A Living Legend in the Classroom: Jacob ‘Stitch’ Duran Visits LMU

Jacob "Stitch" Duran visited the LMU Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts to speak with Sports Studies students in their course "Brutal Economy of Boxing." Stitch is a legendary cutman in boxing and combat sports, as well as an actor, having played notable roles in the Creed films, Ocean's Eleven, and Play It to the Bone. During his visit, Stitch shared his experiences as a cutman in the brutal and beautiful world of boxing and MMA, bringing the course to life.

The professor of "Brutal Economy of Boxing", Rudy Mondragón, is an assistant professor of Chicana/o and Latina/o studies in BCLA and is also involved with the new Sports Studies minor. Mondragón specializes in the political economy of professional boxing; his teaching and research focus on the social impact of sport, labor, cultural identity, and performances of dissent and dignity. Through this course, Mondragón and his students examine the cultural politics and political economy of boxing from the 19th century to the contemporary era of professional prizefighting. He states how his course "explores boxing as an exploitative, high-risk labor economy while also highlighting how boxers contest dominant ideologies and structures, make claims to dignity through their work, and, at times, engage in acts of political dissent."

Currently, Mondragón is directing a film, "From the Fields to the Garden," that traces the life and journey of Jacob 'Stitch' Duran. He invited Stitch to shift the class's focus from the boxers themselves to the many individuals who work behind the scenes to sustain the sport. As a cutman, Stitch was responsible for preventing and treating lacerations, stopping nosebleeds, and managing fighters' injuries between rounds. During his talk with the students, Stitch shared stories of working with renowned fighters and his times in the ring. He also reflected on his work in film, collaborating with directors such as Sylvester Stallone and Michael B. Jordan.

Stitch's story, however, began in California's agricultural fields, where he worked under harsh and exploitative conditions. He discussed this part of his journey with the students, emphasizing the importance of "generosity, collectivity, and giving back." Not only did Stitch become a legendary cutman, but he also emerged as an advocate for fighters' rights, notably challenging the UFC's outfitting policy that restricted athletes' ability to earn supplemental income through sponsorships in 2015.

Having a seasoned, experienced cutman to speak with students in the "Brutal Economy of Boxing" brought the students' learning to life. Romeo Portillo '27 stated how Stitch's visit "tied directly into our class discussions on identity, branding, and value in boxing". Leon Bera '27 reflected, "Sometimes classes can feel like simply learning theory, almost as if in a vacuum. While many classes teach us about culture and contemporary issues, sometimes it takes a living legend to show up and share his personal experiences and understandings for us to realize that these matters are more than just lectures and lessons, but living, breathing ecosystems for us to immerse ourselves in and appreciate."

Through this experience, students gained real-life insight into the world of boxing and even got a sneak peek at the documentary their professor is working on about Stitch! "The trailer looked very good," said student Jack Keating '28. "It was really cool to see and hear my professor on the screen with all these famous athletes; it really shows that his work is important and relevant to what he is teaching in our class."