Juan Domingo Roldán (6 March 1957 – 18 November 2020) was an Argentine

professional boxer Professional boxing, or prizefighting, is regulated, sanctioned boxing. Professional boxing bouts are fought for a purse that is divided between the boxers as determined by contract. Most professional fights are supervised by a regulatory auth ...

, best remembered for his strong showing in the early rounds of an undisputed world championship bout against Marvelous Marvin Hagler. After flooring Hagler in the opening seconds Roldan was able to further enjoy success against the dominant middleweight champion. Hagler significantly injured Roldán's eye with the thumb of his glove. Roldán fought on, but was unable to continue and suffered a technical knockout. He retired for a couple of years before coming back with a campaign that took him to another middleweight world title bout, this time with

Thomas Hearns Thomas Hearns (born October 18, 1958) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1977 to 2006. Nicknamed the "Detroit, Motor City Cobra", and more famously "the Hitman", Hearns's tall, slender build and long arms and shoulders al ...

. In an exciting contest, Roldán shook Hearns early, but succumbed to a Hearns attack in the fourth. A final world middleweight title fight with Michael Nunn resulted in a loss by KO, following which Roldán ended his professional boxing career. Nicknamed ''Martillo'' (''Hammer'') Roldán often featured on '' Ring En Español'' magazine.

Career

Roldán made his professional debut on December 8, 1978 in San Francisco, Argentina, defeating Jorge Servin via first-round knockout. His first four wins all came by first round

knockout A knockout (abbreviated to KO or K.O.) is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, karate, some forms of taekwondo and other sports involving striking, ...

s. On May 11, 1979, Roldán went the distance for the first time when rival Hugo Obregón went ten rounds with him. Roldán won the fight on points. On September 21, 1979, he suffered the first defeat of his career to Juan Carlos Borgado, losing a ten-round decision. Out of his next eighteen bouts, he won seventeen and drew (tied) once. He then challenged Jacinto Fernández on March 13, 1981, for the Argentine Middleweight title, winning a twelve-round decision. 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 retained 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 second-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 Rhode Island ( ) is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Connecticut to its west; Massachusetts to its north and east; and the Atlantic Ocean to its south via Rhode Island Sound and Block Is ...

, 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 vs. Roberto Durán world title fight in

Las Vegas Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...

. 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 he accordingly met Hagler for the undisputed world middleweight title on March 30, 1984. Seconds into round one, the quick starting Roldán became the first and only boxer to score an official knockdown against Hagler, who though not hurt was disconcerted. In round three, Hagler was credited with a knockdown which was also dubious, after Roldán had got his feet tangled with the ring's ropes. Roldán showed less recklessness than previously in this contest, and utilizing his innate hand speed and a style difficult for southpaws to defend against, he landed scoring punches for the next few rounds while pressing the action. Though not rocking Hagler, they were considered surprising by commentators in view of his skills and Roldán's crude technique. However, by the middle of the bout, Hagler was winning every exchange. After being floored in the tenth, a swollen and cut Roldán quit, giving Hagler a win by technical knockout. The October after this bruising loss, Roldán announced his retirement. His knockdown of Hagler signaled the beginning of a renowned champion's decline, but none of the diminished Hagler's subsequent opponents were able to duplicate Roldán's feat which remained unique. In 1986, Roldán reconsidered his decision and made a comeback. He won thirteen bouts in a row, including one over James Kinchen, before he challenged for a world title again. On October 29, 1987, at Las Vegas,

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 rounds three and four. On September 16, 1988, Roldán beat former world Middleweight champion Hugo Corro via first-round knockout in

Mar del Plata Mar del Plata is a city on the coast of the Argentine Sea, Atlantic Ocean, in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. It is the seat of General Pueyrredón Partido, General Pueyrredón district. Mar del Plata is the second largest city in Buenos Aires ...

, 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.

Death

Roldán died on November 18, 2020, from

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...

during the COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina. He was 63.

Professional boxing record

, - , align="center" colspan=8, 67 Wins (47 knockouts, 20 decisions), 5 Losses (4 knockouts, 1 decision), 2 Draws, 1 No Contest''

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Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...

, U.S. , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Hugo Pastor Corro , KO , 1 , 16/09/1988 , align=left, Buenos Aire, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Miguel Angel Maldonado , KO , 6 , 19/08/1988 , align=left, San Miguel de Tucuman, Argentina , align=left, , - , Loss , , align=left,

, KO , 4 , 29/10/1987 , align=left,

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Comodoro Rivadavia Comodoro Rivadavia (), often shortened to Comodoro ( ), is a city in the Patagonian Provinces of Argentina, province of Chubut Province, Chubut in southern Argentina, located on the San Jorge Gulf, an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean, at the foot of th ...

