• Loading stock data...
Thursday, July 3, 2025

‘I am Durán’ Allows Director to Explore Duality of Sports, Politics in Film

I am Durán
I am Durán

Roberto Durán will forever be known as a fighter – both in the boxing ring and on behalf of the people of Panama.

It’s that story of an imperfect hero and his home country that drew British Sports documentarian Mat Hodgson to the legendary boxer, resulting in a new documentary that chronicles Duran’s career.

“I wanted something political, and this struck this duality of nation and sporting play,” said Hodgson, who spent four years working on the film.

READ MORE: Documentary Tells Icelandic Gender Equality Story Through Snowboarding

The resulting movie, “I am Durán” will be released on June 4, distributed for digital download through Universal Pictures.

Hodgson was drawn to the story of Panamanian Durán, whose rise to fame and rollercoaster story parallels that of Panama’s political struggles.

Durán spent five decades boxing, with periods of success and defeat both in the ring and in life in politically unstable Panama. He held world lightweight, welterweight, light middleweight, middleweight and super middleweight titles during his career that spanned from 1968 to 2001, fighting to a 103-16 career record. He’s a member of the World Boxing Hall of Fame and International Boxing Hall of Fame, and was voted best lightweight boxer of the 20th century by the Associated Press.

“We went to research, lots of interviews rather than books, and got on the streets and they all corroborated the idea with this hero, they needed a hero in these dark years,” Hodgson said.

The documentary features a star-studded cast of interviews, including Durán, Sylvester Stallone, Robert De Niro, Don King and Sugar Ray Leonard. The lengthy production schedule helped in gathering some of the interviews, but there was an added weight to the story.

“It speaks to the pull of Roberto Durán,” Hodgson said. “Picking up the phone, it felt like we’d get a little further.”

[mc4wp_form id=”8260″]

The documentary also features the last filmed interview with former dictator Manuel Noriega, who is built into a “haunting character” before his interview is revealed during the movie. Noriega died in May 2017 after serving nearly three decades in prison.

“It gives credibility on the political side aside from sports,” Hodgson said. “He was a world-renowned dictator and that was real spooky to be face-to-face with him.”

As the film has premiered, Hodgson is happy with the way it has been received, especially in Panama, where he was worried he might not do the story justice.

“I didn’t want to mess up their story, it’s a very complex story, no black and white, it’s muddled,” he said.

With new media platforms emerging regularly and thousands of pieces of content, there’s nearly endless competition for consumer attention. While there is space for puff pieces and base observational documentaries, Hodgson said he prefers to look toward stories with duality like Durán’s.

READ MORE: How Access Has Changed The Conversation Around Digital Storytelling

“There are a lot of sports documentaries out and that’s great and shows there’s an appetite and audience,” Hodgson said. “Consumers are probably getting spoiled right now. The standard has been raised, both in observational and rear-facing content.

As Hodgson works through the release of “I am Durán” and moves on to his next projects, he hopes he can continue to find a good intersection of sport and culture to ensure at least some people find his work interesting. He’s currently working on principal photography on a film about Manchester United legend Eric Cantona.  

“You don’t need to be gimmicky,” he said. “You find your storytelling tone and you apply that to the work.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Includes Huge Tax Hike for Pro Gamblers

It was not clear who lobbied for this provision to be included in the bill, or why.
Jun 10, 2025; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) drops back to pass during minicamp at their South Side facility.
opinion

Steelers Win-Now Mode Is Good News for NFL Media Partners

The conservative “Steeler Way” has finally adapted—and media partners are happy.

The Battle Over Wimbledon’s Ambitious Expansion Plan

A classic NIMBY standoff on one of the most hallowed grounds in sports.
Seattle Rough & Tumble

Women’s Sports Bars Are on the Rise. Survival Isn’t Guaranteed

Some women’s sports bars are cashing in. Others are clawing for funding.

Featured Today

Shitposters Have Taken the Reins of Pro Sports’ Official Voices

Meet the social media pros turning sports teams into internet trolls.
Jun 17, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) hoists the Stanley Cup after winning game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena
June 26, 2025

Stanley Cup’s International Summer Tour: Rules, Repairs, and Raucousness

No pro trophy tour compares to the NHL’s three-month global victory lap.
Mar 15, 2025; Fort Worth, TX, USA; UAB Blazers forward Yaxel Lendeborg (3) dribbles the ball upcourt against the North Texas Mean Green during the first half at Dickies Arena
June 22, 2025

NIL Is Shrinking the Pool of NBA Draft Entrants

Agents are now advising many players to stay in school.
Apr 24, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter on the red carpet before the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field
June 21, 2025

‘More Is More’: The Elite Luxury Jewelers Decking Out Athletes

Meet the elite group of luxury designers crafting the biggest statement pieces.

Paramount Settles Trump Suit Ahead of NFL Season, Skydance Merger

The deal likely allows the much larger Skydance merger deal to proceed.
June 24, 2025

Fever vs. Aces Draws 5th-Largest TV Audience of 2025 WNBA Season

ESPN will carry seven more Indiana Fever games this year.
Leo Messi
June 27, 2025

TNT, Club World Cup Ride Messi to Surprisingly Solid Debut Ratings

TNT Sports carries about a third of matches in the U.S.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
June 23, 2025

NBA Finals Game 7 Is Most-Watched Since 2019, but Series Drops 9%

Game 7 drew 16.35 million viewers, the most-watched NBA game since 2019.
June 19, 2025

Pacers Force Game 7, Could Spark Big Ratings Boost for NBA Finals

Game 7 could boost NBA Finals ratings after a slow start this year.
June 17, 2025

Stanley Cup Final Delivers Drama but Struggles for Eyeballs in U.S.

U.S. viewership fell while Canadian audiences for the event rose slightly.
June 17, 2025

Streaming Tops Linear for First Time, Sports Still Key to TV’s Resilience

Streaming hits another critical milestone in an accelerating media transition.