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
Now the subject of a major motion picture, 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 man in history to have
fought in five different decades. His bouts with fellow greats like
Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hit Man Hearns, and Marvin Hagler have gone
down in fistic folklore. When he finally retired, in January of 2002 at
the age of fifty-two, his a professional record stood at a remarkable
104 wins (69 by KO) in 120 fights. They called him Manos de Piedra:
"Hands of Stone."
Journalist Christian Giudice's definitive, critically-acclaimed
biography tells the no-holds-barred of Duran's incredible life, both in
and out of the ring. Giudice interviewed the fighter, his family, his
closest friends and scores of his opponents to separate truth from myth
and fact from fable.
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. He grew into a fighter's fighter,
renowned for his speed, stamina, toughness and skill, but above all for
his unquenchable thirst for battle. His hunger to destroy opponents and
his willingness to take on anyone, anywhere, made him a huge fan
favorite, while his flamboyant lifestyle outside the ring made worldwide
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 have left an indelible mark on the world of
sport. His life is now the subject a major film starring Edgar Ramirez
as the boxer, Robert De Niro as his famed trainer, Ray Arcel, and Usher
as Ray Leonard.
Christian Giudice is a freelance journalist based in New Jersey. He
is also the author of The Rise and Fall of Alexis Arguello and A Fire
Burns Within: The Miraculous Journey of Wilfredo Gomez.
