Why do ppl always say Duran moved up 2 weightclasses to beat Leonard?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by richie leon, Dec 2, 2012.

Page 1 of 17
  1. richie leon

    richie leon Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2008
    Messages:
    3,512
    Likes Received:
    2
    I've heard people mention this over and over, and it's just not true. Duran moved up to WW about 2 years before the first Leonard fight and had 8 fights in that time, including a notable decision win over Palomino. Also, even when he was reigning as LW champ, he was fighting non-title fights at 140 all the time.

    I'm not bringing this up to diminish Duran's legacy in any way, he's one of the best ever. But he was barely the 'smaller man' when he fought Sugar Ray, and people don't generally acknowledge that.

    And it especially irks me when certain people compare Juan Manuel Marquez moving up to fight Floyd Mayweather to the Leonard-Duran situation, when in truth there is absolutely no comparison.
     
    richie leon, Dec 2, 2012
    #1
    mrkoolkevin likes this.
  2. dyna

    dyna Boxing Junkie banned

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2012
    Messages:
    8,710
    Likes Received:
    27
    Leonard had 8 inches more reach, and was 3 inches taller.
    He was naturally a bigger guy and I think Duran fighting at 140 while still being a lw champion has more do to with his work ethic outside the ring.
     
    dyna, Dec 2, 2012
    #2
  3. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2007
    Messages:
    114,688
    Likes Received:
    51,519
    One was a natural lightweight, one was a natural welterweight. This is the point which people are trying to make to you.
     
    McGrain, Dec 2, 2012
    #3
  4. LittleRed

    LittleRed Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2012
    Messages:
    8,850
    Likes Received:
    246
    McGrain, you're a smart guy but how can you say that. Duran was at 150 before either Hearns or Leonard, chronologically speaking, and was therefore the bigger man. Everyone knows this.
     
    LittleRed, Dec 2, 2012
    #4
  5. AlFrancis

    AlFrancis Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2008
    Messages:
    9,813
    Likes Received:
    848
    Yes, but he was older than them and he'd had a long career. He was a lightweight, just that was good enough to carry the weight at the higher poundage. He was never as great at any weight than lightweight.
     
    AlFrancis, Dec 2, 2012
    #5
  6. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

    Joined:
    Feb 11, 2005
    Messages:
    65,842
    Likes Received:
    53,013
    Duran was 5 and 7 years older than those two. Naturally, he was putting on more pounds. He was almost 30 when he fought Leonard and 33 with 15 years as a pro under his belt when he fought Hearns. The partying didn't exactly help matters either.
     
    Seamus, Dec 2, 2012
    #6
  7. LittleRed

    LittleRed Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2012
    Messages:
    8,850
    Likes Received:
    246
    Really? No one saw the sarcasm. Should I have mentioned that Virgil Hill is a great fighter that defended his belt life 25 times?
     
    LittleRed, Dec 2, 2012
    #7
  8. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

    Joined:
    Feb 11, 2005
    Messages:
    65,842
    Likes Received:
    53,013
    I caught a whiff of it but it didn't really register. Kinda hard to pick-up on with the written word.
     
    Seamus, Dec 2, 2012
    #8
  9. LittleRed

    LittleRed Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2012
    Messages:
    8,850
    Likes Received:
    246
    My fault. Should have been spoofier.
     
    LittleRed, Dec 2, 2012
    #9
  10. the cobra

    the cobra Awesomeizationism! Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2008
    Messages:
    12,028
    Likes Received:
    119
    I got it right away.
     
    the cobra, Dec 2, 2012
    #10
  11. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2009
    Messages:
    82,092
    Likes Received:
    22,234
    the post was so sarcastic i can't even remember what this thread is about but surely Duran deserves a mention.
     
    lufcrazy, Dec 2, 2012
    #11
  12. Hands of Iron

    Hands of Iron #MSE Full Member

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2012
    Messages:
    14,701
    Likes Received:
    16
    MAG is an endless source of entertainment.
     
    Hands of Iron, Dec 2, 2012
    #12
  13. AlFrancis

    AlFrancis Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2008
    Messages:
    9,813
    Likes Received:
    848
    :lol:
     
    AlFrancis, Dec 2, 2012
    #13
  14. MAG1965

    MAG1965 Loyal Member banned

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2008
    Messages:
    34,796
    Likes Received:
    66
    7 inches more reach and 2 inches more height. And he fought at 154 in 1978 before Ray ever did.
     
    MAG1965, Dec 2, 2012
    #14
  15. MAG1965

    MAG1965 Loyal Member banned

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2008
    Messages:
    34,796
    Likes Received:
    66
    which makes Hearns accomplishment of beating Hill when he was a natural welterweight pretty amazing.
     
    MAG1965, Dec 2, 2012
    #15
Page 1 of 17