Robert De Niro honoured, former boxer Roberto Duran in tears at Cannes

It has been a while since legendary boxer Roberto Duran had a crowd on their feet chanting his name, but they did in Cannes on Monday after a screening of a film on his life starring Robert De Niro

Paris: It has been a while since legendary boxer Roberto Duran had a crowd on their feet chanting his name, but they did in Cannes on Monday after a screening of a film on his life starring Robert De Niro.

Grace Hightower, actor Robert De Niro (centre) and legendary boxer Roberto Duran at the "Hands Of Stone" premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in France on Monday. Pic/Getty Images

Both De Niro and Duran had tears in their eyes as they embraced to a standing ovation after the moving tale of the Panamanian's journey to boxing stardom in "Hands of Stone" in Cannes, where De Niro was honoured for his five decade-long acting career.

"I don't know what to say, it's just great. All I can say is thank you," a visibly moved De Niro said after a clip was played showing many of his roles from "Casino" to "Taxi Driver".

"It's a great honour to be honoured here in Cannes. As I've said before and will say again: Thank god for the French," said the 72-year-old New Yorker.

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