would you keep liking a boxer
who quitted in the middle of a fight, like Duran??

Yes, I cant believe people were calling him a coward after that fight, I thought it showed balls to say I quit and admit that your opponent was too good for you that night. He knew it wouldn't go down well with the boxing community but still went ahead with it, I admire that.

I don't see what the problem is with a fighter quitting a fight. I mean, the way I see it, if another boxer is just beatin me down, I'm callin it a night. The hell would I further endanger my health for? The crowd? Hell nah, when it comes down to it they don't really care what happens to fighters. Only the fighters, the families, and the coach cares about that. I say if your getting a beating that bad, call it a night, take a couple days off and head back into the gym and try to get better.

There is no excuse for what Duran did that night. I think he was an incredibly tough guy and a vicious boxer but that fight will forever taint his image. It wasn't like he simply stayed down after taking a terrible beating; he quit because he was frustrated. He had been outboxed and outclassed and caved in from the humiliation. That is inexcusable for an athlete who was being paid as much as he was to perform.

There is no excuse for what Duran did that night. I think he was an incredibly tough guy and a vicious boxer but that fight will forever taint his image. It wasn't like he simply stayed down after taking a terrible beating; he quit because he was frustrated. He had been outboxed and outclassed and caved in from the humiliated. That is inexcusable for an athlete who was being paid as much as he was to perform.
I completely agree, they are getting paid good money to risk themselves the way they do. duran shouldn't have quit because he was frustrated that was low. If a fighter quits after being hurt and you can't really tell if he is hurt or quitting then thats when its OK because on one will find out otherwise it just shows someones a coward.

I think you owe it to the fans who paid good money to see the fight to finish it.

There is no excuse for what Duran did that night. I think he was an incredibly tough guy and a vicious boxer but that fight will forever taint his image. It wasn't like he simply stayed down after taking a terrible beating; he quit because he was frustrated. He had been outboxed and outclassed and caved in from the humiliated. That is inexcusable for an athlete who was being paid as much as he was to perform.


That's probably the only incidence of this where I would cut the quitter absolutely no slack. After all the **** he said about Leonard and his family before the first fight, and undoubtedly before the second as well, and then to quit like a pansy was for me, unforgivable. If he hadn't talked all that ****, maybe I would say "well he just realized he wasn't in the fight, and saw no way to get himself back in it..." no, I take that back, I would still call him a pansy, it's not like he was being beaten badly, just humiliated.

If your just frusterated over whats going on then it is disgracefull to just quit. However, if your taking a horrible beating and quit, well, then you will live to fight another day when maybe your game is on.............Rockin'

Exactly Rockin. Max Baer staying on his knee and letting himself get counted out against Louis? Smart. Duran quitting versus Leonard? A disgrace.

golota did this too in the tyson bout, IMO, to quit when being pummelled and hurt is ok but out of frustration, thats another thing. boxing is a profession and people paid good money to watch a fight its not a just a backyard game when you can call it even when you want to. boxers get himself in the match, at least give dignity in finishing the bout...

If your just frusterated over whats going on then it is disgracefull to just quit. However, if your taking a horrible beating and quit, well, then you will live to fight another day when maybe your game is on.............Rockin'


I agree, that's what made it so bad for me is that he was never in trouble, he was just being embarassed. I'll bet if he would have known that Leonard wasn't going to lay on the ropes again, and was going to fight his fight, instead of Duran's, he wouldn't have been so eager to fight him again.

golota

Even though Golata did punk out when he fought Tyson, at least he can say he punked out to Tyson, one of the greatest punchers who ever lived..Imagine Duran's humility, quitting vs Ray Leonard, who had some power but not much

someone ask holyfield about his views on quiting.

I completely agree, they are getting paid good money to risk themselves the way they do. duran shouldn't have quit because he was frustrated that was low. If a fighter quits after being hurt and you can't really tell if he is hurt or quitting then thats when its OK because on one will find out otherwise it just shows someones a coward.
Duran is a legend that has had 119 fights in his pro career, a champion in four different weight divisions, he's anything but a coward.

