Why Duran Quit

[The Old LefHook]

I remember when Duran was 70-1.

[The Old LefHook]

Was Duran quite as good as we all think, or was he on some kind of performance-enhancing juice? It cannot be denied that he had awesome technique. He might have been merely naturally aggressive.

As it stands at the moment, a fighter of Duran's caliber seems to come around no more than a few times every fifty years, if that. One can only think Langford, Robinson, Walker, and that crowd when considering his all time position in the pugilistic pantheon.

[Tatabanya]

At the end of the day, Duran was one of a kind. Even in defeat. Forty-one years have passed since that dump, and we're still here to debate. Isn't that a sign of absolute greatness? Having people discussing a fighter's s_hit

You don't bounce back from being KTFO by Hearns at his best and beat Iran Barkley three years later (at 37) if you're not great.

[Anthony342]

At the end of the day, Duran was one of a kind. Even in defeat. Forty-one years have passed since that dump, and we're still here to debate. Isn't that a sign of absolute greatness? Having people discussing a fighter's s_hit

You don't bounce back from being KTFO by Hearns at his best and beat Iran Barkley three years later (at 37) if you're not great.

Sounds more like he was frustrated over his opponent fighting smarter and using a different strategy. Fighters make adjustments in later fights, especially in rematches. Boo hoo, deal with it. I've noticed some of the most macho guys can also be the biggest crybabies when things don't go their way. You lost. Man up and just admit the opponent was the better fighter that day and stop f****n making excuses. There have even been sore winners, like Mayweather. Holmes sometimes in his younger days.

[Anthony342]

A lingering doubt in an otherwise accepted theory.

If you watch the footage, Duran stays in the ring for a good while, and even after walking out he is seen wasting precious time with his cornermen, who embrace and console him for whole minutes.

Now, if I had a true urge to defecate, I would not care a iota about staying in the ring or being embraced after the fight, but would direct myself straight to the toilet...

Because he knew he was gonna lose and decided to not take anymore punches. Although I heard scorecards were close, but you could see Leonard was outmaneuvering Duran and could very well have pulled away in the later rounds as he landed more at will as the fight went on, since Duran started to lose the will to fight on.

[Tatabanya]

Because he knew he was gonna lose and decided to not take anymore punches. Although I heard scorecards were close, but you could see Leonard was outmaneuvering Duran and could very well have pulled away in the later rounds as he landed more at will as the fight went on, since Duran started to lose the will to fight on.

I basically agree with both of your posts. More than the defecation excuse, I always thought that Leonard won the psychological battle in the second fight (which, in a way, is also what he did when he fought Marvin Hagler). Pick your shots and disappear, taunt the opponent. It did work with Duran, who quit in frustration. S_hite or no.

[QueensburyRules]

WTF are you talking about? .............Rockin'

- - What part of Ray never "beat" him as in beat him up do you not understand?

Ray won a fig leaf by dent of Duran not having enough time to prepare(Ray's words,) and only quitting the fight because of a Monumental DUMP interrupted the fight.

[BattlingNelson]

- - What part of Ray never "beat" him as in beat him up do you not understand?

Ray won a fig leaf by dent of Duran not having enough time to prepare(Ray's words,) and only quitting the fight because of a Monumental DUMP interrupted the fight.

I heard that the dump took him well within the lightweight limit.

[JAB5239]

I heard that the dump took him well within the lightweight limit.

..............

[The Old LefHook]

Like I said, there is a big taint on Leonard's victory, and none over Duran's. One was a clean, legitimate victory, with both men at their best, the other a product of trickery and treachery where Duran was only able to come in somewhat less than his best. You cannot award points to the victories equally.

This why Duran is in reality considered the victor in their series by the public and accorded more accolades--only the first fight actually counted, the second being illegitimate because of scheduling trickery and the third a waste of time between ancient mossbacks.