Hands of Stone: The Life and Legend of Roberto Duran

"A riveting read from the first page to the last."—The Ring

"An extraordinary tale."—The Times (London)

"A compelling book; at times it’s a profoundly detailed reconstruction of Duran’s world."—Gerald Early, Belles-Lettres

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 boxer 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. He finally retired in January of 2002 at age fifty-two, with a professional record of 104 wins (69 by KO) in 120 fights. They called him Manos de Piedra: “Hands of Stone.”

Now journalist Christian Giudice has written the first—and definitive—story of Duran’s incredible life, both in and out of the ring. He has interviewed the fighter, his family, closest friends, and scores of his opponents to separate truth from myth.

Duran was born in utter poverty in Panama and grew up in the streets, fighting to survive. His talent with his fists soon emerged, and he had his first professional fight in 1967. Duran grew into a fighter’s fighter. His hunger to destroy opponents and his willingness to take on anyone, anywhere, made him a huge favorite while his flamboyant lifestyle outside the ring made headline news.

Duran was one of the first Latino fighters to become a mainstream sports star in the United States, and his natural talent, unprecedented achievements, and longevity made an indelible mark on the world of sport.

Christian Giudice is a freelance journalist based in New Jersey.