard a third time I thought he’d be more
aggressive but he tried to outbox him.”
The AP named Duran among the 10 greatest fighters
of the 20th Century in 1999. The 2002 Ring Annual (Vol.
2) rates Duran # 5 among the 80 Greatest Fighters of the
last 80 years. Cox’s Corner considers Duran the #
3 all time lightweight and among the 10 greatest fighters
of all time.
