BIOGRAPHY (continued)

Roberto Duran reeled off victories until he was given the opportunity to challenge Iran Barkley in 1989 for the WBC Middleweight crown. In one of the great fights of the century, Duran and Barkley fought tenaciously, and again defying all the odds and skeptics, Roberto Duran proved everyone wrong once again and went on to capture his fifth World Championship at almost 38 years of age.

The Barkley victory set up the opportunity for Duran to once again face his most famous nemesis and Super Middleweight Champion Sugar Ray Leonard. The December 1989 fight was unimpressive for both fighters and Duran ended up losing by decision.

Duran's epitaph seemed to be written once again when fighting with an injury, he had to stop fighting in the 6th round against a club fighter named Pat Lawlor in 1991. Duran then went on to win six straight before his first battle in Las Vegas against Vinny Pazienza for the IBC Super Middleweight World Title, where he lost a 12 round decision on June 25, 1994, despite putting Pazienza on the canvas in the 5th round with a sharp, straight right hand. Duran battled Pazienza again in January of 1995, and lost a 12 round unanimous decision.

Heading into 1996, Roberto won three fights heading into a June bout against Hector "Macho"Camacho. Roberto put on one of his better performances at the age of 45, but still ended losing a very controversial decision against Camacho for the IBC Middleweight World Title. Since then Roberto has remained active in the ring and defeated world rated and former world champion, Jorge Castro. As recently ad August 1998, Roberto fought for the WBA Middleweight crown against William Joppy, but was stopped in the third round.

Known as "Manos de Piedra" Roberto Duran is already a legend in boxing, and he has not retired yet. As recently as June 16, 2000, Roberto captured his sixth world title in as many divisions, by winning the NBA World Super Middleweight Championship against Pat Lawlor. Roberto is also the only boxer to have victories in five different decades, making him the first and only boxer to ever accomplish that feat.

Roberto Duran has become famous for his courageous and well-fought battles in the ring. Many consider him to be one of the top three fighters of all times, putting him alongside Muhammad Ali and Joe Louis. He is certainly considered by many to be the best lightweight champion in history. In a career that spans five decades, Duran held six world championship titles including the NBA Super Middleweight Title, WBC Middleweight Champion, WBA Junior Middleweight Champion, WBC Welterweight Champion, WBC Lightweight Champion, and the WBA Lightweight Champion. His lights-out right punch has stopped opponents from Esteban De Jesus, to Davey Moore, to Sugar Ray Leonard. Seemingly endless stamina and persistent ferocity have pitted him against many of the world's best light and middleweight fighters, arguably making Roberto Duran one of the 10 best boxers of all time.

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