Did people forget about how he was like "NO MORE UNO MAS" to the ref during his bout with Leonard. Duran had no heart. Completely destroyed his reputation with that forfeiture. That was one of the most pitiful things I've ever seen. Leonard definitely ranks above him in ATG.
Did lots of work in his career that ended up outweighing his quit job along with making him great. He also quit out of frustration not out of any fear for taking punishment. I think people are more forgiving with these kind of quit jobs compared to quitting due to pain. Refusal to fight because of pain is commonly seen as cowardly. I don't rate his heart as perfect though due to the quit job.
People rip on Zab Judah all the time for a lack of heart but they don't talk about Duran in the same way. IMO: Zab had more heart than Duran anyday of the week. Who quits out of embarrassment in a professional sport where people pay $55-$60 to watch. Disgraceful to fans all over. Carlos Eleta, said, "Durán didn't quit because of stomach cramps. He quit because he was embarrassed. I know this."[13] He ruined his entire career with that quit job. He'll never rank above Leonard in my books.
I may be slightly biased here since I am a Duran fan. While I don't buy into the excuses made for this fight, I don't think a fighter should be judged based solely on one fight, but rather based on their overall body of work. The guy had 119 fights, winning 103 of them, 70 of them by KO. That is pretty damn impressive no matter which way you slice it. His reign as LW champion is pretty solid too. Had Duran quit fights repeatedly throughout his career then I would probably think less of him than I do now but the fact that he continued to fight until he was around 50 tells me this was a guy who was born a fighter and made a **** poor choice during one of his 119 fights.
You don't seem to realize that THAT particular fight was probably the most important fight of his career. It was the rubber match against the only man who could have challenged his ATG status in that era. It was a PPV fight with insurmountable hype proceeding it. With millions buying PPV's around the world, you're expected to fight it out till the bitter end, that's what prized fighters are expected to do. What kind of man are you when you yell NO MORE, NO MAS NO MAS in front of all your believers, fans etc etc. While I do acknowledge his overall greatness, 70 ko's, 103 wins, beating greats from all over the world, an ATG does not throw in the towel in his biggest fight against his biggest rival. You tough it out until the bitter end. A UD loss would have been 10x more rewarding than him throwing in the towel due to embarrassment.
why do loser like you troll? The man was a beast, so what if he doesnt have a heart. Also how dare you criticize a boxer when you haven't even made it his level.
I agree with you 100% Boxing media built him back up for Davey Moore fight, cause sport needed big names again, with Holmes not being as popular a hoped, Cooney gone, and he was still able to be a draw for sport. They just had to lead gullible public along. Davey Moore was sick, inexperienced and given up as sacrifice almost. ****, writers were so much wanting Duran back some glamorized him thumbing Moore in eye first round. Duran was great fighter, had great talent, but his courage is something that is exaggerated. Tough? Yes. One of toughest? No. Something very conveniently forgotten: All Durans early defenses were in Panama, where he had a dictator who declared him hero, and all the judges, plus ref, were from Panama. Trujio (sp?) was dictator, and no judge was going to give an opponent a decision, no ref was going to warn of take points fro Duran. Ray Lampkin was most hurt by this, he was doing ell, but had to slug more, especially in late rounds, since everyone knew he was not getting decision. His style caled for him to box, but he had to try going against his style, and it cost him. AS he lay unconscious, Duran said in interview broadcast live o CBS form ring, that he wished him dead. Next day, reporters were called to hear Duran apologize. He had translator who said Duran was sorry he was in hospital. Spanish speaking reporters then shouted the truth, Duran had said of the hospitalized Lamplkin should be in morgue. Him quitting agianst Leanard, with no regard for fans is unforgivable to me.
I understand the importance of the fight. I just don't agree with your view, and I'm okay with that. I'm not trying to change your opinion of Duran, I'm merely stating why one event does not taint his whole career in my eyes.
HE WAS A PRIZED FIGHTER. Why am I not allowed to criticize him, he screwed over millions of buyers over the world. So you don't think that people who pay for the fight have the right to be mad for what he did? He threw in the towel due to embarrassment, you know morbidly disgusting that is? You wouldn't know, you don't box.