By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com
I am reluctant to expose the full contents of the latest boxing movie, Hands of Stone, as my intent is not to spoil it for those of you that have not seen it yet. I will just touch the tip of it in this review.
I was the first in line last Friday morning (11am) on the first day of release and the first showing at the theatre, so nobody could tell me anything about the movie before I could see it myself . Although I pretty much knew the whole story in following Roberto Duran in the five decades (1968-2001) of his boxing career, I was anxious to see it .
I consider Duran at the height, peak, prime, pinnacle of his career to be the greatest lightweight that I have seen at 135 pounds in my 55 years in covering boxing . Prior to his first bout with Sugar Ray Leonard, June 20, 1980, when he won the WBC welterweight championship, his ring record was an amazing 71-1 with 56 by knockout . I rate him #8 on my list among the greatest boxers of all time and second greatest lightweight of all time behind Benny Leonard and just ahead of Joe Gans.
The movie isn’t my favorite or the best boxing movie of all time (Raging Bull – is that), but it is certainly worth seeing. Robert De Niro is flawless portraying legendary trainer Ray Arcel and Actor Edgar Ramirez and the entire cast give good performances in the life of Roberto Duran, Manos de Piedra / El Cholo.
The movie is rated “R” for brief nudity and the “F” word. For those of you that plan to go see – ENJOY – I recommend!