Even at the age of 37, Roberto Duran was still an absolute warrior - as he proved in his 1989 war against Iran Barkley.

There have been many iconic figures to come through the sport of boxing over the years and that’s almost certainly an understatement. From generational talents to cultural icons and beyond, so many men and women have made their mark on an artform that many critics often dismiss as being little more than an organised scrap.

Alas, we all know that isn’t the case, and someone like Roberto Duran is the perfect example of someone who can push back against such a stereotype through what he’s done inside the squared circle.

Panama’s boxing king won world titles in four different weight classes, he inspired a generation, and he’s widely considered to be one of the greatest fighters of all-time.

Some fans who haven’t seen his work may not be able to fully grasp what he brought to the table. Still, there’s enough tape out there to help educate the masses, with the following clip of Duran battling it out with Iran Barkley going viral on social media recently.

The contest went down in February 1989 in Atlantic City with a lively crowd in attendance to watch the action go down. For the majority of the contest, and especially in the second half of it, these two warriors stood in the pocket and traded shots as if their life depended on it.

They were colliding over the WBC middleweight title and after 12 gruelling rounds, Duran was lifted high into the air and declared the winner via split decision.

The icon

Roberto Duran is one of those fighters who almost immediately has the respect of an entire room whenever he walks into it. The 71-year-old saw his professional career last from 1968 all the way through until 2001, at which point he retired from the game with an insane record of 103-16. Yes, you heard that correctly, 103 pro wins.

Duran dabbled in being a trainer after his time as an active competitor and even to this day, you can tell his passion for boxing is still strong.