Roberto Durán is doing better after a bout with coronavirus. Durán, 69, was discharged from the hospital Thursday after testing positive for the virus in June.

Durán announced the news on Instagram. In a post, he compared his fight with the virus to a world championship fight. Durán also included video featuring him getting discharged.

In June, Durán’s son Robin announced Durán was admitted to a hospital in Panama City and tested positive for coronavirus. Robin Durán said his father wasn’t dealing with extreme symptoms, and was told his lungs were still in good condition.

Roberto Durán retired from boxing in 2001 after a lengthy and historic career. Durán — who first fought professionally in 1968 — finished his career with a 103-16 record. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2007.

Via Yahoo Sports

Hall of Famer Roberto ‘Manos de Piedra’ Durán is recovering very well after testing positive for the coronavirus.

The multi-division former world champion has recovered to the point that he wants to be discharged from the hospital, reported one of his sons.

“My dad feels great, in fact he already wants to go home,” Robin Durán told a Panamanian television channel. “He has almost no symptoms and no fever.”

The Panamanian boxing legend, who turned 69 on June 16, was hospitalized this week with cold symptoms and subsequent examinations determined he had the COVID-19 infection. The news immediately triggered messages of encouragement on social media supporters, athletes and celebrities from all over the world.

Robin Durán said that his father will have to stay a few more days at the hospital due to precaution due to his age and the history of one of his lungs that was injured during a car accident in Argentina 19 years ago.

“The doctors told us that his evolution has been very good and that he has been attacking the disease before it reaches the point of complications,” he added to TVN Noticias.

Durán’s son told sports portal JMDeportes that his father probably became infected on his birthday when he met “a lot” of people who came to congratulate him at his home in the capital. He assured that his father had respected the quarantine.

“You already know what my dad is like, it is very difficult for him to close the doors to someone, and well, on that day, which was his birthday, they wanted to greet him, it was his mistake and he paid very dearly,” he said.

Duran had a brilliant career where he reached 103 victories, 70 of them by knockout, and 16 defeats.

The WBO family wishes as speedy recovery to our friend, the great Roberto “Manos de Piedra” Durán. Get well soon, Champ!

Family members have confirmed that the legendary Roberto “Hands of Stone” Duran has been hospitalized in a non-life-threatening condition on Thursday, and the retired boxing has tested positive for COVID-19.

The news came on a day when Panama set a new record for daily cases.

“Test results have just arrived for my dad, and they confirm he is positive for COVID-19,” one of the boxer’s sons, Robin Duran, indicated on Instagram.

“Thank God for now he doesn’t have symptoms beyond a cold. He is not in intensive care nor on a respirator, just under observation.”

According to his son, the 69-year-old Duran was only hospitalized as a precautionary measure for a “respiratory virus” – but he was tested upon admission and came up positive for COVID-19.

“We just spoke to the doctor who told us that his lungs are fine and there are no indications of severe (illness),” Robin Duran said. “We continue to have faith that everything will be ok.”

Duran, a national hero in Panama, has had numerous motion pictures and documentaries made on his life. He fought from 1970 to 2001, becoming a six time world champion along the way, and ended his career with a record of 103 wins, 16 defeats and 70 wins by knockout.

WBO Convention Awards / Special Recognitions at Gala

Tonight was the 31st WBO Convention Awards Gala at the Hotel El Panama in Panama City.

WBO Fight of the Year
Sho Kimura vs. Kosei Tanaka

WBO Female Fight of Year
Arely Muciño vs. Maria Salinas

WBO Female Fighter of the Year and Super Champion
Amanda Serrano

KO of The Year
Ángel ‘Tito’ Acosta v. Abraham Rodriguez

WBO Fighter of The Year
Terence Crawford

Upset of The Year
Eleider Alvarez TKO’s Sergey Kovalev

Special Recognition

1. Brian ‘Bo Mac’ McIntyre – Gordy Volkman Award for Outstanding Trainer

2. Eddie Hearn – The New Generation Award for Outstanding Promotions During 2018

3. Masayuki Ito v. Christopher “Pitufo” Díaz – for Outstanding Fight

4. Crawford, Montiel y Tanaka – Triple Crown Award for Winning WBO World Titles in Three Weight Divisions

5. Kosei Tanaka – Super Champion Belt – For Winning WBO World Titles in Three Weight Divisions

6. Promoter of The Year US – Bob Arum

7. Promoter of The Year Europe – Frank Warren

8. De La Hoya – Trailblazer Award for Ground Breaking Fight Series Transmitted Via Facebook Watch

9. Special recognition to Rosa Volante First female WBO World Champion

10. Special recognition Ahikiko Honda promoter Japan

11. Raja Amasheh First Female Fighter World Champion of The Middle East

12. Dariusz Michalczewski 22 titles defenses at Light Heavyweight Division

13. Ivan Calderón – Commitment to the Youth Boxing Program. WBO Two division Champion

14. Acelino Freites – WBOI Two division World Champion

15. Arthur Grigorian – Former WBO World Lightweight Champion who defended his word title 17 times

16. Jaime Munguia – Devasting Knockout Puncher

The president of the World Boxing Organization (WBO), Francisco “Paco” Varcarcel, informed today that the convention of the boxing organization will be held in Panama from October 29 to November 2.

“Nicaragua was the host, but because of the difficult situation that the country is experiencing, which I know that the Nicaraguan brothers will resolve. Therefore, it will be done in Panama, which was among the other possible sites along with Costa Rica,” the WBO chief told reporters, during his visit in Panama.

Varcarcel said the convention will be attended by great figures of world boxing and they have already confirmed the presence of former world champions among the more than 300 boxing people who will attend the WBO convention.

“We have already been confirmed by Juan Manuel Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera, Miguel Cotto and Wladimir Klitschko, and WBO super lightweight world champion Terence Crawford will be confirmed, everything will depend on his schedule of fights, including Jimmy Lennon Jr., who will be the master of ceremony at the gala,” he said.

He added that Cotto and Klitschko will be part of the figures that will be in the golf tournament that is scheduled for October 29, the day of the opening of the convention.

The convention will also feature seminars to improve the work of boxing officials and referees.

“Seminars for officers are very important, because on several occasions it is very sad to see how they vote,” he said.

Puerto Rican boxing promoter Peter Rivera said a boxing event will be held on October 31, where each of the promoters attending the convention will bring their best fighter to participate in the event.

“The gala is called WBO champions’ night and will be attended by the best national and international fighters watching the action,” said Rivera.

He also said that a recognition will be given to the Panamanian fighters who shined in the organization and stressed a tribute will be paid to Pedro “El Rockero” Alcázar, a fighter born in the Central American country and former WBO champion.

Source: ACAN/EFE

http://www.panamatoday.com/sports/panama-will-host-annual-convention-world-boxing-organization-7353