Sugar Ray Leonard's Wrong Game Plan Against Roberto Duran

[Thread Stealer]

What Leonard has said and has become common knowledge is that Leonard fought the wrong fight against Duran, letting Roberto get into his head with his mental warfare, SRL wanting to prove his manhood, etc...and fighting too much on the inside and trading too much.

I agree to an extent, but I think Duran's footwork and pressure forced him to do so. While Leonard has gotten a reputation as this dancer, the only fights in which I saw him really dance on his toes and fight on the backfoot and move consistently, were the Duran rematch, and Hagler. Leonard was mostly a flat-footed boxer who circled, boxed behind his jab, in an extremely relaxed style, and opened up with quick devastating combos (and finishing hurt guys with the best of them). Duran was all over Leonard like Charlie Sheen on a whore. What do you do when the guy is all over you, swarming, on the ropes? You fight out. There were times when Leonard had success boxing and circling, and leaping in with brilliant lead left hooks on Duran's face. Eventually Duran would get to him though with his pressure and slippery moves and force him to fight.

While you can say that Leonard did fight the wrong fight, it's not as if he changed his style for this first fight. What made it the wrong plan is that he DIDN'T CHANGE HIS STYLE in Montreal. He changed his style for the rematch (Duran's party habits are another story) and fought the right fight that time.

[BennyST]

There was a thread exactly the same as this one just a couple of weeks ago. Have a look for it and check it out. It's quite good.

[Thread Stealer]

There was a thread exactly the same as this one just a couple of weeks ago. Have a look for it and check it out. It's quite good.

I know, it was mine.

I just decided to re-post in the regular forum.

[warp1432]

I just bought the Four Kings book by George Kimball and just got to the part about this fight. It's really well written.

[krispy kreme]

There were some earlier fights before Duran where he danced a little but it was mostly in the first rounds. After, he would turn the heat up and let his hands go. With guys like Hagler and Duran, who were like freight trains, Leonard learned he had to adjust and use his hand speed and athleticism to attempt to control the fight. The first fight with Duran was close though, even though Duran had bullied him a lot, Leonard held his own and showed a lot of heart. He was truly a great fighter.

[Poet682006]

There were some earlier fights before Duran where he danced a little but it was mostly in the first rounds. After, he would turn the heat up and let his hands go. With guys like Hagler and Duran, who were like freight trains, Leonard learned he had to adjust and use his hand speed and athleticism to attempt to control the fight. The first fight with Duran was close though, even though Duran had bullied him a lot, Leonard held his own and showed a lot of heart. He was truly a great fighter.

None of this should take anything away from Duran's achievement. As you say, Leonard was terrific that night and against a lesser fighter would have prevailed comfortably. Duran's was one of those special efforts where on that night he would have been tough for any ATG to beat. It was just one of those magical performances you see maybe once a decade.

Poet

[krispy kreme]

None of this should take anything away from Duran's achievement. As you say, Leonard was terrific that night and against a lesser fighter would have prevailed comfortably. Duran's was one of those special efforts where on that night he would have been tough for any ATG to beat. It was just one of those magical performances you see maybe once a decade.

Poet

I wasn't trying to take anything away from Duran.

[Spacey1991]

What Leonard has said and has become common knowledge is that Leonard fought the wrong fight against Duran, letting Roberto get into his head with his mental warfare, SRL wanting to prove his manhood, etc...and fighting too much on the inside and trading too much.

I agree to an extent, but I think Duran's footwork and pressure forced him to do so. While Leonard has gotten a reputation as this dancer, the only fights in which I saw him really dance on his toes and fight on the backfoot and move consistently, were the Duran rematch, and Hagler. Leonard was mostly a flat-footed boxer who circled, boxed behind his jab, in an extremely relaxed style, and opened up with quick devastating combos (and finishing hurt guys with the best of them). Duran was all over Leonard like Charlie Sheen on a whore. What do you do when the guy is all over you, swarming, on the ropes? You fight out. There were times when Leonard had success boxing and circling, and leaping in with brilliant lead left hooks on Duran's face. Eventually Duran would get to him though with his pressure and slippery moves and force him to fight.

While you can say that Leonard did fight the wrong fight, it's not as if he changed his style for this first fight. What made it the wrong plan is that he DIDN'T CHANGE HIS STYLE in Montreal. He changed his style for the rematch (Duran's party habits are another story) and fought the right fight that time.

I watched Sugar Ray Leonard Beyond the Glory and because Duran pissed him off he decided to fight flat footed... shouting at the press "I'm gonna fight him flat footed, and tell Duran that", when fighting flat footed he lost. When the rematch happened... his brother told Leonard that Duran is nothing but a bully, and the way to beat a bully is to make him look silly and embarrass him... Sugar Ray listened to this and when the press asked him how he would fight Duran in the rematch he turned around and said "Not flat footed!", he showboated throughout the fight making Duran look like an amateur, forcing Duran to quit.

[Poet682006]

I wasn't trying to take anything away from Duran.

My apologies! I didn't meant to indicate that you were. That was poorly worded on my part.

Poet

[ILLuminato]

I respect him for actually fighting in the first fight.

Leonard fought like a ****in coward in the second fight.