"Hand of Stone" Roberto Durán celebrates 75th birthday
By Gabriel F. Cordero
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 17 Jun 2026
Seventy five years ago, on the afternoon of Thursday, June 16, 1951, in Panama City, a boy weighing eight pounds was born named Roberto Durán Samaniego, the second of eight children born to Clara Samaniego, a Panamanian, and Margarito Durán Sánchez, a Mexican. Abandoned by his father at one year and five months old, he was born with a poor prognosis, meaning a short life expectancy.
At the age of seven, this boy fought as an opening act in boxing events around the country to earn a dollar and fifty cents, which he would give to his mother with the words, "Don't worry, Mom, when I grow up everything will change." And over time, he became the greatest athlete in Panama to this day and one of the 100 best in the history of world boxing.
Durán is the only professional boxer to have fought in five different decades: the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. His career, which began with his professional debut on February 23, 1968, and ended on June 14, 2001, yielded a professional record of 103 wins (70 by knockout) and 16 losses, having fought in countries such as Mexico, the United States, Puerto Rico, France, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Canada, Argentina, South Africa, and Panama.
Duran won the WBA lightweight title in 1972 and the WBC title in 1978, the WBC welterweight title in 1980, the WBA super welterweight title in 1983, and the WBC middleweight title in 1989.
Throughout his career, he faced great names such as: Ernesto Marcel, Ken Buchanan, Esteban de Jesus, Saoul Mamby, Carlos Palomino, Sugar Ray Leonard, Wilfredo Benitez, Thomas Hearns, Davey Moore, Pipino Cuevas, Marvin Hagler, Iran Barkley, Vinny Pazienza, Hector Camacho, Jorge Castro, and William Joppy, among others.
In 2006, he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York, alongside former champions Ricardo "Finito" Lopez, Matthew Saad Muhammad, Julian Jackson, Eddie Perkins, and the legendary WBC president, Jose Sulaiman. He is also a member of the boxing halls in Florida, Indiana, Los Angeles, Atlantic City, and Nevada.
Duran is part of Panama's national heritage, its foremost sports ambassador, a true idol and national hero. An original man, extremely kind, and an extraordinary host, Duran was at the heart of thousands of Panamanians during the 1970s and 80s.
Currently, "Hands of Stone" is working on a mega-project and documentary called "The Legacy" to help the Panamanian government revive boxing in the country. He is currently in Toronto, Canada, where he will be supporting the Panamanian national team in their matches against Ghana and Croatia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Many congratulations to Roberto Duran, the man, the father, and above all, a true Panamanian.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Gabriel F. Cordero.
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