Juan Roldán

Roldán, born in Freyre, Córdoba Province, Argentina, 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 knockouts.

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 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, 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, Marvelous 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 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. Roldán showed less recklessness than previously and utilising 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 the durable Hagler, they were considered surprising by commentators in view of his skills and Roldán's crude technique. However, the middle of the bout Hagler had scored a knockdown, and 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 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 rounds three and four.

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.

Roldán died on November 18, 2020 of COVID-19 at the age of 63.[1]

• Boxing record for Juan Roldán from BoxRec