Leonard v. Duran I (rare footage) + Scorecards

Duran was a tough and great fighter but Leonard who is probably my all-time favorite , had more talent. Faster, better boxing skills and had power also. Leonard did play into Duran's strength's in the first fight but still did well and took a lot of hard shots and went 15 rounds. He showed a lot in grit in that fight. Something that many people didn't think he had. How could anyone compare Leonard to the cherrypicking Mayweather has done for a long time, when he fought Duran at his best and Hearns at his best,others also. A lot of people thought he would get killed.

Leonard was the better fighter because he beat them all, and Duran didn't...but Duran's style could stand the test of times young and old, Leonards couldn't. But in Leonard's defense, he lost a few years from the eye injury.

Man this brought back memories. I thought that Duran clearly won, and I was a big Sugar fan.

The fight was definitely more competitive than it was actually close. Ray Leonard fought great but Duran won a clear majority of rounds. This! Competitive doesnt equal close.

Duran pretty much encompasses all a boxer or fighter should be. Duran > Leonard. Leonard was the Mayweather of that generation, picking and choosing fights when they suit him best. He was great, but he's no Duran.

Did you just imply that Duran DID NOT know how to cut off the ring? He was one of the best to do it. SRL was quicker, and had great ring intelligence and completely threw Duran's rhythm off in the second fight. You need to watch more Duran. He also considers Duran a brawler.... Well he does have Floyd KOing Canelo lol (just f ucking with you man dont take offense) Its hard to say who was better as Duran seemed to be in a better place physically and mentally the first time. Love thise excuses "If Leonard did this..b-b-b-but he fought Durans fight!" Boxing isnt an ifs and buts sport when they already fought... Prime for prime on their best day each it's a toss up but I might favor Duran... But that would depend on my mood as i also have my SRL phases

Howard without Ali is a total waste of film! He knows NOTHING about boxing and both fighters & ref did a great job in that bout! All three were outstanding!!! Anyone with 10 even rounds in a 15 round fight isn't a very good judge! I'm NOT a believer in even rounds unless each man hits the deck and they fight close throughout the round. Ray

i wouldn't deny SRL was the better boxer, but Duran was a better fighter sorry if im getting too into semantics

I DID THE RESEARCH and I agree with you 100%. Also I have recently lived in Panama City for about 4 years and met and visited Duran at his home, where the a little of the career of El Gran Campeon was discussed with and through mutual friends and acquaintances. And I also recall that during some part of the fight Duran threw up. It was just that Leonard's advisers were smarter than Duran's, and sent one of the team to Panama to investigate how Duran was making use of his time, found that he had been partying nightly for nearly 3 months, and they then made an offer that "couldn't be refused" for a specific early date................ It reminds me of the way the Mayweathers' corralled Corrales (pun intended) into his disastrous fight. All really cunning and worthy of the Italian, Machiavelli.

Both were great fighters but I choose Durán. Durán was very versatile, he could fight, could box, had a solid punch even as a middleweight, had a great chin, great stamina, and so on. Aside from a few disappointing losses, like those to Robbie Simms and Laing, he only lost to very good/great fighters while in his prime. I consider the Hearns KO a low point in his career, but Hearns was a monster himself. If I had to choose 5 of his fights for the uninitiated, even though it's tough, I would probably choose the following: 1. Buchanan 2. Palomino 3. Leonard I 4. Moore 5. Barkley If you don't like him after those fights then you will never do.

That Duran one bad mutha****a

Leonard is obviously a better fighter which is why he won the second fight easily.. Many try to over-rate Duran but Duran is a smart boxer brawler but do not know how to cut off the ring when someone is light on their feet. Someone's never seen Duran fight:spank:

Duran is better. Moved up from LW and beat an absolutely prime Leonard. The guy started at 120 and was beating good fighters In his 4th decade while well out if his prime and weight class

Moved up 2 divisions and beat a prime ATG, Duran is clearly better.

Wow, great vid! Can't imagine there was ever a fight with 10 true even rounds. You can see why its discouraged so much in modern judging. To the guy that said people try to overrate Duran...well, there is no need to overrate one of the best all time.

Well, when they were both in their prime (1st fight) who won??? In the 2nd fight Duran just trained to make weight (he had ballooned to over 50 pounds above welterweight limit 3 months before the fight -having no idea a rematch was about to get signed for that soon- when his manager and promoter accepted an unrejectable offer made to them for the rematch, which was made with the condition that the fight took place not after november. That caught Duran totally off guard, and he knew he wasn't gonna be able to be properly ready for the rematch -which is why he tried to move it to a later date, but it was not posible because there was too much money in play and the condition was that the fight took place before november - so duran just had to roll with it and try to make weight, which he did, but did so struggling real hard just to be able to make it, that's why duran wast nearly as quick and Sharp for the rematch and, therefore, wasn't able to cut the ring as effectively or be as elusive as in the first fight. All these is well documented and if you don't believe me do your own research.

Leonard is obviously a better fighter which is why he won the second fight easily.. Many try to over-rate Duran but Duran is a smart boxer brawler but do not know how to cut off the ring when someone is light on their feet. Did you just imply that Duran DID NOT know how to cut off the ring? He was one of the best to do it. SRL was quicker, and had great ring intelligence and completely threw Duran's rhythm off in the second fight. You need to watch more Duran.

Leonard is obviously a better fighter which is why he won the second fight easily.. Many try to over-rate Duran but Duran is a smart boxer brawler but do not know how to cut off the ring when someone is light on their feet.

10 even rounds is insane. This wasn't that hard a fight to score.

I really hate scoring rounds even , there were heaps in this fight scored even one judge I think had 10 rounds even , should be a rule no more than 3 rounds can be scored even , the rest you must edge a round winner .