Jacob 'Stitch' Duran's life of a cut-man: Treating boxers' injuries, psychology in the corner, and the art of hand-wrapping (2024)

Blood was streaming down his face, and there were just 60 seconds to stem the flow or risk a lifelong dream being ended.

The wound was severe but when the disorientated fighter slumped in his corner, he received soothing words of encouragement and, before he knew it, had been granted one more round to salvage his hopes.

This is the mantra of Jacob Duran, boxing's most recognisable cut-man, affectionately nicknamed 'Stitch' for his ability to prevent a fighter visiting the hospital.

"A doctor stops a fight when a fighter is at a disadvantage. My job, first and foremost, is to eliminate any disadvantage. My job is to give them one more round," Stitch exclusively told Sky Sports.

"I focus on the cut and look into a fighter's eyes - if I notice he is not capable, then I make recommendations [to stop] to the coach. You have to make split-second decisions."

The corner of a struggling fighter between rounds is not an easy place to work. "There's a certain bond," Stitch explains bluntly.

Stitch's skill-set is not just medical, but also psychological. His care and words during 60 seconds of panic can rescue lost causes. But did he study formally to accrue these abilities?

"Yes, it's called street-wise.

"It's natural, I know how to put people at ease. It's a trait I've been blessed with that comes from street experience.

"My job is not to give instructions but usually, when I say something, guys know there's a lot of truth to it."

The 65-year-old from California was in the Air Force as a youngster - "For us it's sport but, for them, it's the real deal" - and discovered boxing and martial arts upon his travels. He knew then that he wasn't queasy with blood but his current career path is not something that can be studied for.

The worst boxing cut that Stitch has ever treated? It remains at the forefront of his memory: "Raul Marquez, the IBF super-welterweight champion, fought Keith Mullings. Raul had five cuts and needed 70 stitches - a big gash on each eyebrow, one on the nose, and one on each cheek. I kept him in the game and he won the fight. That was my coming out party - it was my introduction into working A-level championship fights."

Stitch's list of clients grew to include some of the world's finest boxers and UFC fighters, all of whom valued his ability to give them 'one more round'. His cult status opened opportunities to play himself on Hollywood silver screens, notably in a Rocky film when he patched up Rocky Balboa himself.

It was on the set of Ocean's Eleven that he met Wladimir Klitschko, the client with whom Stitch has forged the closest connection. They have worked together for the last 24 of Klitschko's 69 fights. At Wembley Stadium in April, with Anthony Joshua awaiting across the ring, Stitch promised to take care of Klitschko "like a son" and the great veteran replied by insisting they are now family.

Stitch's importance can be explained with backstage shenanigans that usually remain top secret. He remembered calming Klitschko before the Joshua fight: "We were reminiscing about the good times we've had. I had kept my corner-man's jacket from Ocean's Eleven - in the dressing room I pulled it out and gave it to Wladimir. His eyes lit up.

"In the fight he had a bad cut on his left eyebrow which I kept under control. In the corner I had to inspire him. I let him know that he was OK.

"He called a few weeks later and said: 'Dad, of all the fights I've had, I've never gotten the respect that I got [by the fans at Wembley]'. It was beautiful."

Did Stitch help Klitschko with the decision to retire instead of rematching Joshua? "He knows I tell him the truth…"

Hand-wrapping is another craft that Stitch has turned into an art form. He knows how best to apply hand-wraps underneath the glove just by analysing the bone density of a fighter's hand, he claims.

"I met Joe Smith, who beat Bernard Hopkins, for the first time on the Thursday before the fight on Saturday. We talked about his hands, any issues or injuries. I showed him how I wrap, and told him we can make adjustments. Come fight night, I know the formula he wants. The kid loved it. I had done my job.

"Wrapping the hands is the first step of going into battle. Lots of people can wrap hands, but not many can do the psychological aspect that I'm very good at. I try to relax guys. I've had some guys literally cry."

Stitch believes his expertise might have softened the hand injuries that bothered Floyd Mayweather through the final years of his 50-0 career.

"No doubt about it - I adjust to whatever injury a fighter has. I definitely could have helped.

"Early in Floyd's career he was auditioning for someone to wrap his hands. I walked into the gym. I watched someone else wrap his hands and said: 'it's too tight, I can tell'.

"I could have said: 'Floyd, let me wrap your hands'. I would have gotten the assignment. My mistake was having too much respect for the other guy, who ended up getting the assignment. That's one of those times that you kick yourself."

Stitch might have opposed Mayweather had negotiations to help Conor McGregor been fruitful.

"I was so close," he explained. "Experience-wise, I could have brought value in the corner to help McGregor go 12 rounds. I would have helped him make adjustments. [McGregor] lost his composure and, at that point, I would have told him what to do."

But are these unique skills transferable? You wonder whether boxing's most trusted cut-man could deal with an everyday ailment.

"My son, when he was two-years-old, slipped in the bathtub and cut himself. I cleaned it up.

"No stitches were required."

Watch Joshua vs Pulev, live from the Principality Stadium, Cardiff, on Saturday, October 28, live on Sky Sports Box Office.