Juan Roldán
Encyclopedia
Juan Domingo Roldán (born March 6, 1957) is an Argentine
former boxer
whose nickname was Martillo (Hammer). Roldán was very famous across Latin America during the 1980s, many articles about him appearing on Ring En Español
magazine.
Roldán, born in Freyre, Córdoba Province, Argentina province, made his professional debut December 8, 1978 in San Francisco, Argentina, against Jorge Servin, winning by knockout in round one. His first four wins all came by first round knockout
s.
On May 11, 1979, Roldán fought the full distance in one of his bouts for the first time, when rival Hugo Obregon went ten rounds with him. Roldán won the fight on points. On September 21, 1979, Juan Carlos Borgado became the first boxer to defeat Roldán, winning a ten round decision over Roldán.
Out of his next eighteen bouts, he won seventeen and drew (tied) once. Then, he challenged Jacinto Fernandez on March 13, 1981, for the Argentine Middleweight title. He won the national title with a twelve round decision over Fernandez. In his next fight, he beat José María Flores Burlón
, a boxer who would later challenge Carlos De León
for the world's Cruiserweight title. Roldán won six more fights and drew one before challenging José Maria's brother, Carlos Flores Burlón for the South American Middleweight title, on February 12, 1982. He won the title with a second round knockout.
Before 1982 was over, he would see more action, retaining his Argentine Middleweight title with a first round knockout of Marcos Perez, but losing on a disqualification in three rounds to Ricardo Arce. In an immediate rematch, Roldán put his Argentine title on the line and this time, he avenged his defeat to Arce with a two round knockout win. After five more wins in a row, he fought Juan Carlos Peralta, with the fight resulting in a three round no contest
.
On May 27, 1983, Roldán made his international debut, with a 10 round decision over Teddy Mann in Rhode Island
, United States. After retaining his Argentine title twice more, he was faced, on November 10, 1983, with one of the top rated Middleweights of the time, Frank 'The Animal' Fletcher, at the undercard of the high-profile, Marvin Hagler
-Roberto Durán
world title fight in Las Vegas, Nevada
. Roldán dropped Fletcher twice on his way to a sixth round knockout victory.
After this win, Roldán was ranked number 1 by the major boxing organizations, and many fans began to speculate as to what would happen if he and Hagler met. The contracts for the fight were signed, and the fight finally came off on March 30, 1984. Roldán in this fight had the moment that probably defines his career better. Seconds into round one, as Hagler was bending to duck a Roldán punch, Roldán struck him in the back of the head, and Hagler went to the floor. Referee Tony Perez officially ruled it a knockdown, making Roldán the first man to drop Hagler. This was a controversial knockdown, however, many fans, magazines and websites have tirelessly claimed that the knockdown was actually a slip and not a knockdown. Hagler got up and proceeded to beat Roldán by a ten round technical knockout, and Roldán announced his retirement from boxing in October of that year. Roldán remained the only guy to officially score a knockdown against Hagler.
In 1986, he reconsidered his decision and made a comeback. He won twelve bouts in a row, including one over James Kinchen, before he challenged for a world title again. On October 29, 1987, at Las Vegas, Thomas Hearns
became the first boxer to win world titles in four different divisions when he beat Roldán in four rounds by knockout, but not before Roldán had Hearns in trouble in round three.
On September 16, 1988, Roldán beat former world Middleweight champion Hugo Corro
by a knockout in round one in Mar del Plata
, securing a third world title shot, against Michael Nunn
, on November 4 of that year. Roldán lost what turned out to be his last fight, by a knockout in round eight.
Roldán retired with a record of 67 wins, 5 losses, 2 draws and one no contest, 47 of his wins being by knockout.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
former boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
whose nickname was Martillo (Hammer). Roldán was very famous across Latin America during the 1980s, many articles about him appearing on Ring En Español
Ring En Español
The Ring En Español was a Spanish version of boxing publication The Ring magazine. Ring En Español was published from 1977 to 1985. Originally published from Caracas, it moved in 1981 to Miami, to Editorial America , the same editorial house that oversaw the production of Cosmopolitans Spanish...
magazine.
Roldán, born in Freyre, Córdoba Province, Argentina province, made his professional debut December 8, 1978 in San Francisco, Argentina, against Jorge Servin, winning by knockout in round one. His first four wins all came by first round knockout
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
s.
On May 11, 1979, Roldán fought the full distance in one of his bouts for the first time, when rival Hugo Obregon went ten rounds with him. Roldán won the fight on points. On September 21, 1979, Juan Carlos Borgado became the first boxer to defeat Roldán, winning a ten round decision over Roldán.
