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

What are we going to do with you, MAG? All this hyperbole I'm throwing out, and you just put it to shame. These are things you actually believe through and through. It would've been a disaster had Duran not gone hog mode and been in similar condition that he was that June. I don't excuse the loss for the simple belief that he was never going to regain that form no matter when the rematch took place. I don't see that style paying dividends if he'd fought the guy he faced in Montreal. Duran would be in supreme condition, track him down and cut him off -- Leonard hardly let his hands go at all. It was really a pretty terrible fight. You turning Duran's longevity against him has no basis in how long and when he was "prime". It's terribly obvious he was didn't wear the weight well whatsoever when he moved beyond 147 on a more permanent basis.

 

Duran moved up to 147 at the age of 26, a similar age to Napoles, Mayweather and Whitaker. They're all shorter guys who carry the weight well enough

On that basis you must consider Duran prime and peak for Dejesus 1?

**** poor gameplan wasn't it, boxing and moving was clearly the foil to get the win over Duran, I suppose Dundee thought Leonard was the bigger stronger guy, wrong wasn't he?

 

Never claimed SRL was peak in Montreal, only that saying he was "green" as MAG has asserted in the recent past is ludicrous and more of a disservice to Leonard than anything. Duran was closer to being washed up than Leonard was to being green. He'd wiped the floor with the division's B-level top ten guys - the type who would be compiled on a ledger over an extended title reign - and already made the jump to elite in dethroning Benitez, further harnessed it in looking sensational against Green... He was absolutely ready and in his general prime.

Leonard was the bigger, stronger and faster guy. He couldn't of imagined how badly and often Duran would make him miss and pay for it. If Leonard isn't fast enough to hit you with clean, hard shots with any type of consistentcy or rhythm -- nobody is. He was nullified by Duran's use of feints, dismayed by his ability to slip, roll and counter and completely overwhelmed on the inside. He got beat from pretty much all ranges and badly rocked twice from a well-timed/measured left hook and counter right hand over his jab, both from distance and this is only Round 4. Taken in it's totality, it's actually insane what went on here and couldn't of been pulled off by anything short of one of the very best fighters ever. If Leonard was anything short of the same class, he'd of folded right there. Anybody who questions his intenstinal fortitude isn't to be taken seriously. The fight itself was an embodiment of the spirit and soul of the sport, executed by two of the most skilled practitioners to breathe air. That's the long and short of it for me.

I'd peg Duran's prime as being between 1974-80, after he'd learned to utilize his jab to greater effect, add a multitude of feints to his arsenal, tighten up his defense and generally bring pressure of a far more educated variety. DeJesus no doubt beat an elite fighter, but he was a bit too crude - compared to himself - to call him a prime version for my tastes and it's honestly without bias I say that.

 

I'm not sure if Duran was past prime as a 29yo with what many consider a career best performance. Leonard was faster and taller/rangier but not stronger, Duran was stronger and he filled the 147lb weight with plenty of functional strength, it suited him in that sense

Leonard was physically in his prime and was in no way green, he had plenty of quality wins already, some wins are underrated like Mayweather and Shields. I'd contend though he was not yet in his ring smart prime, which is something people forget when talking 'prime for prime'

I'd say the type of fight Montreal was, which didn't require as much movement suited him better than the rematch which needed allot of foot movement. Ultimately the 2 fights showed Duran showed he was the more skilled fighter in range, Leonard showed he had more stamina and the legs to outspeed/outbox if he didn't look to 'fight' Duran. You could argue Duran was past prime at 147 and would have had the legs at 135, which may or may not be true. Still at 135 when he chased down Buchannan he didn't have the same refined skill set he later developed

 

Duran was built for 135 and stayed there many yrs. He was much less effective after having jumped over 140 all the way to 147

and at 29, how much did he have left? still, wit a handful of bouts at the new weight was able to get the job done,, as long as HE WAS IN DECENT SHAPE

 

as for Leonard u could say he was at a disadvantage experience wise. he never had great experience with his limited resume, but this wasnt exactly the Duran of 1976 either. in 1980, neither man was at his absolute best

 

He was coming off the greatest performance of his career going into New Orleans. He was absolutely in his prime, if at the tail end of it. It was the shape he turned up in and lack of conditioning for that particular fight that was different. Tyson has the same sob story, and it's simply too bad. But just as Douglas could've posed problems regardless, the style Leonard employed would've made for a far different fight, but it's one in which Duran could've been far better prepared to deal with. It wasn't a shutout as it was, and getting on his Kawasaki wasn't going to be enough to take the fight against a dedicated and persistent version. Duran was too good at closing distance thanks to his feinting and own underrated and economical footwork. Leonard would have to open up, and he could not outskill or outfight Duran inside to mid-range. It would've been close as all hell imo.

 

I think Robbie wouldve worn down the less experienced Hearns. he wouldve sniffed out his weakness which included lack of strength, & stamina. he just didnt look strong. What did he have, a nice left jab?

Robinson wins probably within 12

Tommy's best weight was probably 154-160 as one might expect from a man 6-1. Notice how nicely he had filled out with much needed muscle in the Duran fight on thru the Hutchins fight and in the Shuler fight, Tommy had never been better

 

Hellooo rooster. :hi:

 

Duran got schooled in so many fights lol I just like to point out that Dundee picked ortiz to beat mayweather he might not have been in his prime tho lol

 

I think Benitez from his Duran fight would school Duran in montreal Duran charging in with overhand rights and feints to setup his charge will not work with Benitez

 

Spot on:yep

Yep, when both where prepared for battle on a level playing field the better man & boxer prevailed:deal

Thanks for putting everything i've ever said on this subject into plain english:good

 

I think there is a difference between a guy with 20 something fights and a couple dozen amateur bouts and someone with a similar number of fights and 150 amateur bouts. More to the point Duran wasn't quite at his peak; he was indisputably in his prime.

 

Hey mag I see what you're saying, however I think Leonard was at his peak for the first fight.