Panama’s Roberto Duran Names the Best He Ever Faced After Fighting Leonard, Hagler and Hearns

Duran, known as ‘Hands of Stone’, had a phenomenal professional career which saw him win world titles across four weight classes, as well as picking up victories in 103 of his 119 career outings.  The Panamanian icon was one of the ‘Four Kings’, with Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns and ‘Marvellous’ Marvin Hagler making up the remainder of the legendary quartet who all had incredible legacies in their own rights.  In a round of ‘Best I Faced’ with The Ring Magazine, ‘Hands of Stone’ didn’t hesitate to name Leonard as the best overall fighter he ever faced, after locking horns with his former rival on three separate occasions during his tenure.

“I have to say Sugar Ray Leonard because look at what he did in his career after he lost to me. It takes a lot to come back from defeat and Leonard did it.”

Their first encounter came in 1980 to capture the WBC Welterweight World championship.

Sugar Ray Leonard vs Roberto Duran 1  

The Brawl In Montreal JUNE 20 1980

Their rematch came just 5-months later, with Leonard getting his revenge in the infamous ‘No Mas’ fight, which saw Duran quit in the eighth round.  The third and final showdown between Duran and Leonard took place 9-years after their first one, and it was the American legend that put their rivalry to bed with a unanimous decision victory to successfully retain his WBC world super middleweight title at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas.