Roberto Durán


Roberto Durán Samaniego is a Panamanian former professional boxer who competed from 1968 to 2001. He held world championships in four weight classes: lightweight, welterweight, light middleweight and middleweight, as well as reigns as the undisputed and lineal lightweight champion, and the lineal welterweight champion. He is also the second boxer to have competed over a span of five decades, the first being Jack Johnson. Durán was known as a versatile, technical brawler and pressure fighter, which earned him the nickname of "Mano de Piedra" for his formidable punching power and excellent defense.
In 2002, Durán was voted by The Ring magazine as the fifth greatest fighter of the last 80 years, while boxing historian Bert Sugar rated him as the eighth greatest fighter of all time. The Associated Press voted him as the best lightweight of the 20th century, with many considering him the greatest lightweight of all time. Durán retired for good in January 2002 at age 50, following a car crash in Argentina in October 2001, after which he had required life saving surgery. He had previously retired in November 1980, June 1984 and August 1998, only to change his mind. Durán ended his career with a professional record of 119 fights, 103 wins, and 70 knockouts. From May 1971 up until his second fight against Sugar Ray Leonard in November 1980, as well as in his fight against Wilfred Benítez in January 1982, Durán was trained by legendary boxing trainer Ray Arcel.

Early life

Roberto Durán was born on June 16, 1951 in Guararé, Panama. His mother, Clara Samaniego, was a native of Guararé, and his father, Margarito Durán Sánchez, was from Arizona, United States, and of Mexican descent. He was raised in the slums of El Chorrillo in the district "La Casa de Piedra", in Panama City. He began sparring with experienced boxers at the Neco de La Guardia gymnasium when he was only eight years old.

Amateur career

Durán competed as an amateur, compiling a record of 29–3, with all 3 losses coming in Durán's first 3 amateur fights. Following his amateur career, Durán made his professional debut in February 1968 at the age of 16.

Professional career

Lightweight

Duran won his first 31 consecutive professional fights, and scored knockout victories over future Featherweight Champion Ernesto Marcel and former Super Featherweight Champion Hiroshi Kobayashi, culminating in his first title bout in June 1972, where he defeated Ken Buchanan in Madison Square Garden, New York for the WBA Lightweight Championship. Durán, as a 2-to-1 underdog, scored a knockdown against the defending champion just fifteen seconds into the opening round and battered him throughout the bout. He was well ahead on all three cards as the bell rang to end the 13th round, at which time Durán continued to throw a couple of extra punches as Buchanan lay on the ropes. As Duran continued punching, the referee, Johnny LoBianco, grabbed him to pull him away. He pulled down on Duran's arms, which led to a seemingly accidental low blow. Buchanan dropped to the canvas in pain. His trainer Gil Clancy later said he had believed the blow to have been caused by a knee. Duran was not disqualified from the bout; instead, he was deemed as winner by thirteenth-round technical knockout. Columnist Red Smith of The New York Times wrote that LoBianco had to award the victory to Durán, even if the punch was a low blow, as "anything short of pulling a knife is regarded indulgently" in American boxing. Buchanan said he left the fight "with sore balls".
Durán followed up on his title winning performance with several non-title matches. Later that year, in another non-title bout, he lost a ten-round decision to Esteban De Jesús. Durán got back on track with successful title defenses against Jimmy Robertson, Hector Thompson and future Lightweight Champion Guts Ishimatsu. In 1974, Durán avenged his loss to De Jesus with a brutal eleventh round knock out. In 1976, he defeated future Light Welterweight Champion Saoul Mamby. Overall, Durán made twelve successful defenses of his title and amassed a record of 62–1, his last defense coming in 1978 when Durán fought a third bout with De Jesus in a unification match wherein Durán once again knocked out De Jesus and captured his WBC Lightweight Championship. Durán gave up the Undisputed Lightweight Championship in February 1979.

Welterweight and The Brawl in Montreal

Vacating the Lightweight title was a buildup for an attempt at the Welterweight title. Durán earned wins against former WBC Welterweight Champion Carlos Palomino and Zeferino Gonzales, among others, setting the stage for a title bout against then-undefeated WBC Welterweight Champion Sugar Ray Leonard. The venue chosen was the Olympic Stadium in Montreal. Durán resented the fact that he was getting only one-fifth of the money that Leonard was getting, despite the fact that Durán was entering the bout with an incredible 71–1 record and seen by many as the best boxer of the 1970s decade that had just ended. To the surprise of Leonard and his camp, who had expected a warm homecoming from the place where Leonard had won Olympic gold, Leonard only got a mixed reception in Montreal, while Durán was incredibly popular with the crowd, with Leonard later admitting that Durán's popularity in Canada "threw me for a loop". On June 20, 1980, Durán captured the WBC Welterweight title by defeating Leonard via a 15-round unanimous decision, although it was incorrectly announced as a majority decision in the ring with the 148–147 scorecard being incorrectly announced as 147–147. The fight became known as "The Brawl in Montreal".

"No Más" in New Orleans

After defeating Leonard in Montreal, Durán gained iconic status in his home country, Panama. Leonard initiated the rematch clause and asked for the fight to be the following November. In their second fight, Leonard successfully changed his tactics, using more footwork and movement than he had in their first fight, and Durán was unable to get Leonard against the ropes. During the seventh round, after Leonard had gained a slight lead on the scorecards, he began taunting and mocking Durán. Towards the end of the eighth round, Durán suddenly stopped fighting, and according to referee Octavio Meyran and ABC commentator Howard Cosell, Durán repeatedly said "No más", which was denied by Durán, his cornermen Ray Arcel and Freddie Brown, and his manager Carlos Eleta, with Durán claiming he had said "No quiero pelear con el payaso". According to Meyran, in addition to saying "No más", Durán also said in broken English "I don't box anymore". In a 2016 interview, Duran claimed that what he actually said was, "No Sigo". For a brief time after the "No más" debacle, Durán retired from boxing, but soon changed his mind, not wanting to end on such a bad note.

Light middleweight and middlweight

He took some time to recover from that fight and gained even more weight to contend for the WBC Light Middleweight title, but losing in his first attempt at a championship in that division on January 30, 1982, against Wilfred Benítez by a 15-round unanimous decision, this after having defeated Nino Gonzalez and Luigi Minchillo, two rated Light Middleweights, both by ten-round decisions in non-title bouts. Durán was also to lose his comeback fight in September 1982 in Detroit. Kirkland Laing, from London, shocked the boxing world, producing the type of display his talents promised yet he so rarely produced, taking the split decision. After being relegated to a 10-round walk out win over Englishman Jimmy Batten at The Battle of The Champions in Miami, Durán signed with promoter Bob Arum. This marked the beginning of a comeback in which he beat former world champion and now hall of famer Pipino Cuevas via a fourth round knock-out, which earned him a second crack at the light middleweight title, this time against WBA Champion Davey Moore.
The WBA title bout took place at Madison Square Garden on June 16, 1983, which also happened to be Durán's 32nd birthday. The still inexperienced Moore was game through the first three rounds, but by the 4th, Durán said he knew Moore couldn't hurt him, and an onslaught began.He That Was Lost Has Been Found, Sports Illustrated, June 27, 1983 The pro-Durán crowd at ringside cheered as Durán relentlessly punished Moore. By the end of the sixth round, Moore's eye had swollen shut and he was floored near the end of the seventh. Finally the fight was stopped in the eighth round as Moore was taking such a horrific beating and Durán won his third world title. After the victory, Durán was hoisted up in the air as the crowd sang "Happy Birthday" to a sobbing Durán.
Durán later fought for the World Middleweight Championship, meeting Marvelous Marvin Hagler in Las Vegas in November 1983. During the fight, Duran broke his hand and lost in a very competitive fight that went the full fifteen rounds. After 13 rounds, two of the judges had Durán one point ahead, and the other judge had it even. Hagler fought tenaciously to win the final two rounds and get a unanimous decision victory. Despite the loss, Durán became the second man to take Hagler to a fifteen-round decision and the only one to do so while Hagler was the world champion.
In June 1984, Durán was stripped of his Light Middleweight title when the WBA did not approve of his fight with WBC Champion Thomas "Hitman" Hearns and took away recognition of Durán as world champion the moment Durán stepped into the ring to box Hearns. Durán again made history in the fight, but this time it was the wrong kind. Hearns dropped Durán twice in the first round and as he rose to his feet after the second knockdown, which ended the round, the former champion did not know where his corner was. Hearns went on to knock Duran down a third time in the second round and the fight was stopped, marking the first time in his career that Durán had been knocked out in a fight. Durán then retired for a second time, but changed his mind over a year later, and was back fighting in early 1986.
Durán did not contend another title fight until 1989, but made the shot count when he won the WBC Middleweight title from Iran Barkley in February. The fight is considered one of Durán's greatest achievements, as the 37-year-old former lightweight champion took the middleweight crown, his fourth title. In a tough, back-and-forth fight, Durán knocked Barkley down in the eleventh round and Durán won a split decision. The bout was named the 1989 "Fight of the Year" by The Ring.

Super middleweight

Duran moved up to super middleweight for a third fight with Sugar Ray Leonard in December 1989, where Leonard's WBC super-middleweight title was on the line, although Leonard's camp insisted that the fight with Durán be at a 162lbs catchweight instead of the 168lbs super-middleweight limit that Durán favoured. In the end, both weighed in below the 160lbs middleweight limit. Durán was uncharacteristically flat for most of what was a strange fight. Although Leonard won the fight by a wide unanimous decision, by the end of the fight Leonard looked the worse for wear as he had suffered several bad cuts. Leonard's lip was busted by a headbutt in the fourth round, his left eye was cut in the eleventh round and his right eye was cut in the twelfth round. The cuts required more than 60 stitches. Durán didn't fight again until 1991, so had given up his WBC middleweight crown that he had won against Barkley. Durán seemed to be in decline after the third fight against Leonard, but Durán persisted and worked his way into title shots for the lesser IBC super-middleweight and middleweight titles in 1994, 1995 and 1996.
Durán fought Vinny Pazienza twice, in June 1994 and January 1995, for the IBC Super Middleweight Championship, with Pazienza winning both times by unanimous decision. In the first fight, Durán put Pazienza down in Rounds 2 and 5, but referee Joe Cortez controversially ruled the Round 2 knockdown to be a slip. The first fight divided the people watching as some felt that Durán had won a close fight, but others felt that Pazienza had won either narrowly or widely after finishing strongly in the last five rounds. The second fight was more lopsided in Pazienza's favour, as despite the official judges giving Pazienza the win by scores of 116–112, 117–111 and 118–110, the TV commentators expressed puzzlement at the closeness of the official scoring as they thought that Pazienza had won every round in a 120–108 shutout.
In 1996, Durán fought Héctor Camacho for the vacant IBC Middleweight Championship. At the end of the fight, fans and TV commentators seemed in complete agreement that Durán had won the fight in an excellent performance, but the three judges saw the fight very differently and awarded Camacho the victory by a very controversial unanimous decision. Durán's old rival, Sugar Ray Leonard, commentating at ringside, was baffled at the scoring and called it an early Christmas gift for Camacho, with the result motivating Leonard enough to come out of a 6-year boxing retirement to face Camacho himself in 1997. In 1997, Durán was defeated by former champion Jorge Castro in Argentina. Durán then fought Castro in a rematch bout in Panama and won via unanimous decision, maintaining his unbeaten record in Panama.
In 1998, at the age of 47, he challenged 28-year-old WBA Middleweight Champion William Joppy. Joppy, a trim, quick-fisted fighter, battered Durán to defeat in just 3 rounds. It was Duran's most emphatic loss since the Hearns fight, over a decade earlier. Durán then announced his retirement for the third time in August 1998, but soon changed his mind and was back fighting in March 1999.
In June 2000, Durán avenged a previous loss to Pat Lawlor from 9 years before and won the NBA Super Middleweight Championship on his 49th birthday. He lost the title a year later to Héctor Camacho in a rematch bout and in what would be Durán's final fight.

Retirement

In October 2001, Durán traveled to Argentina to promote a salsa music CD that he had just released. While there, he was involved in a car crash and required life-saving surgery. After that incident, he announced his retirement from boxing at the age of 50.
Announcing his retirement, Durán cited the weight issues of his friend, Argentinian football legend Diego Maradona, as motivation for getting back in shape, stating "as of now, I am exercising so that when the honors arrive the people will see me in shape. I don't want to like Maradona did, all fat."
Durán's five world title belts, which he won in four different divisions, were stolen from his house in Panama in 1993 during a robbery allegedly staged by his brother-in-law, who gave them to memorabilia seller Luis González Báez, who will stand trial for trying to sell stolen goods. González Báez allegedly sold the belts to undercover FBI agents. He alleges that Durán authorized the sale of the five belts to him during a time that Durán was facing financial trouble. On September 23, 2003, a federal judge in Florida ordered the five belts returned to Durán.
His 70 wins by knockout place him in an exclusive group of boxers who have won 50 or more fights by knockout. He is ranked number 28 on The Ring's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time.
On October 14, 2006, Durán was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in Riverside, California, and on June 10, 2007, into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York.
On June 26, 2020, it was announced on FOX News that Duran was diagnosed with the coronavirus after going to a hospital with common cold symptoms. Duran is undergoing treatment for the disease. Coincidentally, the diagnosis came on the 48th anniversary of Duran's first world title victory against Ken Buchanan, which took place on June 26, 1972. He was released from hospital weeks later.
Today he is the brand ambassador of Panama Blue, Panama's premium bottled water.
Duran is a licensed ultralight aircraft pilot in Panama. He flew a Quick Silver MX model.
Duran's daughter, Irichelle Duran, was a professional boxer herself who garnered a record of 1 win and 2 losses in 3 bouts, with 1 win by knockout. She is a resident of Puerto Rico.

Appearances in film/music

Film

Durán's first appearance in a movie was in the 1979 film Rocky II as a lightning-fast sparring partner for Rocky Balboa. Outside of this, Durán had minor roles in Harlem Nights.
Durán's life and boxing career are told in the documentary Los puños de una nación by Panamanian filmmaker Pituka Ortega-Heilbron. Durán also appears very briefly during an interview for the documentary The Panama Deception, in which he recounts his experience during the United States invasion of Panama.
The biopic Hands of Stone stars Édgar Ramírez as Durán, Robert De Niro as Ray Arcel and Usher as Sugar Ray Leonard, and was released on August 26, 2016.

Television

Durán played the drug lord Jesus Maroto in Miami Vice season two, episode 19.
In "Corporate Warriors", the fourth episode of the second season of the hit American crime drama , Durán is mentioned by the medical examiner while discussing a dead man found to have bone grafts put in his hands to boost his punching power.

Music

The song "The Eyes of Roberto Durán" by Tom Russell, from the album The Long Way Around, contains the lyric, "Panama City – it's three in the morning; they're talking 'bout the Hands of Stone."
Durán is mentioned in the third verse of Nas' original demo for It Ain't Hard to Tell in the line: "Metaphors of murder man, hittin' like Roberto Durán, hold the mic in my hand, my lifespan."
The musician Jackie Leven recorded a song that explores the events of the second world title fight between Durán and Sugar Ray Leonard.
Jazz musician Miles Davis, an avid boxing fan, recorded a tribute to Roberto Durán titled "Duran".
Durán is also mentioned in the third verse of Paul Thorn's "Hammer and Nail," based on Thorn's nationally televised fight with Durán:
Texas rockabilly band Reverend Horton Heat mentions Durán in their song "Eat Steak," off of their album Smoke 'Em If You Got 'Em.
Durán is referenced multiple times in the song "Uno Mas" by Alex Soria's band Chino.
Durán's 1983 fight with Davey Moore is referenced in the 2014 single, "The Possum," by American songwriter, Sun Kil Moon, who often writes about boxers. Kozelek sings:
"They threw hard vicious guttural B-flats that shook their opponent /
Like a tough Roberto "Hands of Stone" Durán, in the seventh round /
Davey Moore, June 16, 1983..."
Durán himself was a Salsa singer once, leading an orchestra named "Felicidad" after his wife. They recorded albums and frequented television shows in Latin America.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
119Loss103–16 Héctor CamachoUD12Jul 14, 2001 Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado, U.S.Lost NBA super middleweight title
118Win103–15 Patrick GoossenUD10Aug 12, 2000 Yakama Legends Casino, Toppenish, Washington, U.S.
117Win102–15 Pat LawlorUD12Jun 16, 2000 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Juan Díaz, PanamaWon NBA super middleweight title
116Loss101–15 Omar GonzalezUD10Mar 6, 1999 Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
115Loss101–14 William JoppyTKO3, 2:54Aug 28, 1998 Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.For WBA middleweight title
114Win101–13 Felix Jose HernandezUD10Jan 31, 1998 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
113Win100–13 David RadfordUD8Nov 15, 1997 Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, South Africa
112Win99–13 Jorge CastroUD10Jun 14, 1997 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
111Loss98–13 Jorge CastroUD10Feb 15, 1997 Mar del Plata, Argentina
110Win98–12 Mike CulbertTKO6, 2:24Sep 27, 1996 Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort, Chester, West Virginia, U.S.
109Win97–12 Ariel CruzKO1 Aug 31, 1996 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
108Loss96–12 Héctor CamachoUD12Jun 22, 1996 Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.For vacant IBC middleweight title
107Win96–11 Ray DomengeUD10Feb 20, 1996 Mahi Shrine Auditorium, Miami, Florida, U.S.
106Win95–11 Wilbur GarstTKO4, 2:14Dec 21, 1995 War Memorial Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
105Win94–11 Roni MartinezTKO7, 2:59Jun 10, 1995 Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
104Loss93–11 Vinny PazienzaUD12Jan 14, 1995 Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.For IBC super middleweight title
103Win93–10 Heath ToddTKO6, 3:00Oct 18, 1994 Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S.
102Loss92–10 Vinny PazienzaUD12Jun 25, 1994 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.For vacant IBC super middleweight title
101Win92–9 Terry ThomasTKO4, 1:02Mar 29, 1994 Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S.
100Win91–9 Carlos MonteroUD10Feb 22, 1994 Marseille, France
99Win90–9 Tony MenefeeTKO8 Dec 14, 1993 Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S.
98Win89–9 Sean FitzgeraldKO6, 1:43Aug 17, 1993 Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S.
97Win88–9 Jacques LeBlancUD10Jun 29, 1993 Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S.
96Win87–9 Ken HulseyKO2, 2:45Dec 17, 1992 CSU Convocation Center, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
95Win86–9 Tony BiglenUD10Sep 30, 1992 Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, U.S.
94Loss85–9 Pat LawlorTKO6, 1:50Mar 18, 1991 The Mirage, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
93Loss85–8 Sugar Ray LeonardUD12Dec 7, 1989 The Mirage, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.For WBC super middleweight title
92Win85–7 Iran BarkleySD12Feb 24, 1989 Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Won WBC middleweight title
91Win84–7 Jeff LanasSD10Oct 1, 1988 International Amphitheatre, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
