Product Description

ROBERTO DURAN is a sporting legend. Often called the greatest boxer of all time, he held world titles at four different weights and is the only professional in history to have fought in five different decades. His bouts with fellow greats like Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns and Marvin Hagler have gone down in fistic folklore and his pro record of 104 wins (69 by KO) in 120 fights puts him in an elite group of fighters. They call him Manos de Piedra: “Hands of Stone”.

Now American journalist Christian Guidice has written the first – and definitive – story of Duran’s extraordinary life both in and out of the ring. He has interviewed the fighter himself, his family and closest friends and scores of his opponents to separate truth from myth and get to the heart of one of the most intriguing sports stars of modern times.

Duran was born in utter poverty in the Panama Canal Zone, the illegitimate son of a serving US soldier and a local girl. He grew up in the streets, fighting to survive. His talent with his fists was soon apparent, and on one fabled occasion he even knocked down a horse with a single punch for a bet. He grew into a fighter’s fighter, and his willingness to take on anyone, anywhere, anytime and never take a step back made him a huge favorite.

From his wild early bouts to his stunning boxing debut in New York, Giudice traces the blazing trail of his career: the controversial title win over Scot Ken Buchanan; his unification of the lightweight crown against great rival Esteban DeJesus; his glorious defeat of Ray Leonard and the subsequent debacle of the No Más encounter; his ferocious comeback and redemption, and the long, eventful twilight of his matchless career. Here also are both the public and private sides of Duran: his volatility, his kindness and reckless generosity, his partying, his links with the notorious regime of General Noriega, and above all his chilling love of battle.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9349 in Books
• Published on: 2008-01-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

Daily Star
'A cracking new book recording Duran's glorious career.'

Boxing Monthly
A great achievement. If you only buy one boxing book this year,
Hands of Stone should be it.

The Independent on Sunday, Sports Book of the Week
Duran's volatile 120-bout career is vividly chronicled.

Customer Reviews

An informative, well written book about Duran
I was really pleased to finally see a full biography about Roberto Duran, who must rank as one of the top 3 pound for pound fighters in the history of the sport. This book did not disappoint me. It is well researched and Duran himself often makes comments about his career. Now he has retired, Duran seems to have mellowed and is not quite as unpredictable (or frankly dangerous!) as he used to be.
I was surprised at how good a person Duran comes across as. However, my one criticism of the book is that I have heard many stories about Manos de Piedra over the years that cast him in a much more unfavourable light. These were not included in the book.
Despite this very slight oversight, I highly recommend this book to any fan of Duran, boxing or sport itself. Roberto Duran was a true sports legend and his like will never be seen again.

Great effort!!
As a Panamanian growing up in the seventies at the height of Duran's splendor, I have to say that `Hands of Stone' did not dissapoint me one bit. Well researched, with very interesting mini-bios and inside stories on Duran's opponents and associates and detailed and vivid descriptions of all fights. At times the text was a little disorganized and 90% of the names of all Panamanian towns and people are misspelled, but these details are minor compared with the work as a whole.

Heart of a Lion
A very interesting insight of the man & sometime myth that is Roberto Duran. A good if simple read of a a simple man who just wanted to fight & to survive & eventually break free from the poverty. The details
of his Panamanion childhood growing up to adulthood & how latin culture lives & survives is a educational read. I wish there was a bit more on his fighting, training methods & how he prepared for fights, a bit more insight of his fears & feelings But again I guess,
to him it was just simple streefighting attitude. Like a previous reviewer
metioned a very supportive naration by the author. I wanted to hear more about the dark nasty side of duran that was there once, did'nt get any on this. Overall a good interesting read on one of a kind old school fighter who captured the hearts of many fans, which is now lacking in todays curcius act boxing.