All right, I need some input here. Somebody tried to tell me Duran quit against Leonard in the rematch because he had to go take a shit. I think Leonard frustrated him to hell, and the bastard just had enough and quit. What happened?
Leonard was fighting off his back foot the whole night because Duran was in shape and swarming him, hurting him early. Look, that's what I saw in the fight and Leonard admitted it in the SI interview after the 2nd fight. It's incontestable, not any different than admitting he got the crap kicked out of him against Hearns and had to land a few Hail Marys to pull out that fight. Leonard was one of the top peak p4p fighters in the world, but he had to go up against another top peak p4p Hearns and a top 5 career p4p fighter in Duran.
These guys ain't superman you understand, right. Some days were better than others just like all of us.
I understand what you're saying, but when has Leonard ever fought off his back foot? Leonard in his prime, ran like hell anytime anyone got anywhere near him, except in the first Duran fight. He tried to fight Duran and he lost, a very close fight by the way. In the second fight he fought with his usual style and it made the difference. If a guy called everyone in your immediate family horrible names what would you do? Against Hearns, he was losing the fight, but he was also up against a very tall, much more technically sound fighter than Duran, two different fights. I still say that if Leonard had run against Duran like he usually did, it would have been alot different in that first fight.
No you came up with that name. I'm just your daddy. Thanks for calling me young, when your over 30 it's good to be called young.
So if you're my daddy, you must've been sleeping with my mother about three or four years before you were even a twitch in you daddy's penis...correct?
I'm impressed!
I just told you that I was not a Leonard fan.
Yes, yes you did...but then again, I've read enough fantasy fiction novels to know that there's no such thing as flying chariots, even though they are described in detail amongst various books.
"The fight was full of thrills and excitement, but for me it was disappointing. Leonard fought his own fight against Duran. He ignored my pleading for different tactics throughout the fight. He did his own thing, but he lost the fight." - Angelo Dundee (page 255 of his book, 'I Only Talk Winning')
Christ, even Leonard's own corner admits that "he lost the fight"...yet anybody else who scores it for Duran is questioned about bias scorecards? :confused:
145-141 in favor of Duran. Is Duran one of your favorite fighters??? I can't see how you had Duran winning the fight by 4 points.
There's a thread in the boxing history section where I named about 30 of my all-time favourite fighters...If you want to take a look at it be my guest (it's on the fron page of that section and my post is on page two of the thread), but I doubt very much that you'd see the name of Roberto Duran on there.
Is that what you automatically assume, though...someone must be bias to score that 145-141 for Duran?
Gimme a break!
I don't think you will find a person in this world that actually have seen the fight, saying that Duran dominated Sugar Ray in the first fight.
I know for a fact that there's someone "in this world" who thinks Duran "dominated" Leonard in the first fight and I've spoken with him on a couple of occasions on a different boxing board. I mean, I scored the fight 145-141 for Duran (from memory I gave Leonard the rounds from 5 to 7 or something like that, as well as two of the later rounds, which includes the last round which Duran gave to him...I'd have to dig up my card to be sure), so obviously I had a fairly close, but clear win for Duran in that one. But I actually have argued the competiveness of the fight on occasion with this other guy because he thought it was very close to a virtual "shutout".
Lesbia, Kentucky eh?
Thaz right.
I am hoping that my sons put down roots here when they are older too.
I will be so proud to hear them brag that they are second generation Lesbians. :D
(Damn...I been waiting a long time to use that line!)
Dude, are you saying that Leonard fought off the ropes because he HAD to? How many fights have you seen him do that in?
I give credit where it's due, and Duran was a great fighter, but he had nowhere near the legs that Leonard had, and if Leonard had run in the first fight, it would most likely have gone like the second. I understand if you don't like Leonard, but certain fighters with certain styles just match up wrong. I'm not saying Duran sucks or anything...
Leonard was fighting off his back foot the whole night because Duran was in shape and swarming him, hurting him early. Look, that's what I saw in the fight and Leonard admitted it in the SI interview after the 2nd fight. It's incontestable, not any different than admitting he got the crap kicked out of him against Hearns and had to land a few Hail Marys to pull out that fight. Leonard was one of the top peak p4p fighters in the world, but he had to go up against another top peak p4p Hearns and a top 5 career p4p fighter in Duran.
These guys ain't superman you understand, right. Some days were better than others just like all of us.
PLAIN excited!I have all these fights on tape and have been meaning to transfer them on to DVD as they are breaking down. I didn't title them very well so I have to hunt for these oldies. Sometimes I stumble on fights I've forgotten and it is a pleasure to relive them. My latest find was Boom Boom Mancini vs Arquello and Arron Pryor vs Alexis Arquello. Still there is great talent out there but in those days these fights were covered by ABC, NBC and CBS seemily making them special and they went fifteen rounds.I don't know if that's for the better or the worse but I love watching them.
Yep I understand,
My big disblief is when Duran got ko ed in the first round by Hearn's. I couldn't accept it. I often think Duran took a dive but have to admit if he did he made it look good becuase he REALLY hit the canvas. I read a post were someone said Duran quit the SECOND fight because he had some gastric promblems...I don't believe it. I don't care who he knew or what he was told. Duran was just plain old outboxed....after all except for a loss to Dejesus (a loss he avenged)he was otherwise undefeated(You may want to double check that) and had beaten Ray in the first fight. He was just plain embarrassed.
======If Leonard hadn't been so full of pride and fought Duran's fight the first time, there wouldn't have been any reason for the second fight IMO.================
** If Leonard had just ducked Duran, he wouldn't have been beat up the first fight. Duran almost KOed Leonard in the 2nd round, he put him on queer street. Leonard had no choice but to fight to survive, the same choice Hearns had to fight to try to survive Hagler. You boys seem to underestimate how powerful, skilled, and, more importantly, motivated Hagler and Duran were for those fights. Leonard and Hearns got to play the weak sisters. Boxing 101.
Dude, are you saying that Leonard fought off the ropes because he HAD to? How many fights have you seen him do that in?
I give credit where it's due, and Duran was a great fighter, but he had nowhere near the legs that Leonard had, and if Leonard had run in the first fight, it would most likely have gone like the second. I understand if you don't like Leonard, but certain fighters with certain styles just match up wrong. I'm not saying Duran sucks or anything...
Oh I know. Duran definitely thought he won. I haven't sat down and scored it. I'm just telling you what the commentators said. They kept wondering why Duran took the 15th round off. They were in disbelief
i seem to remember the announcers calling the fight acting surprised that Duran was celebrating before the announcement. they didn't think Duran won, at least on the ESPN Classic copy I have of it.I have it on tape and if you have a copy of it look at the two fighters at the end of the fight. Ray looks spent and Duran looks fresh. As far as commentators go.. turn the volume down and really watch the fight....a shut out for Duran..only because Ray tried ...with no luck to brawl with Roberto. Anyway they were great fights back then. Duran and Leonard both among the very best in their primes. One of my favorite fights is when Duran beat Iran Barkley for the middleweight title just after Barkley ko ed Hearns...and Ray when he narrowly(must of watched that fight 50 times)outsmarted another great fighter, Marvin Hagler. Those were the days!!!!Great fighters.