Out of his next eighteen bouts, he won seventeen and drew (tied) once. Then, he challenged Jacinto Fernandez on March 13, 1981, for the Argentine Middleweight title. He won the national title with a twelve round decision over Fernandez. In his next fight, he beat José María Flores Burlón
Jose Maria Flores Burlon
José María Flores Burlón is a former boxer from Uruguay. Flores Burlón had a total of 115 professional bouts. He tried, without success, to become Uruguay's first world boxing champion.-Beginning:...
, a boxer who would later challenge Carlos De León
Carlos De Leon
Carlos De León, also known as "Sugar" De Leon, is a Puerto Rican former boxer who made history by becoming the first Cruiserweight to win the world title twice. Subsequently, he kept breaking his own record for the most times as Cruiserweight champion by regaining it twice more.- Career :De León,...
for the world's Cruiserweight title. Roldán won six more fights and drew one before challenging José Maria's brother, Carlos Flores Burlón for the South American Middleweight title, on February 12, 1982. He won the title with a second round knockout.
Before 1982 was over, he would see more action, retaining his Argentine Middleweight title with a first round knockout of Marcos Perez, but losing on a disqualification in three rounds to Ricardo Arce. In an immediate rematch, Roldán put his Argentine title on the line and this time, he avenged his defeat to Arce with a two round knockout win. After five more wins in a row, he fought Juan Carlos Peralta, with the fight resulting in a three round no contest
No contest (boxing)
No contest is a technical term used in some combat sports to describe a fight that ends for reasons outside the fighters' hands.-Boxing:...
.
On May 27, 1983, Roldán made his international debut, with a 10 round decision over Teddy Mann in Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, United States. After retaining his Argentine title twice more, he was faced, on November 10, 1983, with one of the top rated Middleweights of the time, Frank 'The Animal' Fletcher, at the undercard of the high-profile, Marvin Hagler
Marvin Hagler
Marvelous Marvin Hagler , is a former professional boxer who was undisputed world middleweight champion between 1980 and 1987. Hagler holds the distinction of having the highest KO% of all middleweight champions at 78%...
-Roberto Durán
Roberto Durán
Roberto Durán Samaniego is a retired professional boxer from Panama, widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time. A versatile brawler in the ring, he was nicknamed "Manos de Piedra" during his career....
world title fight in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
. Roldán dropped Fletcher twice on his way to a sixth round knockout victory.
After this win, Roldán was ranked number 1 by the major boxing organizations, and many fans began to speculate as to what would happen if he and Hagler met. The contracts for the fight were signed, and the fight finally came off on March 30, 1984. Roldán in this fight had the moment that probably defines his career better. Seconds into round one, as Hagler was bending to duck a Roldán punch, Roldán struck him in the back of the head, and Hagler went to the floor. Referee Tony Perez officially ruled it a knockdown, making Roldán the first man to drop Hagler. This was a controversial knockdown, however, many fans, magazines and websites have tirelessly claimed that the knockdown was actually a slip and not a knockdown. Hagler got up and proceeded to beat Roldán by a ten round technical knockout, and Roldán announced his retirement from boxing in October of that year. Roldán remained the only guy to officially score a knockdown against Hagler.
In 1986, he reconsidered his decision and made a comeback. He won twelve bouts in a row, including one over James Kinchen, before he challenged for a world title again. On October 29, 1987, at Las Vegas, Thomas Hearns
Thomas Hearns
Thomas "Hitman" Hearns is a retired American boxer. Nicknamed the "Motor City Cobra" and more famously "The Hitman", Hearns became the first boxer in history to win world titles in four divisions. He would also become the first fighter in history to win five world titles in five different divisions...
became the first boxer to win world titles in four different divisions when he beat Roldán in four rounds by knockout, but not before Roldán had Hearns in trouble in round three.
On September 16, 1988, Roldán beat former world Middleweight champion Hugo Corro
Hugo Corro
Hugo Pastor Corro , better known plainly as Hugo Corro, was a former boxer from Argentina who was world Middleweight champion....
by a knockout in round one in Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata is an Argentine city located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, south of Buenos Aires. Mar del Plata is the second largest city of Buenos Aires Province. The name "Mar del Plata" had apparently the sense of "sea of the Río de la Plata region" or "adjoining sea to the Río de la Plata"...
, securing a third world title shot, against Michael Nunn
Michael Nunn
Michael Nunn is a former American boxer. Nicknamed "Second to Nunn," he was a 6' 2" southpaw with great speed. Nunn was the IBF middleweight champion and the WBA super middleweight champion...
, on November 4 of that year. Roldán lost what turned out to be his last fight, by a knockout in round eight.
Roldán retired with a record of 67 wins, 5 losses, 2 draws and one no contest, 47 of his wins being by knockout.