Should Roberto "No Mas" Duran Be Remembered As A Coward?

[Mr. President]

A lot of current fighters get called cowards for far less than quitting in the middle of a fight. Some casual boxing fans who know nothing about the sport even have the nerve to call Mayweather one despite him fighting top level competition throughout his entire career. So if fighters like Floyd who consistantly fight the best and would never even consider quitting in the middle of a fight get called "cowards", then what does that say about Roberto Duran? I understand he was getting clowned on and dominated in his 2nd fight with Leonard, but instead of sticking in there and finishing strong like real fighters do (ie: Ali, Frazier, Mayweather, etc.), he let his whole country and the sport of boxing down by quitting out of nowhere. Does that sound like the act of a coward to you?

[NChristo]

No, not in my eyes at least, it was an act of cowardice but no way in hell will Duran be remembered as a coward, 2 different things.

Anyone who steps into the ring should not be considered a coward (especially when you have an impact on the sport like Duran did) in any manner, they're taking punches to the head for a living and putting their lives at risk to put food on the table.

Besides most people think that he did more then enough to redeem himself.

[Barn]

A lot of current fighters get called cowards for far less than quitting in the middle of a fight. Some casual boxing fans who know nothing about the sport even have the nerve to call Mayweather one despite him fighting top level competition throughout his entire career. So if fighters like Floyd who consistantly fight the best and would never even consider quitting in the middle of a fight get called "cowards", then what does that say about Roberto Duran? I understand he was getting clowned on and dominated in his 2nd fight with Leonard, but instead of sticking in there and finishing strong like real fighters do (ie: Ali, Frazier, Mayweather, etc.), he let his whole country and the sport of boxing down by quitting out of nowhere. Does that sound like the act of a coward to you?

Duran thought people would think he was a hard man for not taking **** from a pretty boy like Leonard but, his plan backfired. After the first round of the Hearns fight Durans corner were going to stop it but Duran, demanded they didn't and it was certain he was going to take a beating, not the actions of a coward.

P.S - Highlighted words

[Barn]

Depends what you call cowardice Duran would walk through fire to win but, didn't like looking ****** so physically no but, mentally you could say so.

[Forza]

Duran was not a coward. He fought way out of his weight class and that was the only time he ever gave up.

[bojangles1987]

Not at all. He proved a hundred times over he wasn't a coward, a fight where he was not mentally or physically at his best and got frustrated doesn't mean he's a coward considering what he did the rest of his career.

[Mr. President]

Depends what you call cowardice Duran would walk through fire to win but, didn't like looking ****** so physically no but, mentally you could say so.

So you're saying he's a mental coward?

[Mr. President]

Not at all. He proved a hundred times over he wasn't a coward, a fight where he was not mentally or physically at his best and got frustrated doesn't mean he's a coward considering what he did the rest of his career.

That fight defines his career to a lot of people though. And this is boxing, one act of cowardice is all it takes to leave a dent in a fighters legacy.

[DarkTerror88]

hes a living breathing human being, not some sort of robot built in a lab. People have bad days, where they are just off. It happens to the best of us. Considering that Duran was already a proven ATG before he even met SRL the dent in his career is like a dent a squirrel would make hitting a hummer.

[Mexic-Ano]

Even tho Duran had Mexican blood I never liked him.

Screw him anyways , Chavez Jr is the real deal , he might be better than his dad.