#62. Quinntessential Questions with Stitch Duran: Fields to the Garden: Stitch Duran's Story from Farm to UFC Legend
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In this episode of The Quinntessential Questions Podcast, Paul Quinn sits down with Jacob "Stitch" Duran, the world's most famous cutman, featured in Creed I, II, III, Rocky Balboa, and his Sundance documentary "Fields to the Garden."
From growing up in migrant camps with an address of "CPC Number 12, California Banking Company" to working Mike Tyson's corner for the Jake Paul fight in front of 60 million viewers, Stitch shares his incredible journey from farm worker to Hollywood to the biggest stages in combat sports.
He discusses learning Muay Thai in Thailand at 19 (without even knowing what Thailand was), becoming a cutman, working 30+ years with Mike Tyson, earning Vladimir Klitschko's trust ("you can call me son"), learning from Emanuel Steward and the meaning of "one more round," appearing in the Creed trilogy when Sylvester Stallone called him by name, the Kevin James slap that wasn't in the script, working the biggest cut in combat sports history, and returning to the migrant camps with mariachis where everyone cried because "my story was their story."
Whether you're an athlete, entrepreneur, or anyone who's overcome impossible odds, this conversation offers hard-won wisdom on perseverance, mastery, authenticity, and never forgetting where you came from. Let's explore what's "Inside the mind of the world's most famous cutman."
Guest Bio
Jacob "Stitch" Duran is an American professional cutman known for his work in professional boxing and mixed martial arts. Developing a reputation as one of the most skilled and trusted figures in the industry, Duran is one of the most reputable cutmen in combat sports.
Minutes
(00:00) Intro Teaser
(01:35) Introduction
(02:40) Growing up in migrant camps - "CPC Number 12"
(04:14) Documentary "Fields to the Garden" - Sundance 2025
(05:34) Fields to Madison Square Garden (08:13) Thailand at 19 - discovering Muay Thai
(11:01) Becoming a cutman
(14:22) Working with Randy Couture (19:04) "One more round" - people associate me with this worldwide
(21:21) Vladimir Klitschko: "You can call me son"
(34:15) Cutman products and techniques (43:38) The biggest cut ever - Marvin Eastman vs Vitor Belfort
(48:08) Mike Tyson and the Jake Paul fight
(59:22) Forrest Griffin vs Stephan Bonnar - the fight that changed UFC
(1:04:35) Movies: Play It to the Bone, Ocean's 11, Rocky Balboa
(1:09:35) Creed trilogy - Sylvester Stallone calls him by name
(1:11:00) Kevin James slap - Here Comes the Boom
(1:15:48) Caesars Palace and outdoor fights
(1:17:50) Emanuel Steward - the greatest trainer of all time
(1:21:50) Returning to migrant camps - "My story was their story"Behind-The-Scenes