When you look at cases like Duk Ku Kim and Gerald McClellan it makes you think that maybe quitting in a fight isn't such a bad thing.

I agree that Duran was an excellent fighter with more heart than most in his early days. But on the night that he rematched Leonard and quit I believe that the word coward fits pretty well. He wasnt getting bombed and I dont believe that he was even cut. He just quit, he was being outclassed. Because he did not have the heart to continue, to maybe try and find a way to get to him. Plain and simple, he just quit.........Rockin'

Well I dont think any boxer can be called a coward, I wouldn't want to be a boxer does that make me a coward.

I agree that Duran was an excellent fighter with more heart than most in his early days. But on the night that he rematched Leonard and quit I believe that the word coward fits pretty well. He wasnt getting bombed and I dont believe that he was even cut. He just quit, he was being outclassed. Because he did not have the heart to continue, to maybe try and find a way to get to him. Plain and simple, he just quit.........Rockin'





Duran had claimed that he had severe stomach cramps the night he quit against Leonard. If he was in severe pain I don't see him quitting as a bad thing.

Thats a good point reality, no boxer is a coward. I am one who certainly knows this and am quite ashamed for even stating that. If I can think of a kinder word that would go with what duran did that night I will use it, possibly disgracefull.........Rockin'

fighters are trained to work through those things. Cracked ribs, busted noses, blood gushing in their eyes from a severe gash over the eye. In the amatuers the first thing it seems I remember about beginning sparring was to work through the cramps. In the corner I'd say that I have a cramp. A squirt of water and a little pep talk and I was out for another round, and my trainer was correct, I never did die from it........Rockin'

fighters are trained to work through those things. Cracked ribs, busted noses, blood gushing in their eyes from a severe gash over the eye. In the amatuers the first thing it seems I remember about beginning sparring was to work through the cramps. In the corner I'd say that I have a cramp. A squirt of water and a little pep talk and I was out for another round, and my trainer was correct, I never did die from it........Rockin'




If it was a stomach cramp to the point that I may possibly go to the bathroom in my shorts during a fight televised world wide I most certainly would quit.

I fought one year in the junior olympics with the worst case of diarrea. Two days before we were on a camping trip and I had eaten some fish that this boy named sue had caught. I remember watching it still moving in the frying pan over the fire. Anyway, I ate that and from then on I was sitting on the throne. Fight day came and it hadnt gone away. I held it, but it wasnt easy. A good body shot and its seepin'. But I finished the bout and as soon as that bell rang to end the fight I was on the throne again, taking my gloves off as I did what I had to do.

I just cant except that fight and the excuses for what happened. Fighters are different breeds, made to deal with extreme circumstances that most never experience. I just feel that he quit, plain and simple. He was obviously not well trained for that fight, judging by the condition of his body and he was being made to look the fool by Leonard. I believe that was what ailed Duran that night. A superbad case of the Sugar Ray Leonard..........Rockin'

Quitting is a coward action,
quitters dont disserve respect,
i dont care if i was in the ring
with Ali (young one) himself, i would not quit
until im uncunsius.
Real MAN dont quit.

There is no excuse for what Duran did that night. I think he was an incredibly tough guy and a vicious boxer but that fight will forever taint his image. It wasn't like he simply stayed down after taking a terrible beating; he quit because he was frustrated. He had been outboxed and outclassed and caved in from the humiliation. That is inexcusable for an athlete who was being paid as much as he was to perform.

That is exactly the perfect description of what happened. He didn't quit because he was gettig hurt so bad. He did it because he couldn't catch Sugar Ray Leonard. I still laugh when I see him stop the fight. I've never been in such a situation but I can't imagine ever giving up unless I am absolutely being demolished and am in danger of permanent damage. And I probably wouldn't stop even then. I really have too much pride to give the other guy the satisfaction.

Another person who stopped the fight but that I think was actually in danger was Freitas. I really think he was hirt and I don't fault him or any boxer who seemingly stops because he is so hurt. A lot of punches that don't look so bad can do a lot more damage than people think. Unless you are the actual boxer you can't know how hurt the boxer is and shouldn't say he is less of a man.

