SRL-Duran 1

[daggum]

duran wasn't moving up he was already there. this was no marquez-mayweather bullcrap. duran had already beaten the former welterweight champ carlos palomino in dominating fashion.

[BennyST]

duran wasn't moving up he was already there. this was no marquez-mayweather bullcrap. duran had already beaten the former welterweight champ carlos palomino in dominating fashion.

Yes, Duran had already moved up to WW before 1980. I think he officially vacated his lightweight titles in '79. His fight with Palomino was classic Duran. Brilliant defense against a HOF WW. He hardly got touched during that fight and was only the guy to ever put him on the floor.

[MoneyMay1]

I think you need to watch more Leonard. He always fought like that. The big myth about this fight is that Ray fought a different fight than usual. He absolutely did not. Go watch his fights and you'll understand. He fought as he always did but just had a guy that could negate a lot of things he had always been able to get in, like his jab and his flurrying combinations. None of them worked.

The rematch was the anomaly. In all his fights up to the Duran and after, apart from Duran 2 and Hagler fight, he fought the same way he did in the first Duran fight.

That was Leonard's style. He just got beaten by someone that was better at it than him and so he changed it up in the rematch and won. Simple as that. He also did use his jab often but it was ineffective. Not only was it being countered but it was also being neutralised by Duran's own jab and his ability to slip and counter so well.

I have watched plenty of SRL's fights. I know his style. He can box AND he can punch. The point I was trying to make is simple... why did he choose to fight that particular way against that particular opponent? Come on guys, Ray Leonard was definitely not an idiot. He always knew what Duran brought to the table, and had he used his boxing ability correctly in the first fight, I think he would have beat Duran. I'm not taking anything away from Duran, I just think a great boxer beats a great puncher almost every time.

[El_Cholo]

I have a question. I know in the SRL-Duran 1 fight, that Duran was moving up in weight to face SRL. My question is.. Why did SRL fight such a ****** fight? He did not try to use his God given talent and speed in this fight. I guess he thought he could just stand there and trade?

He proved in the rematch that he was the superior fighter. Why in the world did Ray not fight like that in the first fight? I will never understand this.

Sugar lost it mentally, he allowed Duran to get under his skin. At a meal that both attended, Duran sat and stared at Ray all night, and when the food arrived Duran picked it up with his bare hands and started to eat it like a wild animal.

[Steak]

I have watched plenty of SRL's fights. I know his style. He can box AND he can punch. The point I was trying to make is simple... why did he choose to fight that particular way against that particular opponent? Come on guys, Ray Leonard was definitely not an idiot. He always knew what Duran brought to the table, and had he used his boxing ability correctly in the first fight, I think he would have beat Duran. I'm not taking anything away from Duran, I just think a great boxer beats a great puncher almost every time.

the thing is that Duran was not really a puncher. sure, he had power, but not devastating KO power imo. nah, the guy was simply a smart, well rounded fighter who fought aggressively.

Leonard did try to stick it out at long range, and won the first round. but Duran eventually starting edging him, and ended up rocking him with a left hook on the chin mid 2nd round. from then on Duran brought the fight to him nonstop, and hurt Leonard again with body shots while Leonard was still trying to get his head straight in the 3rd round. you dont have much energy to run around backwards when youve eaten a bunch of body shots, especially early on in a fight.
every time Leonard did try to stick it out at long range with his jab, Duran would stalk him and eventually land a counter right over his jab, either hurting Leonard or closing the distance.

[BattlingNelson]

I have watched plenty of SRL's fights. I know his style. He can box AND he can punch. The point I was trying to make is simple... why did he choose to fight that particular way against that particular opponent? Come on guys, Ray Leonard was definitely not an idiot. He always knew what Duran brought to the table, and had he used his boxing ability correctly in the first fight, I think he would have beat Duran. I'm not taking anything away from Duran, I just think a great boxer beats a great puncher almost every time.

Leonard himself said that he wanted to prove a point to macho-man Duran. He wanted to beat him at his own game. Leonard said it would be much more rewarding that way.

There's no question that Duran won the psychological fight in the build-up. Leonards comments above proves it.

Duran said all kinds of things about Leonard and his family playing the macho part all the way as mentioned in several posts above. Even after the bell of the 15'th round Duran's machismo style is evident.

[Bushidō]

I have a question. I know in the SRL-Duran 1 fight, that Duran was moving up in weight to face SRL. My question is.. Why did SRL fight such a ****** fight? He did not try to use his God given talent and speed in this fight. I guess he thought he could just stand there and trade?

He proved in the rematch that he was the superior fighter. Why in the world did Ray not fight like that in the first fight? I will never understand this.

Duran baited him and made him fight. I think he was calling him p*ssy and all types of stuff

[TEDetc]

He proved in the rematch that he was the superior fighter.

What he proved was, he was a great match-maker. Leonard was great at making his opponents fight at disadvantages, he caught Duran still partying and celebrating his victory and made him cut a ton of weight. Leonard is in NO way superior to Duran, on the atg list I most definitely have Duran higher.

[wpink1]

What he proved was, he was a great match-maker. Leonard was great at making his opponents fight at disadvantages, he caught Duran still partying and celebrating his victory and made him cut a ton of weight. Leonard is in NO way superior to Duran, on the atg list I most definitely have Duran higher.

Once again a person who knows nothing about the facts. True duran had to lose weight , however 2 things. Once Duran FOR ALL OF HIS FIGHTS HAD TO LOSE WEIGHT, AND FOR 60 OF THOSE FIGHTS HE HAD TO LOSE TO GET DOWN TO 135. So why the excuses now.

2ndly, He almost at weight when Ali lost to Holmes, and duran climbed up on the announcers table, and screamed I am the greatest now, and took off his shirt to show he was in shape. After that, he stated he was at 150. Only 3 pounds to lose. The reality was he got up to 190 by August, then in Sept, and Oct, he lost most of this weight back.

In the 1st fight, Duran won the mind games. However, get this, as some one referenced the 1st round. Even though Ray fought the wrong fight, IF the judges had awarded him the 1st round, a round in which Duran did not land on shot to the head, He would have retained his belt, as the final score cards were duran by 1, ,1, and 2. A total of 4 points, between 3 judges, and if the first was scored for Ray, then it would have been a draw or Ray winning. I am not saying Ray beat duran the night, I am saying that it was much closer than many acknowledge as Duran clearly was the dominant fighter the 1st 4 rounds, then ray boxed and used SOME lateral movemnt for the next 2-3 rounds getting back in the the fight, using Hooks and movement, not so much the jab, as the jab was missing most of the night. Then after the 7th, ray went back to warring with Duran. For what reason I still scratch my head. He showed that he could deal with Duran if he boxed him, but RAY WILLINGLY, not being forced, as Duran NOT one time in that fight, had to cut off the ring, as Leonard never tried to move much. So Leoanrd lost a close fight, a thriller, but he grew sooooo much from this fight, and got stronger physically and mentally. It was this ight that allowed him to be able to beat Duran in the 2nd fight, Hearns and Hagler. Without the mental toughness and physical toughness he gained, he never beats any of these great fighters.

[TEDetc]

Once again a person who knows nothing about the facts.

True duran had to lose weight

Ok cool post man.