Duran and Leonard in studio with Cosell after first fight (Video)

I don`t know how anyone can say with any certainty that either of these men were definitely better than the other... they are 2 of the most complete fighters there has ever been... Leonard beat Duran 2-1 but probably lost the most important one were both were 100%... & on a greatness comparison, Leonard has the better single wins in his career but Duran has the longevity & greatness at 135 lbs that for many, place him above Ray on the p4p lists, not to mention him being the smallest & oldest of the fab 4.

It really is not clear cut when comparing Duran & Leonard, anyone saying it is is likely being biased.

For me, Duran has the edge in greatness... I`ll dodge the question of who was the better fighter tho if thats ok for now

 

No. Leonard proved he was the superior boxer and fighter. His boxing skill was better, his fighting spirit was stronger. Not just that night, but period.

If it didn't matter then this wouldn't even be a discussion. But it is, because it does.

Its unfortunate that when Duran is mentioned, Leonard has to be aswell, because Duran was indeed a great fighter and a tough fighter. For a boxer of his quality to fall to 'No Mas' illuminates the stature of Leonard over him in any list and especially mines. To eek in a snide; that the first match was the most important - is silly talk and exposes your own bias.

Duran won the first fight, -barely- and Sugar took the loss. Why was Leonard so keen on a rematch if he took the worst of it the first go round? Why? Because, he was the greater fighter, the better boxer, he didn't fight that fight like he should have and he knew it. The second time around - a handful of months later- what happened? 'No Mas'

If Roberto get's an 'edge' of greatness that's because Leonard has middle of the dais occupied.

 

Fighter? Fact? Boxer?

You, like the chin-checkers, need a dictionary.

Sun Tzu would have been very upset with Leonard in the first match, he gave his enemy the advantage. This relinquishing of advantage allowed Duran to 'appear' to be the better boxer. Not fighter. Because Leonard was boxing Duran's way.

Lets take a look at how this works..

Leonard is the better fighter the first fight. Why? He gets rocked early on, comes back stronger to keep the fight close. When he was in trouble. He didn't give up. Why? Because. Leonard has FIGHTING spirit. That's why. Leonard was never getting OUT-BOXED by Duran.

The second fight Duran is getting OUT-BOXED HANDS-DOWN. Is he still the better fighter? No. Why? A fighter would have pushed through the difficulty and solved the puzzle that was Leonard that night to at least finish to the final bell - LIKE LEONARD DID THE FIRST MATCH - but could Roberto do it? No. Why? Because he didn't have the fighting spirit to do so.

See how that works?

Cosell to Duran's translator 'Will he fight Leonard the same way again?'
Duran ~ "No. Depending on how he comes to me."
Cosell "Will he knock him out this time?"
Duran ~ " This time Im going to really destroy him. I will be much better my own way."

Listen to how a REAL FIGHTER and CHAMPION talks.

Leonard ~ " See.. I don't want to sit here and say. Hey. I got so many excuses. BECAUSE I HAVE NONE, but its different story, I've read that Duran will move up in weight, try to emulate Henry Armstrong, but Imma be right behind him. I want to the fight Duran again, I really do. My way."

Cosell ~ "That's what I wanted to hear."

"My way." Leonard says again punctuating his intent ominously.

and later... with Padilla the ref..

"..like I said Howard. I'm not going to sit here and say these fouls were committed uhm..I'll just say that the next time, I'm pretty much just going to do my own thing...." ~ Leonard.


Better fighter? Leonard. Better boxer? Leonard.

And he proved it in the second match.

"No Mas"

 

This is just utter nonsense...

First, duran is greater in part because of his dominance at Lightweight.. ya know that thing that MOST ALL the great have on their resume.. ya know that thing that is TOTALLY ABSENT from Leonards. Do you know one reason why it's not there.. because duran beat Leonard when he was just starting his title reign and put a big black mark on that "reign" forever. Second, and the other factor you're missing when determining greatness is longevity and moving up in weight... Duran was better in both areas in comparison to Leonard. Just because you where Leonard tinted glasses when determining who ranks higher.. doesn't mean most are.