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, U.S. , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Tomas Polo Ruiz , KO , 4 , 06/02/1987 , align=left,

Rosario Rosario () is the largest city in the central provinces of Argentina, Argentine province of Santa Fe Province, Santa Fe. The city, located northwest of Buenos Aires on the west bank of the Paraná River, is the third-most populous city in the ...

, Santa Fe, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Carlos Maria del Valle Herrera , KO , 2 , 13/12/1986 , align=left, Buenos Aire, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, JB Williamson , PTS , 10 , 18/10/1986 , align=left, Buenos Aire, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Juan Carlos Gimenez , PTS , 10 , 13/09/1986 , align=left, Buenos Aire, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Miguel Angel Maldonado , KO , 2 , 29/08/1986 , align=left,

, Santa Fe, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Darryl Penn , KO , 3 , 01/08/1986 , align=left, San Francisco, Cordoba, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Eduardo Domingo Contreras , PTS , 10 , 19/06/1986 , align=left, Cordoba, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Jorge Juan Salgado , PTS , 10 , 10/05/1986 , align=left, Buenos Aire, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Angel Antonio Caro , KO , 6 , 29/03/1986 , align=left, Villa Angela, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Juan Carlos "The King" Fernandez , KO , 2 , 14/02/1986 , align=left, Ceres, Santa Fe, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Andre Mongelema , PTS , 8 , 14/07/1984 , align=left,

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, U.S. , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Frank "The Animal" Fletcher , KO , 6 , 10/11/1983 , align=left,

, U.S. , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Eduardo Domingo Contreras , PTS , 10 , 16/09/1983 , align=left, San Francisco, Cordoba, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Roberto Justino Ruiz , KO , 8 , 06/08/1983 , align=left, Buenos Aire, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Teddy Mann , UD , 10 , 27/05/1983 , align=left,

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, U.S. , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Wilbur Henderson , KO , 7 , 11/02/1983 , align=left,

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, Argentina , align=left, , - , No Contest , , align=left, Juan Carlos Peralta , NC , 3 , 14/01/1983 , align=left, Trebol, Santa Fe, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Jose Alberto Vega , KO , 2 , 10/12/1982 , align=left, Cordoba, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Reggie Ford , KO , 1 , 30/10/1982 , align=left,

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, Italy , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Juan Carlos Peralta , PTS , 10 , 08/10/1982 , align=left, San Francisco, Cordoba, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Jacinto Horacio Fernandez , KO , 2 , 11/09/1982 , align=left, Buenos Aire, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Obdulio Rogelio Zarza , RTD , 6 , 13/08/1982 , align=left, Corrientes, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Ricardo Arce , KO , 2 , 10/07/1982 , align=left, Buenos Aire, Argentina , align=left, , - , Loss , , align=left, Ricardo Arce , DQ , 3 , 08/05/1982 , align=left, Buenos Aire, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Marcos Perez , KO , 1 , 16/04/1982 , align=left, Corrientes, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, "Sugar" Ray Phillips , KO , 1 , 06/03/1982 , align=left, Buenos Aire, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Carlos Flores Burlon , KO , 2 , 12/02/1982 , align=left, Pergamino, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Juan Carlos Peralta , PTS , 10 , 22/01/1982 , align=left, Morteros, Argentina , align=left, , - , Draw , , align=left, Jacinto Horacio Fernandez , PTS , 10 , 10/10/1981 , align=left, Buenos Aire, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Julio Cesar Arancibia , KO , 2 , 11/09/1981 , align=left, San Miguel de Tucuman, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Ricardo Molina Ortiz , KO , 5 , 24/07/1981 , align=left, San Miguel de Tucuman, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Jose Alberto Vega , KO , 1 , 10/07/1981 , align=left, San Francisco, Cordoba, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Obdulio Rogelio Zarza , PTS , 10 , 26/06/1981 , align=left,

San Salvador de Jujuy San Salvador de Jujuy (), commonly known as Jujuy and locally often referred to as San Salvador, is the capital and largest city of Jujuy Province in northwest Argentina. Also, it is the seat of the Doctor Manuel Belgrano Department. It lies near ...

, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Jose Maria Flores Burlon , TKO , 3 , 13/06/1981 , align=left, Buenos Aire, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Jacinto Horacio Fernandez , PTS , 12 , 13/03/1981 , align=left, San Francisco, Cordoba, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Manuel Navarro , KO , 6 , 13/02/1981 , align=left,

, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Marcos Perez , PTS , 10 , 16/01/1981 , align=left,

Villa Carlos Paz Villa Carlos Paz () is a city in the center-north of the provinces of Argentina, province of Córdoba Province (Argentina), Córdoba, Argentina, in the south of the Punilla Valley, lying on the western slope of the Sierras Chicas. It has a populati ...

, Argentina , align=left, , - , Draw , , align=left, Juan Carlos Peralta , PTS , 12 , 19/12/1980 , align=left, Cordoba, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Jose Luis Duran , KO , 6 , 05/12/1980 , align=left, San Francisco, Cordoba, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Enrique Coronel , KO , 7 , 21/11/1980 , align=left,

Salta, Argentina Salta () is the capital and largest city in the Argentine province of the same name. With a population of 618,375 according to the 2010 census, it is also the 7th most-populous city in Argentina. The city serves as the cultural and economic c ...

, align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Ramon Perez , PTS , 12 , 07/11/1980 , align=left, Cordoba, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Ricardo Molina Ortiz , PTS , 10 , 03/10/1980 , align=left, San Francisco, Cordoba, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Roberto Antonio Marziali , KO , 1 , 22/08/1980 , align=left, Las Varillas, Cordoba, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Obdulio Rogelio Zarza , PTS , 10 , 08/07/1980 , align=left, San Francisco, Cordoba, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Aldo Carmona , KO , 3 , 27/06/1980 , align=left,

, align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Jorge Juan Salgado , KO , 7 , 06/06/1980 , align=left, San Francisco, Cordoba, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Ricardo Molina Ortiz , PTS , 10 , 16/05/1980 , align=left, San Francisco, Cordoba, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Ramon Perez , KO , 8 , 11/04/1980 , align=left, San Francisco, Cordoba, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Alfredo B Cruz , KO , 7 , 15/03/1980 , align=left, Buenos Aire, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Marcos Perez , KO , 6 , 22/02/1980 , align=left, Cordoba, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Juan Carlos Bogado , PTS , 10 , 08/02/1980 , align=left, San Francisco, Cordoba, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Roberto Troilo Ortiz , KO , 2 , 18/01/1980 , align=left, San Francisco, Cordoba, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Alfredo B Cruz , RTD , 8 , 22/12/1979 , align=left,

Buenos Aires Buenos Aires, controlled by the government of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Argentina. It is located on the southwest of the Río de la Plata. Buenos Aires is classified as an Alpha− glob ...

, Argentina , align=left, , - , Loss , , align=left, Juan Carlos Bogado , RTD , 8 , 21/09/1979 , align=left, Cordoba, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Natalio O Ibarra , TKO , 4 , 07/09/1979 , align=left, Freyre, Cordoba, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Alberto R Cardozo , KO , 3 , 24/08/1979 , align=left, Morteros, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Ramon Perez , PTS , 12 , 10/08/1979 , align=left, San Francisco, Cordoba, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Alberto Juan Almiron , RTD , 5 , 20/07/1979 , align=left, Cordoba, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Oscar "The Grouch" Perez , KO , 2 , 29/06/1979 , align=left, Rafaela, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Hugo D Estefano Obregon , RTD , 11 , 08/06/1979 , align=left, San Francisco, Cordoba, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Natalio O Ibarra , PTS , 10 , 24/05/1979 , align=left, Brickman, Cordoba, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Hugo D Estefano Obregon , PTS , 10 , 11/05/1979 , align=left, Cordoba, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Oscar Francisco Lopez , KO , 4 , 20/04/1979 , align=left,

Sunchales, Santa Fe Sunchales is a city in the provinces of Argentina, province of Santa Fe Province, Santa Fe, Argentina. It has 21,304 inhabitants per the . It lies in the center-west of the province, from the provincial capital Santa Fe, Argentina, Santa Fe, on Na ...

, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Luis Carcacha , RTD , 3 , 06/04/1979 , align=left, San Francisco, Cordoba, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Irineo Claudio Cabrera , KO , 1 , 23/03/1979 , align=left, Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Luis Alberto Gutierrez , KO , 1 , 09/02/1979 , align=left, San Francisco, Cordoba, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Juan Carlos Hauscarriaga , KO , 1 , 26/01/1979 , align=left, Las Varillas, Cordoba, Argentina , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Jorge Servin , KO , 1 , 08/12/1978 , align=left, San Francisco, Cordoba, Argentina , align=left,

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Roldan, Juan 1957 births 2020 deaths Roldan Juan Argentine male boxers Middleweight boxers Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina 20th-century Argentine sportsmen