the brawl in montreal

[rightsideup]

Duran hurt Leonard with a left hook in the second and thats what changed the fight for Leonard!
The second fight was Duran not being physically ready due to Leonards management catching Duran not prepared properly which became his M.O.
from that fight on. Thats why Brown & Arcel departed, when it was time to
"feed off the top" and take the money contracts for the sake of the purse alone his team begged off. Arcel & Brown were like that, they were pro's!
Duran later picked up every penny he could at his own expense at times.

Ray

The first fight had Duran and his camp being prepared to win. Durans behavior in the during the prefight antics were to upset leonard and create doubt. He captured the crowds by wearing a shirt in the french language at pressor in montreal. The corner unveiled a Quebec flag which further turned the fans his way prior to the fight. Arcel stressed to the ref that the ref not to take away the inside. The team functioned as one to pull the upset.

[joseph5620]

I think a combination of reasons. Duran was extremely motivated and fueled by hatred similar to Joe Frazier in the first fight with Ali. Also, he did get into Leonard's head and the "moment " got to Sugar Ray by his own admission.

Leonard would have had to kill Duran to beat him that night. That was Duran's night and it was a great fight.

[rightsideup]

I think a combination of reasons. Duran was extremely motivated and fueled by hatred similar to Joe Frazier in the first fight with Ali. Also, he did get into Leonard's head and the "moment " got to Sugar Ray by his own admission.

Leonard would have had to kill Duran to beat him that night. That was Duran's night and it was a great fight.

Frankly I think that fight ended up beneficial for leonard as well it taught him he had an inner reserve to draw on when facing adversity. He got himself back in the fight. He drew on this experience to gut it out in the first hearns fight

[TBear]

We have a lot of discussion on new Orleans but how did the underdog duran win this entertaining fight? Prior to the fight Durans performances at welter were uneven.

I felt the only uneven Duran performance after moving up was against Gonzalez. Against Palomino, Duran was masterful.

Before the fight I felt Leonard would overpower Duran. Duran was truly a great lightweight but moving up two weight classes against someone a good as Leonard would be too much. I believe Leonard also thought he would overpower Duran as well and tried for 15 rounds. It resulted in one hell of a fight! Duran was on a mission.
Leonard learned from his mistake and wisely went back to boxing. I felt Duran expected the same Leonard in the rematch. Leonard disappointed him.

[joseph5620]

Frankly I think that fight ended up beneficial for leonard as well it taught him he had an inner reserve to draw on when facing adversity. He got himself back in the fight. He drew on this experience to gut it out in the first hearns fight

I agree. I think the fight made Leonard a better fighter.

[NChristo]

Duran won because pre-fight his trash talk got under ray's skin and made him angry... Leonard was determined to go out and beat down duran, but in reality it fell right into duran's plan.. Leonard standing and trading was exactly what duran wanted.. Leonard performed great and proved his toughness, but he wasn't beating Duran in a brawling fight..

Leonard learned and in the 2nd fight, easily schooled duran behind the jab, speed and movement.. Had leonard done that the first fight, there would be no rematch and duran's ATG status would be diminished

Sorry but that's rubbish, Leonard fought Duran in the first fight how he always fought and he barely schooled Duran in the second, just another myth because Duran walked out people just assume he must have been getting embarrassed without actually watching the fight.

[Sugar Adam Ali]

Sorry but that's rubbish, Leonard fought Duran in the first fight how he always fought and he barely schooled Duran in the second, just another myth because Duran walked out people just assume he must have been getting embarrassed without actually watching the fight.

Lmao..

Leonard didn't fight the first fight "how he always fought". He stood his ground and wanted to trade bombs.., just listen to the announcers shock in the first round "leonard wants to trade"

And yes leonard was coasting to a decision win in the rematch.... I have watched the fight, many times, and leonard was on his way to a decision win

[IronDanHamza]

Lmao..

Leonard didn't fight the first fight "how he always fought". He stood his ground and wanted to trade bombs.., just listen to the announcers shock in the first round "leonard wants to trade"

And yes leonard was coasting to a decision win in the rematch.... I have watched the fight, many times, and leonard was on his way to a decision win

Didn't he always stand his ground and trade bombs?

[Sugar Adam Ali]

Didn't he always stand his ground and trade bombs?

No, not like how he did vs duran..., maybe vs lesser competition, or when he was being outboxed by hearns...


But going into the fight, no one thought leonard would stand and trade with freakin Roberto Duran....

Leonard proved his toughness in that fight, but it shocked a lot of people that he would stand n trade with duran.. That was the fight that shredded the pretty boy image of leonard.. After the fight, everyone knew leonard had heart and could survive a dogfight

[IronDanHamza]

No, not like how he did vs duran..., maybe vs lesser competition, or when he was being outboxed by hearns...


But going into the fight, no one thought leonard would stand and trade with freakin Roberto Duran....

Leonard proved his toughness in that fight, but it shocked a lot of people that he would stand n trade with duran.. That was the fight that shredded the pretty boy image of leonard.. After the fight, everyone knew leonard had heart and could survive a dogfight

I think you'll have more trouble finding a fight where he fought like he did in the second Duran fight than you can the first one.

Leonard was known for his dazzling combinations, he could clearly box but most of the time he was pushing the action and wanting to fight. People were expecting him to fight Duran, what were people expecting Ray Leonard to pot shot? They were expecting Ray Leonard to take the smaller man out.

To say that people were shocked at the idea of Ray Leonard trading punches with someone is just simply wrong.

And Ray Leonard had already shown his heart by that point, more than once.