90Win83–7 Paul ThornRTD6, 3:00Apr 14, 1988 Tropicana, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
89Win82–7 Ricky StackhouseUD10Feb 5, 1988 Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
88Win81–7 Juan Carlos Giménez FerreyraUD10Sep 12, 1987 James L. Knight Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
87Win80–7 Victor ClaudioUD10May 16, 1987 Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
86Loss79–7 Robbie SimsSD10Jun 23, 1986 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
85Win79–6 Jorge SueroKO2, 1:45Apr 18, 1986 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
84Win78–6 Manuel ZambranoKO2, 2:57Jan 31, 1986 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
83Loss77–6 Thomas HearnsTKO2 Jun 15, 1984 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.For WBC super welterweight title
82Loss77–5 Marvin HaglerUD15Nov 10, 1983 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.For WBA, WBC, IBF, The Ring, and lineal middleweight titles
81Win77–4 Davey MooreTKO8, 2:02Jun 16, 1983 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.Won WBA super welterweight title
80Win76–4 José CuevasTKO4, 2:26Jan 29, 1983 Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
79Win75–4 Jimmy BattenUD10Nov 12, 1982 Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida, U.S.
78Loss74–4 Kirkland Laing10Sep 4, 1982 Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
77Loss74–3 Wilfred BenítezUD15Jan 30, 1982 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.For WBC super welterweight title
76Win74–2 Luigi MinchilloUD10Sep 26, 1981 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
75Win73–2 Nino GonzalezUD10Aug 9, 1981 Public Auditorium, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
74Loss72–2 Sugar Ray LeonardTKO8, 2:44Nov 25, 1980 Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.Lost WBC, The Ring, and lineal welterweight titles
73Win72–1 Sugar Ray LeonardUD15Jun 20, 1980 Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Quebec, CanadaWon WBC, The Ring, and lineal welterweight titles
72Win71–1 Wellington WheatleyTKO6 Feb 24, 1980 Tropicana Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
71Win70–1 Joseph Nsubuga4, 3:00Jan 13, 1980 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
70Win69–1 Zeferino GonzalezUD10Sep 28, 1979 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
69Win68–1 Carlos PalominoUD10Jun 22, 1979 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
68Win67–1 Jimmy HeairUD10Apr 8, 1979 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
67Win66–1 Monroe BrooksKO8, 1:59Dec 8, 1978 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
66Win65–1 Ezequiel ObandoKO2, 1:09Sep 1, 1978 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
65Win64–1 Adolfo ViruetUD10Apr 27, 1978 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
64Win63–1 Esteban de JesúsTKO12, 2:32Jan 21, 1978 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBA, The Ring, and lineal lightweight titles;
Won WBC lightweight title
63Win62–1 Edwin ViruetUD15Sep 17, 1977 Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.Retained WBA, The Ring, and lineal lightweight titles
62Win61–1 Bernardo DiazKO1, 1:29Aug 6, 1977 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
61Win60–1 Javier MunizUD10May 16, 1977 Capital Centre, Landover, Maryland, U.S.
60Win59–1 Vilomar FernandezKO13, 2:10Jan 29, 1977 Fontainbleau, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.Retained WBA, The Ring, and lineal lightweight titles
59Win58–1 Alvaro RojasKO1, 2:17Oct 15, 1976 Sportatorium, Pembroke Pines, Florida, U.S.Retained WBA, The Ring, and lineal lightweight titles
58Win57–1 Emiliano VillaTKO7, 2:00Jul 31, 1976 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
57Win56–1 Lou BizzarroKO14, 2:15May 23, 1976 County Field House, Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S.Retained WBA, The Ring, and lineal lightweight titles
56Win55–1 Saoul MambyUD10May 4, 1976 Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
55Win54–1 Leoncio OrtizKO15, 2:39Dec 20, 1975 Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto RicoRetained WBA, The Ring, and lineal lightweight titles
54Win53–1 Edwin ViruetUD10Sep 30, 1975 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Hempstead, New York, U.S.
53Win52–1 Alirio AcunaKO3 Sep 13, 1975 Gimnasio Jose D. Crespo, Chitré, Panama
52Win51–1 Pepe El ToroKO1, 2:00Aug 2, 1975 Roberto Clemente Stadium, Managua, Nicaragua
51Win50–1 Jose PetersonTKO1, 1:02Jun 3, 1975 Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
50Win49–1 Ray LampkinKO14, 0:39Mar 2, 1975 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, PanamaRetained WBA, The Ring, and lineal lightweight titles
