Boxing legend will mark title anniversary at Canal expansion opening

PANAMA’S WORLD boxing legend Roberto Duran, will celebrate the anniversary of his first world title win, as a guest of honor at the official opening of the new Panama Canal locks on Saturday  June 26.

On that date in  1972, Duran  scored a 13-round TKO of Scotsman Ken Buchanan to claim the WBA Lightweight championship.

He went on to win  sanctioned championships in four weight classes and competed professionally across five decades, and  is considered one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters of all time.

Durán combined impressive speed with a fearsome tenacity and powerful punches that earned him the nickname “Manos de Piedra” (Hands of Stone). The pinnacle of his career came on June 20, 1980, the “Brawl in Montreal” at Olympic Stadium. Facing the undefeated Sugar Ray Leonard, Durán battered the former Olympic gold medalist over 12 rounds to win the WBC Welterweight championship.

At age 49, Durán won a 12-round decision over Pat Lawlor to claim, the Super Middleweight title from the  NBA.

A movie about his life, Hands of Stone, starring Édgar Ramírez as Durán; Robert De Niro as his trainer, Ray Arcel; and pop star Usher as Sugar Ray Leonard, will be released in August.