Édgar Ramírez and Roberto Durán Talk HANDS OF STONE in LA

Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty. Courtesy of The Weinstein Company

Latino icons rarely make it to the big screen. At least not in such a big way like HANDS OF STONE, a movie based on the incredible story of Panamanian boxer Roberto Durán, one of the best athletes in history.

In a recent press day in Beverly Hills I had the pleasure of being part of a round table with Venezuelan actor Édgar Ramírez and “Mano de Piedra” himself. Below are some of the insights that both shared.

On training like a real boxer

Édgar Ramírez:I moved to Panama and started training with Roberto’s sons at the beginning. Just to start learning the basics. Then I worked with other people. It was tough: At least 5 hours a day, divided in two sets of training. I did the road work at night, as it’s called. In Panama you either run at night or very early in the morning or you just melt. I would rest in the morning and then train at noon. The place was so hot! The roof was made of zinc so it was like training in a sauna. It was meant to get your articulations ready and sweat a lot. Then in an air-conditioned room you would just fly. To play a boxer I had to go through that. You can’t imagine it, nor imitate it. Specially with a legend like Roberto. I couldn’t have done the choreographies based on his fights if I didn’t learn how to fight first. It had changed my life.

Roberto Durán: What people doesn’t understand is that when you train, your mind gets sharper and you get smarter. You think fast!

Ramírez: You make better decisions.

On how accurate the story is

Durán: I gave them a good material and the freedom to tell the story. I didn’t even want to show up there.

Ramírez: That speaks of how intelligent and sensible he is. He had such a big personality that he knew that if he visited the set he would get everybody nervous, starting with me.

Durán: Because if there was a scene that I didn’t like, I would have sent him back to Venezuela [laughs].

Ramírez: But at the same time he was very present. One of his sons is a producer of the film. We were together all the time.

On playing someone with a strong ego but also insecurities

I think that there are contradictions, but no insecurities. If there is someone that has no insecurities is Roberto Durán. You can’t fight with another person if you don’t fully believe in yourself. The contradictions make the story fascinating. In the ring he looks ferocious and angry, but that is in total contrast with his level of tenderness and compassion.

The film, written and directed by Jonathan Jakubowicz (Secuestro express), also stars Robert De Niro, Ana de Armas, Ellen Barkin, John Turturro, Drena De Niro, Reg E. Cathey, Óscar Jaenada, Usher Raymond, Yancey Arias, and Rubén Blades.

HANDS OF STONE is now playing in theaters nationwide.

Follows the life of Roberto Duran, who made his professional debut in 1968 as a 16-year-old and retired in 2002 at age 50. In June 1980, he defeated Sugar Ray Leonard to capture the WBC welterweight title but shocked the boxing world by returning to his corner in the November rematch, saying ‘no mas’ (no more).