49Win48–1 Andres SalgadoKO1, 1:00Feb 15, 1975 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
48Win47–1 Masataka TakayamaKO1, 1:40Dec 21, 1974 Plaza de Toros El Zapote, San José, Costa RicaRetained WBA, The Ring, and lineal lightweight titles
47Win46–1 Adalberto VanegasKO1 Nov 16, 1974 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
46Win45–1 Jose VasquezKO2 Oct 31, 1974 Gimnasio Eddie Cortez, San José, Costa Rica
45Win44–1 Hector MattaUD10Sep 2, 1974 Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico
44Win43–1 Flash GallegoTKO7, 2:35Jul 6, 1974 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
43Win42–1 Esteban de JesúsKO11, 1:11Mar 16, 1974 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, PanamaRetained WBA, The Ring, and lineal lightweight titles
42Win41–1 Armando MendozaTKO3, 1:50Feb 16, 1974 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
41Win40–1 Leonard TavarezTKO4 Jan 21, 1974 Palais des Sports, Paris, France
40Win39–1 Tony GarciaKO3 Dec 1, 1973 Gimnasio Escuela Normal, Santiago de Veraguas, Panama
39Win38–1 Guts IshimatsuTKO10, 2:10Sep 8, 1973 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, PanamaRetained WBA, The Ring, and lineal lightweight titles
38Win37–1 Doc McClendonUD10Aug 4, 1973 Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico
37Win36–1 Hector ThompsonTKO8, 2:15Jun 2, 1973 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, PanamaRetained WBA, The Ring, and lineal lightweight titles
36Win35–1 Gerardo FerratTKO2, 2:45Apr 14, 1973 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
35Win34–1 Javier AyalaUD10Mar 17, 1973 Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
34Win33–1 Juan MedinaTKO7, 1:22Feb 22, 1973 Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
33Win32–1 Jimmy RobertsonKO5 Jan 20, 1973 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, PanamaRetained WBA, The Ring, and lineal lightweight titles
32Loss31–1 Esteban de JesúsUD10Nov 17, 1972 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.Super lightweight bout
31Win31–0 Lupe RamirezKO1, 3:03Oct 28, 1972 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
30Win30–0 Greg PotterKO1, 1:58Sep 2, 1972 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
29Win29–0 Ken BuchananTKO13 Jun 26, 1972 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.Won WBA, The Ring, and lineal lightweight titles
28Win28–0 Francisco MunozTKO1, 2:34Mar 10, 1972 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
27Win27–0 Angel Robinson GarciaUD10Jan 15, 1972 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
26Win26–0 Hiroshi KobayashiKO7, 0:30Oct 16, 1971 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
25Win25–0 Benny HuertasTKO1, 1:06Sep 13, 1971 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
24Win24–0 Fermin SotoTKO3 Jul 18, 1971 Monterrey, Mexico
23Win23–0 Lloyd MarshallTKO6, 1:37May 29, 1971 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
22Win22–0 Jose AcostaKO1, 1:55Mar 21, 1971 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
21Win21–0 Jose Angel HerreraKO6 Jan 10, 1971 Toreo, Monterrey, Mexico
20Win20–0 Ignacio CastanedaTKO3 Oct 18, 1970 Gimnasio Nuevo Panamá, Panama City, Panama
19Win19–0 Marvin CastanedaKO1, 1:30Sep 5, 1970 Gimnasio Municipal, Puerto Armuelles, Panama
18Win18–0 Clemente MucinoKO6, 2:18Jul 18, 1970 Arena de Colón, Colón, Panama
17Win17–0 Ernesto MarcelTKO10 May 16, 1970 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
16Win16–0 Felipe TorresUD10Mar 28, 1970 Mexico City, Mexico
15Win15–0 Luis PatinoKO8 Nov 23, 1969 Gimnasio Neco de la Guardia, Panama City, Panama
14Win14–0 Serafin GarciaTKO5 Sep 21, 1969 Gimnasio Neco de la Guardia, Panama City, Panama
13Win13–0 Adolfo OssesTKO7 Jun 22, 1969 Gimnasio Neco de la Guardia, Panama City, Panama
12Win12–0 Jacinto GarciaTKO4 May 18, 1969 Gimnasio Neco de la Guardia, Panama City, Panama
11Win11–0 Eduardo FrutosUD6Feb 1, 1969 Estadio Nacional, Panama City, Panama
10Win10–0 Alberto BrandTKO4, 2:50Jan 19, 1969 Gimnasio Neco de la Guardia, Panama City, Panama
9Win9–0 Carlos Howard1 Dec 7, 1968 Gimnasio Neco de la Guardia, Panama City, Panama
8Win8–0 Juan GondolaKO2 Nov 16, 1968 Arena de Colón, Colón, Panama
7Win7–0 Cesar De LeonKO1, 1:20Sep 22, 1968 Gimnasio Neco de la Guardia, Panama City, Panama
6Win6–0 Leroy CarghillKO1 Aug 25, 1968 Gimnasio Neco de la Guardia, Panama City, Panama
5Win5–0 Enrique JacoboKO1 Aug 10, 1968 Panama City, Panama
4Win4–0 Eduardo MoralesKO1, 3:00Jun 30, 1968 Gimnasio Neco de la Guardia, Panama City, Panama
3Win3–0 Manuel JimenezKO1 Jun 15, 1968 Arena de Colón, Colón, Panama
2Win2–0 Juan Gondola1 May 14, 1968 Colón, Panama
1Win1–0 Carlos Mendoza4Feb 23, 1968 Arena de Colón, Colón, Panama