I was born into poverty and grew up in a slum – now I’m a world champion boxer & multi-millionaire
A BOXER who was born into poverty and grew up in a slum defied the odds to become a world-champion fighter and multi-millionaire.
Roberto Duran scooped titles at lightweight, welterweight, light middleweight and middleweight in a iconic fighting career spanning over 30 years.
Duran, 72, is considered by many as the greatest lightweight boxer of all time as well as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in boxing history.
He racked up an astonishing pro record of 103-16 during his time in the ring, with 70 wins coming via knockout.
But the boxer – famously known as ‘The Hands of Stone’ – did not have an easy route to the big time.
Duran grew up in the slums of El Chorrillo, steps away from the Panama Canal.
Born into a life of poverty, he shined shoes and sold newspapers from the age of five to help support his family.
Growing up in Chorillo, a tough district, he had to learn to fight to survive from a very young age.
In the tough neighbourhood, Duran wanted to stay in one piece, according to The Ring magazine.
The boxing legend felt he was too young to die and developed his trademark tenacity and courage by learning to fight hard.
Duran’s own words in the documentary film ‘I am Duran’, on the reason he became a boxer were: “My family didn’t have money to eat, we slept in an entrance way, that’s why I became a boxer.”
Duran, who fought professionally from 1968 to 2001, enjoys legendary status in Panama and Latin America.
The retired Panamanian boxer reportedly boasts a net worth of US$3 million according to Celebrity Net Worth.
However, his net worth could be much higher, but Duran reportedly blew through more than $20 million during the peak of his career on a lavish lifestyle.
His finest performance arguably came against Sugar Ray Leonard in the 1980 Montreal match up when he became WBC welterweight champ.
But their second fight months later was one of the most lucrative fights in boxing history at the time.
Duran withdrew midway through the clash by famously saying “No mas” — “No more.”
However, Duran still earned a reported US$7 million for the rematch.
Duran’s last fight was a defeat on points to Hector Camacho in July 2001.
After a number of premature retirements in the 1980s and 90s, Duran retired for good in early 2002 following a car crash in Argentina.
During his career, the second-longest of any boxer in history, the 5ft 7in superhero inspired a downtrodden nation and redefined what it meant to be a fighter.
A movie, titled on his nickname, was released in 2016 on his career, which was directed and written by Jonathan Jakubowicz.
Duran was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2007.