Floyd or Duran - Most skilled?

[Hands of Iron]

Tez,

Clearly one of the greatest and most versatile boxer-puncher's ever. Like his form, punching technique, defense and speed (slight) over Robinson, actually. But I hate to compartmentalize and he was less instinctive, lacked the indomitable chin and paralyzing power in comparison, though he gets sold kind of short on the latter these days. SRL could light you up like a christmas tree when he planted, bent at the knees a bit and generated the extra torque through his hips and shoulders. Equally adept at shifting his weight and generating power either hand. Fast, Straight, Accurate.

All in All, a fuckin thoroughbred, especially at 147. He was built for this.

Duran's win isn't shit if SRL is anything less than a beast.

[brnxhands]

Floyd fought more big names than Duran? Im just not even gonna get into that one. wow dude

[Thread Stealer]

Leonard did fight the wrong fight in Montreal, but not the way people think. Leonard usually fought in a more aggressive, boxer-puncher manner anyway. He made a mistake by NOT changing enough against Duran and being more fleet-footed. Of course, it's hard to do so when a guy is as quick a swarmer as Duran was.

It's casual fans that think Leonard was normally some kind of dancing stick-and-move guy.

If you actually watch his fights, you'll see this isn't the case and it was the exception that he fought in this manner. Just like how it was the exception that Hagler was ultra-aggressive and came forward so much.

Why yes, I suppose years from now, people will watch the Judah and Mosley fights and conclude that Floyd was normally a guy who walked down opponents behind a high guard, and that it was "out of the norm" for him to fight in the pocket and circle his opponents.

[Hands of Iron]

^ Only thing that pisses me off is when people ignore the fact that it was the fight SRL intended to bring and impose his will, skill, power and speed on. He didn't get suckered into anything, and let it be known beforehand.

[Hands of Iron]

"Duran's a heel-to-toe guy, he takes two steps to get to you. So the idea is don't give him the two steps, don't move too far away. The more distance you give Duran, the more effective he is. What you don't do against aggression is run from it, because then he picks up momentum. My guy won't run from him."

- ANGELO DUNDEE

"He's soft. Leonard's the puncher in this fight. I think he's going to knock him out in 10 or 11 rounds because Duran hasn't destroyed anybody as a Welterweight... Ray's going to nail him. Ray's going to stop him in his tracks with the jab. Leonard's got so much talent they haven't seen it yet."

- ANGELO DUNDEE

[tezel8764]

I just watched Ringside: SRL and he doesn't fully admit it that it was his natural style and that he was beaten by the better man that night.

[PityTheFool]

Originally Posted by Thread Stealer

Leonard did fight the wrong fight in Montreal, but not the way people think. Leonard usually fought in a more aggressive, boxer-puncher manner anyway. He made a mistake by NOT changing enough against Duran and being more fleet-footed. Of course, it's hard to do so when a guy is as quick a swarmer as Duran was.

It's casual fans that think Leonard was normally some kind of dancing stick-and-move guy.

If you actually watch his fights, you'll see this isn't the case and it was the exception that he fought in this manner. Just like how it was the exception that Hagler was ultra-aggressive and came forward so much.

Why yes, I suppose years from now, people will watch the Judah and Mosley fights and conclude that Floyd was normally a guy who walked down opponents behind a high guard, and that it was "out of the norm" for him to fight in the pocket and circle his opponents.

I can't lost links on my phone but check out the Kalule fight.The commentators even talk if Ray fighting in a Joe Louis style quite early on which told me even some broadcasters were under the false impression that Ray was some sort of dancing slickster.
He plants his feet beautifully but can move from a planted stance far more effectively than most.I think some people have seen him showboat in a tribute vid and assume that was the sum total of his versatility.

[chatty]

Originally Posted by tliang1000

Floyd has been fighting top 10 guys even before his first title match with Generado Henderaz.

Big difference between top ten ranked opponents when there are four belts compare to two. The pool is doubled for a start and one belt can have guys that are ranked anywhere from 1-50/60 depending on what the other belts have in their top 15.

[chatty]

Originally Posted by tliang1000

Floyd fights guys on the downside? Is ok to dislike the guy but no need to make lies. Floyd has been fighting guys coming off sensational wins. So you should do some research before u post.

Again. Duran losing late in his career is his problem. Duran losing to bigger guys is also his problem. Duran losing to b level fighters is still his problem. When Floyd start doing the same thing it will be his problem.

Thats just black and White though.

Mosley shouldn't have been ranked because he was inactive for 18 months, Marquez had never fought at the weight or weight below before so wasn't/shouldn't have been ranked either. Hatton had only fought at the weight once before and about 15-18 months before the Floyd fight so effectively shouldn't have been ranked in the division.

So there is three of his best wins with question marks over them to their standing in the division nevermind how sensational their wins were south of the division or near two years prior.

The difference is that Duran took on the risky challenge so therefore the reward is higher. Floyd took the minimum risks and therefore gets less credit.

[Hands of Iron]

Originally Posted by the cobra

You summabitch...

(That's Boxed Ears' thing. It's good. I've stolen it)

Who?

[Hands of Iron]

Originally Posted by tezel8764

I just watched Ringside: SRL and he doesn't fully admit it that it was his natural style and that he was beaten by the better man that night.

Yeah, he wouldn't.

[MichiganWarrior]

Ringside Leonard said he tried to emulate Frazier not Ali

[the cobra]

Originally Posted by Hands of Iron

Who?

JMP, for not going out of his way and doing everything he could to mention me as the best poster in this thread.

[orriray59]

Originally Posted by the cobra

JMP, for not going out of his way and doing everything he could to mention me as the best poster in this thread.

Pffft.

Everyone knows that tilang is the premier poster of this thread. Brilliant insight on his part.

[Hands of Iron]

The best poster:

Originally Posted by MAG1965

I give Ray more credit for beating Duran in the second fight than Duran for beating Ray the first fight. Ray was still green when Duran fought him, and the fact he fought Duran's fight proves something. In the rematch he moved, kept Duran at his range and when Duran got close he held. The fact is in the second fight Duran quits when Ray is starting to land punches to the head and body.