If Leonard had boxed Duran in the first ft like he did the rematch , what's the result?

Leonard was not going to have his way no matter what he tried on that night.

Duran imposed his will, and beat Leonard.

The second fight likely would have gone the same way had Duran had a chance to get in shape. Duran was better than Leonard, pure and simple.

 

Duran was on a mission that night.

He was in shape physically and mentally.

And he was insanely motivated.

You could see the determination and focus written all over his face.

I think if Leonard tried to move and box that night, Duran would have cut off

the ring, worked the body and slowed him down.

Duran would win a decision, just like he did in reality.

 

I have oft said the same/a similar thing.

The idea that the cause of Leonard’s loss to Durán is rooted entirely in his decision to fight toe-to-toe has never washed with me. Even recently, I watched the fight again and saw a guy, who instinctively knew he had to gut it out, up close.

Durán was a man possessed that night, in Montreal. Leonard wasn’t getting away from him. Evasive action was not an option.

 

It's a hard call but i have always fell onto the side of SRL decisioning Duran and i believe the rematch SRL beats the initial Duran.

I also believe it was the loss and experience SRL had to have. This fight progressed him far and fast as a fighter. Duran did a complete psyche job on him all the way to calling his wife a *****. Leonard was never going to come in pitter pattering. This in itself was genius because Duran suckered Leonard into a fight that plenty would have thought the naturally bigger Leonard would have won anyway. Leonard certainly believed he could win this way and was unceremoniously shown he couldn't.

Basically Leonard was never going to win this first fight, but not because he couldn't physically imo. He had to have this experience. After this loss and the subsequent rematch victory Leonard himself had become a master of mental warfare all thanks to a crash course from Roberto Duran.

That's always been my take and i accept that either camp could be correct or incorrect. It's a pretty tight debate.

 

Leonard tried many different approaches in the first fight, none of it worked.

The idea Leonard just made up his mind to try one thing and was incapable of adjusting his strategy is absolute nonsense, in fact it's insulting, but people believe what they want to believe.

 

Leonard up by 1 round & 2 rounds (twice) at time of Duran's surrender.

Only DURAN KNOWS IF HE COULD HAVE PUT IT INTO SECOND GEAR THAT NITE.

Referee: Octavio Meyran
Judge: Mike Jacobs 68-66
Judge: Jean Deswert 68-66
Judge: James Brimmell 67-66


1980-11-25 : Ray Leonard 146 lbs beat Roberto Duran 146 lbs by TKO at 2:44 in round 8 of 15

• Location: Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
• Referee: Octavio Meyran
• Judge: Mike Jacobs 68-66
• Judge: Jean Deswert 68-66
• Judge: James Brimmell 67-66

 

Yet he couldn't and didnt

 

Couldn't what? Try different things? He did.

Leonard didnt want to fight with his back on the ropes, but all roads led there.

 

Duran hit Leonard with a left hook in the 2nd round that Ray later said had him in a fog till about round 5. I believe this because the way Ray staggered was unusual for him. He was close to having his lights turned out. He was fighting for his life and fighting Duran off of him. Had he tried to run at that point I think Duran would have gained more momentum. I' talking about forward momentum on his punches. That Duran right hand lead was blazing quick that nite

 

So are you contradicting your statement then that he was incapable of adjusting his strategy? Or am I missing something here

 

What? I never said he was incapable of adjusting his strategy.

What part of "is nonsense" did you miss? Are you drunk or just another crap troll that dont know how to troll?

 

You kidding me man a troll?? I've been here since 07 and your the first to throw that out. For what reason I have no idea maybe your just a hot head.
Didn't u state that it was insulting to think Leonard made up his mind to do one thing and was incapable of switching up his game is nonsense. So what am I missing here. I said Duran wouldn't let him fight any other way.

 

I hardly think I'm the first to throw out the idea that Leonard made adjustments during the first Duran fight. That should be obvious.

I guess you're drunk then. What the hell. My actual post is right there, yet you just totally restructured a clear statement impossible to misinterpret into a confusing mess.

 

Then I guess I just misunderstood it. No need to be a complete a#s hole about it. Simple misunderstanding then.

 

Hi mate, I am stoked reading your post as I was going to say the same thing. Duran hurt Leonard so badly in round 2 that he didnt have the option of running any more. He had to try n fight for survival which he managed to do.

I also believe Duran was at his absolute all time best in that fight unlike Leonard who was still getting better. Duran never actually came anywhere near being in that kind of shape again. The big money seemed to ruin his desire to train properly.

I often wonder if even though he won the fight if Duran realised that Ray would beat him next time. Hear me out my fellow Duran fans

I found it extraordinary that Roberto did what he did in round 15 of the Montreal fight. He had never done anything like that before. The lightweight version of Roberto would have tried to kayo anyone who was still around after 14 rounds in a fight he ( Duran ) was winning not play silly mind games.

As a last comment Leonard actually did better than Duran in the last three rounds of the fight. Which I believe may have given Ray more confidence and given Roberto something to think about.

The fight was live on Aussie tv for free so I had to take the day off school