Leonard/Duran: Who beat the better fighters?

[shza]

- -Was it Duran or Hearns who detached the infamous Ray retina?

Probably Hearns, but no one knows for sure:

"There was speculation that the detachment could have occurred during Leonard's title fight last September with Thomas Hearns. During that fight, which Leonard won on a 14th-round technical knockout, Leonard's left eye was severely bruised and became badly swollen.

"There is no way to be sure when the retinal injury that resulted in the ultimate detachment occurred," Michels said. But he added there is a possibility it could have occurred in the Hearns fight. Leonard has had 33 professional fights; he has lost only to Roberto Duran, in June 1980 at Montreal."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archi...-728fddba1d6d/

[JAB5239]

More than an83% vote, and that includes a good argument form shrza.

[The Old LefHook]

You cannot have an AT mythical welterweight tournament without Ray Leonard in it. He is top 10 AT for sure among welterweights, and probably much higher. If I had my choice of welterweight mythical matchups, however, he still would not be the most desired fighter I would want to see because of his running style. Man by way of man, Duran proved the better gladiator. Duran and Benny Leonard would be a topnotch affair.

[just the facts]

- -Was it Duran or Hearns who detached the infamous Ray retina?

Neither, it was done in sparring.

[QueensburyRules]

Neither, it was done in sparring.

- -Never heard that before.

Reason I asked is that I always assumed that since Ray vision problem became public after Hearns, that was the Starting point. But upon reflection given how bad his boxing was in that fight and medically how the injuries occur, and how many flush punches he absorbed by Duran, hmmm, maybe that's culprit.

[TonyGe]

I would count Duran’s wins over Palomino and Moore as two of his better ones. Palomino very underrated. After Duran stopped Moore who was actually a 5-2 favorite, Moore went on to defeat Benitez by stoppage. Leonard’s win over Hagler was questionable and controversial, while his win over Duran was a short notice rematch that Duran had to lose 30-40 pounds to make weight. Not exactly Duran at his best.

Duran defeated a better version of Leonard, than Leonard beating the version of Duran he got for the win.

Yes people tend to overlook the poor prep Duran did for the rematch. The first fight was one of the best fights I've ever seen. Incredibly high skill level from both men. Duran's hand speed was a surprise to me in that fight.