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The point I'm trying to make it is that both are highly skilled in their own areas. Floyd at being defensive, Duran at being offensive. I think we can all agree that Mayweather would not stand much of a chance of beating Leonard the way Duran did. Look at the fights he has been the aggressor in, he gets hit a lot more than when he's fighting off the backfoot. Despite being at his best as a relentless aggressor, Duran actually wasn't half bad at fighting as the counter puncher. He went the distance with Marvin Hagler this way and made it a competitive fight all the way. Still, I'd never say he was as good at being defensive as Mayweather.
Is he going to be able to clinch Duran though? Leonard couldn't in the first fight and he was physically stronger than Mayweather. At 135 Duran simply manhandled everyone he fought with superior strength. At the moment I can't come up with any opponent who had the better of Duran in an infight.
I don't think either would be looking forward to fighting each other. I don't think Mayweather moves as much as Leonard did in the rematch. He fights off the ropes fairly often. He also doesn't have the punching power that Leonard possessed. This made Duran a lot more hesitant about getting in.
I posted my thoughts about the Duran-Leonard fight here:
I don't think Duran's power was quite as telling as it had been at 135. He was a one punch KO artist as a lightweight but never carried his power above that weight. It was mostly his skill that allowed him to compete against bigger opponents.
Of course one can't underrate the skills and smarts of Mayweather, it would be a tough fight for both. I think people shouldn't just look at the second Ray Leonard fight though. That was one fight out of a hundred that Duran had.
The thing with this is that Floyd doesnt have to engage when rushed. He simply just clinches and goes to work on the inside. Even when opponents are thisclose to him hes still hard to hit. I think his strength and inside fighting is very underrated. Oscar said he was one of the strongest fighters he ever faced. Not to mention Oscar has fought some strong dudes like Hops, Mayo, Tito, Sturm, etc.
I agree that one fight shouldnt define a career. I just feel that Mayweather is a guy that Duran would not be looking foward to fighting. Mayweather moves wayy more then SRL does. He engages less. And has better defense and reflexes. And IMO is smarter inside the ring and makes less mistakes and takes less risks in the ring.
When I watch that fight and the second one. I think its clear that Leonard tried to prove he was as tough as Duran and he wanted to stand up to him only to lose his belt in the process. In the second fight Leonard was having none of it. He danced his ass off. Sure Duran got him on the ropes a few times but Leonard was spinning off of him and getting back on his bike.
I think he was a good boxer. To be fair his power did him alot of favors against bigger dudes. Mayweathers smarts and his ability to adjust to any style is severely underrated on these boards.
I think he was a good boxer. To be fair his power did him alot of favors against bigger dudes. Mayweathers smarts and his ability to adjust to any style is severely underrated on these boards.
I don't think Duran's power was quite as telling as it had been at 135. He was a one punch KO artist as a lightweight but never carried his power above that weight. It was mostly his skill that allowed him to compete against bigger opponents.
Of course one can't underrate the skills and smarts of Mayweather, it would be a tough fight for both. I think people shouldn't just look at the second Ray Leonard fight though. That was one fight out of a hundred that Duran had.
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