First off, Duran was the smallest of the Fab 4, he wasn't supposed to even hang with them 12, 15 rounds much less beat them. Second, he was up there in age too, probably the oldest too. Slowest, weakest. Third, I love SRL, I can understand if people want to rate him as high as Duran or even Robinson, but what Duran did more than the rest of the Fab 4 was shock the world. Not once(Leonard), or twice(Moore), but 3 times (Barkley). He wasn't given a chance in hell, yet he could care less what us maggots thought. And finally, I don't buy Leonard's excuse about losing the first fight cuz the way he fought. He was not only getting beat on the inside, but Roberto was even outboxing the boxer! There were parts in the fight where Duran was out jabbing Leonard and landing huge right hands that rocked Leonard badly that would of dropped most on their asses. Leonard, like Floyd after him, was supposed to be able to adapt and find a way to win, but in reality nothing he tried was enough. He made it a close fight, but no welterweight in history was going to beat Duran that night. He was a boxer's nightmare, a brawler with a high boxing IQ, iron chin, good speed, and power. Ray had 15 rounds to try plan B, C, D, etc and outbox Duran once he knew going toe to toe was a bad idea.
Oh please. :rofl SRR in his prime would have beaten him to a pulp. Montreal Duran or not. Hearns would have also done a paint job on him. Hearns' reach was just too much, too much power. The same result would have occurred. Just like how some of you don't believe in his story, no one believes in Duran's story of him not being prepared for the 2nd fight and his dumb stories about having orange juice/2 steaks and having stomach cramps. He got his **** pushed in the 2nd fight and that's that. :good He also quit cuz he was embarrassed by Leonard's taunting/boxing.
While I belive Duran clearly won their first fight, it was still a competitive decision. Some people have revisionist history and believe that Duran wiped the floor with leonard in their first fight which wasn't the case at all. Clear, narrow UD for Roberto.
You don't buy that excuse but you buy the excuse that Duran was out of shape for the rematch when being in shape is very important in boxing and shows a lack of discipline. Bull****. SRR would have beaten him knocked him out so would Hearns who did. Pea Whiatker would outbox him and frustrate him and SRL fought a close fight that could have gone either way and Benitez always beats any version of him as well.
Dejesus was the only guy to beat him in his prime at lightweight. Once. Hearns was a guy you didnt take lightly. Duran didnt care and took him lightly which is why he got decked. Just remember you're hero wouldnt have lasted in that era so stop trying to suggest that Duran would have come up short against him. And maybe only in your mind is Duran remembered for just him quiting in the Leonard rematch.
Yes that's what most people love to leave out, it was a very close fight Duran was fortunate that he got the decision. People like to act as if Duran battered SRL around the ring for 15 rounds and shut him out.
No mas is one of the biggest moments in boxing history to act as if it's not is ridiculous. That **** still haunts Duran to this day. His own country almost turned their back on him after that.:deal http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard–Durán_II
Okay. While this is true, remember, he was out of shape. And any in shape fighter can beat a fighter who isn't
Firstly the first 3-4 rounds weren't all that close, the rest of the fight was. Even by SRL's own account, he lost this fight. Secondly, yes I think SRR would beat even this version of Duran, if he stayed on the outside. Hearns I'm less sure about. He fought Duran at 154, not 147. Might not matter, but then again it might. Benitez hard to say, he also beat Duran at 154. At 147 I think the Duran that beat SRL also beats Benitez. Of those three the hardest one for me to predict at 147 is Hearns. He still might drop Duran, unless Duran can get on the inside and force Hearns onto the ropes.
There was no almost about it. They did turn their back on him and his two long time trainers Arcel and Brown both abandoned him. Up until that fight they both had an extremely high view of Duran and these guys had been trainers for 50-60 years up until that time. And you're right, it's on Duran for not coming into that fight in shape, he had to have known that SRL was going to be at his absolute best during the rematch, and Duran waited too long to start training and was forced to take diuretics to make weight, which tend to produce cramps etc as a side affect. But again, that's on Duran and nobody else.
Duran beat the best possible version of Leonard 12lb above his own best weight. Leonard beat a sh*t version of Duran and a shot version of Duran. Duran>Leonard A faded version of Hagler was robbed against a faded version of Leonard. Leonard had ducked him prior to that and ducked a rematch. Leonard "came out of retirement" one month after Hagler retired. Clearly: Duran > Hagler > Leonard Hearns knocked out a shot version of Duran. Leonard (and Hagler) knocked out the best version of Hearns. Thus: Duran > Hagler > Leonard > Hearns Duran, a natural lightweight, was easily the best of the Fab Four. Also the TS is a foolish person who DKSAB.
Best but has the worst record H2H against all of them?atsch How does that work?:nut Only on ESB damn Duran apologist. 1-4 against SRL, Hagler, Hearns and Benitez