Why is Roberto Duran so hated?

Yeah I’ve heard similar accounts about his youth. Hell he was already boxing professional by like age 15-16. Definitely a hard life. But Sometimes age and maturity can change a person too.

 

Aw, go way triple chin!!

 

Beating Barkley was a pretty high bar for Thomas Hearns.

 

I've not argued when he's been ranked with guys like Armstrong and SRR as greatest pfp ATG ever. Love Duran, incredible fighter who bounced back like a wounded tiger after serious missteps.

 

Sums it up

 

I don't think he's hated at all but is an all time great p4p and recognized as such ..

 

Yeah, I didn’t know RD was hated - I actually read far more animosity directed toward SRL and the favouritism toward RD is often invoked to contrasting and intended detrimental effect.

 

Agree with every word of this. So I'm not alone if finding the first SRL v Duran fight a chore to watch. Not saying those who love the bout (Tyson's favourite, apparently) are wrong to do so. Different strokes. Duran had a dark charisma about him, for sure. Would still prefer to watch J C Chavez any day of the week.

 

he's got some huge wins but also some humiliating losses

He couldnt win big fights consistently and his first loss against Dejesus, proves it

He was a rough guy but his boxing skills are overrated

 

Ha ha, I know what you mean. would prefer watching Chavez dismantle another helpless brit like Holligan anyday.

 

Interesting. Didn't know Hearns haters existed.

 

I remember reading an interview with Alex Wallau many years ago. Talked about taking an ABC film crew to Panama to profile Duran at rest. Wallau asked him - while the camera was rolling - what he would get up to when he was a youth. Duran grabbed a nearby cat, whirled it over his head by the tail, and threw it over a wall. Respect toughness in the ring, as we all do. Despise animal abusers.

 

Yeah I also read a story many years ago where he punched a small horse in the face as hard as he could. If it’s true ( and who knows ) then that’s a very sick person.

 

Haven't heard the horse story before. IF true, vile behaviour. The Wallau story has to be true. He was head of ABC Sports when he gave the interview (to KO magazine, I think it was) and I am 99 per cent sure he says the display of animal cruelty was caught on film. It's coming back to me now. He said he couldn't imagine any other prize fighter, past or present, doing such a thing with cameras present.

 

The story goes he ko'd the horse. Which makes me question the likelihood of it being true.

Totally agree animal cruelty is despicable.