Yes, I cant believe people were calling him a coward after that fight, I thought it showed balls to say I quit and admit that your opponent was too good for you that night. He knew it wouldn't go down well with the boxing community but still went ahead with it, I admire that.
I agree, if you know youre getting a beat down and the other guy is the better fighter that night, and you take a knee or quit then ok, but if you fake it, then thats a diff story

That is exactly the perfect description of what happened. He didn't quit because he was gettig hurt so bad. He did it because he couldn't catch Sugar Ray Leonard. I still laugh when I see him stop the fight. I've never been in such a situation but I can't imagine ever giving up unless I am absolutely being demolished and am in danger of permanent damage. And I probably wouldn't stop even then. I really have too much pride to give the other guy the satisfaction.

Another person who stopped the fight but that I think was actually in danger was Freitas. I really think he was hirt and I don't fault him or any boxer who seemingly stops because he is so hurt. A lot of punches that don't look so bad can do a lot more damage than people think. Unless you are the actual boxer you can't know how hurt the boxer is and shouldn't say he is less of a man.

I agree there's no shame in quitting if u know u got no chance to win, but a good one to end up like a vegetable. freitas was no coward for me. as for Duran, I was surprised he quit cause when u watch his later fight with barkley he's getting beaten, he's slowing down, is smaller , slower, eveything to loose and yet he comes back with a tremendous KO at 38 years old!
that shows a very strong character, never give-up style.
but obviously for him not being able to land a single hard shot was too much. I was disappointed, he wasn't getting really hurt

I respect and hold fighters in higher regard when they dont quit during a bout. This is wer the question mark over vitali comes into play. I believe if he had of fought those few remaining rounds against byrd he wud he held in a higher regard than he is today.

There is no excuse for what Duran did that night. I think he was an incredibly tough guy and a vicious boxer but that fight will forever taint his image. It wasn't like he simply stayed down after taking a terrible beating; he quit because he was frustrated. He had been outboxed and outclassed and caved in from the humiliation. That is inexcusable for an athlete who was being paid as much as he was to perform.


Jeez guys have you lot not heard Durans version of events here?
This is straight up, he reckons he had the ****s and another body shot woould have caused him to crap all over the judges and most of the ringside crowd.

This is not a joke this is a bona fide excuse from Duran.

The other school of thought was Duran was alledgedly a bit partial to a bit of the colombian marching powder and had been tucking in a bit in the build up to the fight and wasnt in the right mental state.

either hold credence as he never did anything like that in his careerr and was one of the biggest hearted fighters ever to grace the square circle.

I respect and hold fighters in higher regard when they dont quit during a bout. This is wer the question mark over vitali comes into play. I believe if he had of fought those few remaining rounds against byrd he wud he held in a higher regard than he is today.or maybe he would on hurt something and might not been able to fight anymore, who knows

Jeez guys have you lot not heard Durans version of events here?
This is straight up, he reckons he had the ****s and another body shot woould have caused him to crap all over the judges and most of the ringside crowd.

This is not a joke this is a bona fide excuse from Duran.

The other school of thought was Duran was alledgedly a bit partial to a bit of the colombian marching powder and had been tucking in a bit in the build up to the fight and wasnt in the right mental state.

either hold credence as he never did anything like that in his careerr and was one of the biggest hearted fighters ever to grace the square circle.

OK I didn't know about that, I just said what I felt was true from watching it...

Jeez guys have you lot not heard Durans version of events here?
This is straight up, he reckons he had the ****s and another body shot woould have caused him to crap all over the judges and most of the ringside crowd.

This is not a joke this is a bona fide excuse from Duran.

The other school of thought was Duran was alledgedly a bit partial to a bit of the colombian marching powder and had been tucking in a bit in the build up to the fight and wasnt in the right mental state.

either hold credence as he never did anything like that in his careerr and was one of the biggest hearted fighters ever to grace the square circle.


If he did have the ****s then that is a reason. Only he and anyone near him when he actually hit the bathroom know for sure. But the coke excuse only makes it worse. Now he is not only a fighter who quits but one who goes into a fight on coke and quits.

i still like acelino freitas and think he can beat corrales