Jean Duarte took up boxing with the Agen Boxing Academy in southwest France when he was 13-years-old. Duarte became a national amateur champion in both the super lightweight and lightweight divisions, in addition to representing the French boxing team from 1981 to 1986. In 1984 he was a last-minute call-up for the Olympics in Los Angeles, losing his opening bout to Mircea Fulger (ROU) after the referee stopped the contest. Two years later he turned professional, winning his first five fights, but was forced to retire from the ring in 1996 due to a knee injury. Despite the end of his competitive career, Duarte remained with the sport as a regional referee and a head judge.
France