Duran-Leonard 2..was this running or master boxing

[sicko]

Running...Not At All! But of course by today's boxing fans (or supposed boxing fans) standards...Yes that would be considered running and they would stay "I DON'T BLAME DURAN FOR QUITTING BECAUSE LEONARD WAS RUNNING!"

So It was Masterful Boxing, it was him doing what he watched his Idol Ali did "Float Like A Butterfly Sting Like A Bee". Same with the Hagler fight he stays on his Backfoot and Stole Rounds with Late Flurries to close out the Rounds giving this Illusion to Judges like he was doing MORE than Hagler...It was a MASTERFUL STRATEGY! As a Hagler fans, yeah I'm sure I accursed Ray Leonard of running that fight but as you get Older and Mature and get to a point in which you can discuss boxing with out being some Bias FANBOY...You Understand Exactly What He Was Doing And Why He Did It! Standing in front of Hagler would have been SUICIDE!

I am no Ray Leonard fan by the way, but his greatness I will never try to deny!

[KayDub]

I agree Duran won but he did not dominate the fight and the 2nd fight was close and no one dominated so i do not see how you could say Duran>Leonard

You can easily say that Duran is greater because he actually took on the real challenges.

Leonard waited out Hagler, forced Duran into the 2nd fight in unfavorable conditions for Duran, and overall just didn't fight enough. He only really fought until he was 26 years old, after that it was just fighting here and there for money.

Duran is EASILY the greater fighter. He moved through more weight classes, fought people in their prime and on their terms, and was just a born fighter. He had masterful skills in both offense and defense and would come to win most of the time.

Now about Duran vs Leonard 2 and if it was running...

"Leonard averaged 29 thrown punches per round and 17 connects, while Duran averaged 43 thrown punches and 8 connects"

Plus the large ring is really all you need to know. Leonard ran like a *****, got a huge ring, forced Duran back at a time he knew he'd be unprepared, is the bigger man, and still the cards were close when Duran quit.

I'm one of those people that doesn't rank Leonard very high and I'll always be vocal about his shortcomings.

[soul_survivor]

Post and discuss fellas

Neither Larry, that's the truest answer you'll get. No hating, no bias, just plain facts. What we saw that night was plain clowning, Ray said as much himself, he wasn't interesting in outboxing Duran, he wasn't interesting in hurting him with his fists, he wanted to exhaust the champ. He knew the lil giant had gone full party animal, he knew that he wouldn't be in the best shape possible so he infuriated him, he jabbed a little bit (boxing), he moved around a little bit (some call that running) but most of all he pulled faces, he taunted, he jibed, he feinted with his fists and wouldn't throw anything meaningful.

All in all, Duran fell for it, he wasn't hurt, he wasn't even exhausted, he just lost heart at the sight of a guy he had at times handled previously, was now making a mockery of him, at times making a mockery of the sport and making a mockery of the oh so famous, latino "machismo". Duran's ego couldn't take it, it was that same ego that made him quit. Leonard worked a master plan. But it wasn't boxing and it wasn't running, it was pantomime.

[KayDub]

i had the fight either way after 7 and duran was winning the 8th imo. so quitting because leonard was better was not the reason.

yeah leonard did run more than he used to, and i like leonard. but they gave him a 24ft ring so what's he to do?

They didn't give it to him, Leonard demanded it.

[Wulad]

24 feet............

You just answered your own question man.

[$mannyFresh]

In my book, this win is overrated. The fight was at about its midpoint and it was close when Duran quit.

Americans spun this into a boxing lesson when it was far from it. Duran just didn't want to take part in the game Leonard was playing and said "F this guy. I'll get him in the rubber match."

Too bad it didn't happen until it didn't matter anymore.

[Ljc]

In my book, this win is overrated. The fight was at about its midpoint and it was close when Duran quit.

Americans spun this into a boxing lesson when it was far from it. Duran just didn't want to take part in the game Leonard was playing and said "F this guy. I'll get him in the rubber match."

Too bad it didn't happen until it didn't matter anymore.

It didnt happen because leonard didnt let it happen same with hurns, same with hagler. Leonard was a great fight but he made sure when he fought it was on his terms

[stuff jones]

Leonard threw combos, unlike Floyd (and Lara for that matter). They only engage as a last resort.

[CANELOLUJAH]

24 feet............

Lol exactly.

[Dr Rumack]

It was a moment of madness from a madman. Who knows what exactly Duran was thinking but he probably didn't realise he would be pilloried as he was in the aftermath. He probably saw it as him being above those childish antics and Leonard being the one who was embarrassing himself. He also probably wasn't prepared to work as hard as Leonard was going to make him work.