Boxing great Roberto Duran has suffered a heart issue and is continuing to receive treatment, his family revealed Saturday.
Duran, who was a champion in four different weight classes, ‘has suffered a health complication due to an atrioventricular blockade,’ his family said in a statement on Duran’s Instagram account.
‘We are waiting for results so that we can provide more information on his health,’ the statement continued. ‘We thank our relatives, friends and all of his supporters who are praying for him.’
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said in a social media post that the 72-year-old Duran was being treated in a hospital in his native Panama.
‘His family is joined by the world in prayers for his successful and prompt recovery, he is a champion and will win this fight,’ Sulaiman said in the post on X.
Duran attends the Hublot x WBC ‘Night of Champions’ Gala at the Encore Hotel in 2019
Duran celebrates with trainer Ray Arcel in the dressing room after beating Ken Buchanan
There has been an outpouring of support on social media, both in English and Spanish.
‘Que mejore el gran Manos de Piedra Durán,’ one fan wrote on X, referring to Duran by his nickname, ‘Hands of Stone.’
Duran retired in 2002 following a car crash in Argentina at age 50.
Marvin Hagler and Roberto Duran on the cover of Ring Magazine in October of 1983
The four-time world champion had broken ribs, a collapsed lung and other injuries in the crash.
Duran told the newspaper he would promote boxing matches and planned to act in a proposed film about his life. He also has been working as a singer.
‘As of now, I am exercising so that when the (retirement) honors arrive the people will see me in shape. I don’t want to (look) like Maradona did, all fat,’ Duran told newspaper El Panama America, referring to Argentine soccer star Diego Maradona.
Duran won Ken Buchanan’s WBA lightweight title in 1972, and his most famous victory was over Sugar Ray Leonard in a welterweight championship fight in 1980.
In a rematch against Leonard, Duran quit before the eighth round, saying, ‘No mas.’ He later won two other titles.
From 1967-01, Duran fought at least once every year except 1985. His career record was 104-16.
In Duran’s last fight, he lost by unanimous decision to 39-year-old Hector Camacho in July of 2001.