Do you think Duran knew he was going to get blown up by Hearns?

I think it is a bit of an exaggeration to claim there are " countless " fighters who blew up like Duran, or even Hatton between fights Van. These were small guys who weighed nearer 180 than their fighting weights in the 140's. I would say they were in the minority.

 

Hearns speed prevented the last moment rolling with punches that Duran was used to using to avoid a lot of the damage. Perhaps Duran would have been a bit faster at lower weight, but I don't think he matches up well stylistically with Hearns, it just is what it is.
Roberto is one of my all time favorite fighters, but this matchup just doesn't work for him, all his strengths are negated, and all his weaknesses are magnified by Hearns.
So, if he didn't know he was getting blown out before the fight, I think he knew pretty soon into it. He didn't fight like he was afraid at all, so I don't think it was a case of fear.
That is why A beats B and B beats C therefore A beats C type arguments just don't work in boxing.

 

At that weight you might be right, but certainly the heavies blew up in weight all the time. So in the context of what you said, I'd agree with you. Toney is another one who was a sub heavyweight prone to gain weight. And of course the majority of those who did this, simply never became elite fighters to begin with..

 

Totally agree with you regarding the bigger guys mate. The amazing thing for me though is ( if rumours are to be believed ) they reckon Duran actually hit 200+ on more than 1 occasion whilst he was still an active fighter. That is terrible for a guy of his height and reach.

 

I completely disagree.

Fear/nervousness manifests itself in completely different ways in different people. One guy might run away all around the ring from his opponent, another might meet them violently head on. Both reactions can be produced by a scared/nervous participant.

Duran could well have been putting on a brave face for the public in the face of such danger, he could have been trying to shake himself out of his own negative thoughts, the possibilities are endless.

Yes, which plays right into my hand. Duran is one of the smartest fighters ever to grace the ring.

So why did he utilize such a risky strategy? Because he was completely off his game, an absolute rarity. Why was he so off his game strategically? Simple.

As above, i completely disagree for the reasons stated.

It's no slight on Duran for being hopelessly outgunned in this one. Given where he come from and all the other intangibles he's unfortunate to come across a guy with so much reach, height, speed and power advantages. Hearns was one of a kind and Duran absolutely caught him at the peak of his powers.

No other guy from 147 to 160 was going to do aything remotely like this to him.

 

This makes sense to me. Human psychology is a complicated thing and no one was more of a warrior than Duran. For whatever reason Hearns at that time aND place Hearns had the whammy on him.

It's tempting to put it into black and white terms but people, warriors included, are sometimes nuanced beyond definitive understanding.

 

Of course he was past prime, no one says otherwise. But why would he prepare better for say Moore or Cuevas, who were much lesser threats?

And would you agree that he was in shape for Hagler? He certainly seemed like he was, going 15 with the bigger, stronger and ultra fit Marvelous. So if he got into shape for that fight, why not for Hearns?

Funny thing with Duran is that he supposedly prepared less for some of his biggest challenges in Leonard (rematch), Benitez and Hearns. You would have thought that he would have prepared more for his strongest opponents.

 

I think it's easiest to assume every loss up until Barkley featured an underprepared unmotivated Duran and in every win he was prepared, or it just doesn't matter, he won!!

 

As Mr. Thomas alluded to, It makes a great built in excuse for hangers on and fans.

He won the Moore and Cuevas fights, so no excuse needed.

I have lost count of times I have heard "If Duran was in the same shape for Benitez that he was for Moore, he would have destroyed Benitez."

The truth is Hagler, Benitez and Hearns were simply much better than Moore and Cuevas, at least the faded Cuevas that Duran faced.

 

It is not my claim but rather the claim of Plomo Quinones who said that Duran arrived to his Bahamas training camp drinking and often vomiting and never able to complete a day's training.

Again, no pass given here but we are clearly looking at a softened, jaded old champ versus a hungry up-and-comer.

In so far as Duran being intimidated by Hearns, Steward seemed to think this was the case.

 

Duran appeared incredibly unprepared. His body was soft and his focus was off.
When Duran entered the ring prior to the introductions, he went and sat in his corner. Seriously, WTF? Maybe losing a fairly close decision to Hagler had convinced Duran that he could easily handle Hearns.

4 1/2 years later a focus Duran out boxed and out toughed Iran Barkley, who always had Hearns' number.

I think at welterweight, Duran mugs Hearns.

 

"Mugs" him? Based on what? I don't see much reason to believe that any welterweight who's ever existed "mugs" Tommy Hearns, let alone a man that he completely and violently owned and dominated a few years later at 154.

 

There is absolutely plenty of doubt about it.

And as is par for the course around here, I think you are exaggerating the difference between the immortal "Montreal Duran" superhero and the Duran that showed up to fight other top 174/154-lbers. I suspect that Montreal Duran wouldn't have looked nearly as fierce with Hearns pumping stiff, fast jabs and straight punches at him from distance with a 78-inch reach that night.

 

That is your opinion. My opinion is that Montreal Duran gets to Hearns because it's a much, much more mobile/sharper version of Duran than the one Hearns faced.

This subject gets you real salty eh Kevin? Lol