Lastly, Leonard wanted the rematch right away, not because he was the better fighter (WTF does that even mean) or greater fighter (how does losing the first fight and asking for a rematch determing who the better figher is? LOL) He asked for the rematch right away BECAUSE HE KNEW DURAN WOULD BLOW UP AND BE OUT OF SHAPE. That is EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT HE STATED on why he asked for it right away. Certainly not because he was the greater fighter.. still laughing about that.

 

So leonard MAKING excuses on why he lost, but then saying he's not making excuses... means his list of excuses didn't happen? WTF.. Do you even make sense... He was making excuses.. PERIOD. Just because Howard was stroking Leonard's ego and clearly trying to ALSO make excuses for him.. doesn't make him losing any less valid. I love how you say Duran shouldn't solved the puzzle that was leonard in the second fight.. AS IF he solved the puzzle that was Duran in the first fight. HE DIDN'T.. he got beat from pillar to post that night and there was no doubt about the decision. How on God's green earth do you give Leonard credit for solving anything WHEN HE DIDN'T.

There is one thing Leonard fans can never get around... When they were both Prime and in great condition.. Duran won a CLEAR UD... Nothing will ever change that fact

 

Whats with this shite! Don't come on here you **** & attempt to make ego miles off my back by deliberatly misconstrueing what i said.

Name me or show me one fight where Leonard fought as he did in New Orleans...yer can't:deal

You were'nt around when this fight went down so you were'nt privy to the press reaction to Leonards antics & performence which was castigated by plenty of the press who quite simply stated that Leonards performence questioned whether he had thee required intestinal fortitude to be a great champion when the going got tough hence the all round rallying cry for Hearns to dispatch this pretender to ALI's crown but as history shows SRL proved all the naysayers wrong.

SRL did **** all in New Orleans & Duran did even less & you've begrudgingly admitted that SRL said he tried to box & move in Montreal but Duran cut the ring off did'nt he & nullified Leonards tactics & thats straight out of Leonards gob. Duran ai'nt Dave Boy Green.

If Duran had come into the New Orleans fight the same shape & condition he had in Montreal then you would proberbly had a close decision after 15 or a SD but the reality was that Leonard could'nt handle a fit & focused Duran at any range & fleeing around the ring in the rematch for 15 would proberbly sealed his certain defeat. How many times has it got to be said from SRL's gob that he wanted a party animal duran in the ring for the rematch such was his & his teams concern about having to go through that Montreal torment again they threatened to go for Cuevas if the November date was'nt accepted & refused the January date. Sounds like real confidence don't it!

 

The second Leonard-Duran fight was a farce. A disgrace.
I agree Leonard did very little in that one. Duran's effort was just disgraceful.

 

Leonard himself concedes that Duran is the greater fighter

 

I rate Duran and Hagler as greater than Leonard.
I'd rate Leonard as clear greater than Hearns.

I guess it all comes down to personal opinion.

 

I agree, it's got to be Duran overall when you take into account his domination for the best part of a decade at lightweight & fighter of the 70's. Defeating a prime SRL is viewed by many as his & boxings (post war) greatest achievment but when you throw the Barkley fight into the mix then it's a full-on lock.

Hagler for his undisputed reign

When you consider Leonard fought in the space of 15 months:

Duran x 2, Bonds, Kalule & then Hearns it's absolutely incredible & for me puts the likes of Mayweather who should'nt be mentioned in the same breath as SRL too shame.

Tommy Hearns again you just could'nt keep down & as you quite rightly said it's just a case of personal opinion & never more so than the case of these 4 in question, who's 1st amoungst equal's as they say.

Duran/Hagler & Leonard acheived undisputed status something tommy never officially got recognised with although it should have been the case after he beat Duran so thats nit picking at it's extreame i suppose, they yer go!

We could debate this to infinity & after much soul searching i'am going with DURAN the GREAT for the title of 1st amoungst equals:yep

 

Duran is the greater fighter. They both are first tier alltime greats but Roberto Duran`s resume is just deeper. Not only that but the sheer # of fights that Duran had compared to Leonard cant be ignored. Add in the fact that Duran moved up 12lbs and took Leonard`s title is just icing on the cake.