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

It's definitely one of my favourite performances and fights! I actually prefer it to Leonard-Hearns 1 for the sustained action and the superb in-fighting from both men.

Will try and find time to watch it again this weekend and rescore it, then post it in the scorecards thread.

 

The Hearns fight is much more of a chess match with ebbs and flows. For sure the Duran fight is much more explosive.

 

Quite true JT.

Continued analyses within analyses of this bout is one big, gold-leafed invitation to a headache, anyway; such was the skill level being played out.

As a spectacle (I watched it again, last night) it's just an extraordinary contest to behold.

 

Bingo mate, bingo. I don't get into drawn out debate or waste much emotion on it as i see it as an open book. Who knows who is 100% right.

 

Duran in this mood was unbeatable.
And he was in this mood of the Montreal fight.

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Leonard fought a much different Duran than the one who he fought in Montreal. Angelo Dundee was clever & he knew Duran was king of the party animals. I think there first fight was June & Dundee had scouts out there with the knowledge that Duran was hanging out at Victor's cafee in NYC.

Duran would drink soda pop, some booze & Victors was a hangout to many drug dealers from South America & Panama.

Dundee knew Leonard was the American star $$$$ & thats where a lot of the $$$ was. Dundee said we fight in November or we fight Hearns.

Duran could not get back in Montreal condition in that short period of time but the money a Leonard fight would bring was too hard to say NO to. The Duran of Montreal, the 71-1 Duran would have been a monster for any fighter with any style. Duran was in consistant shape for Montreal & was in condition to get into better condition.

Duran in that form with his natural skill & aggression & power & focus would have been an obstacle for Leonard & another close fight win,lose or draw.

 

My thoughts too Bummy . Cheers Mate.

 

Leonard would've won if he boxed instead of moivng forward and being aggressive.

This would've screwed up both of their legacies. Duran wouldn't be Fab Four anymore since he wouldn't hold a single win over the others.

Benitez's and Hearns' wins over Duran would be discounted, thereby discounting Leonard's wins over them. And Leonard wouldn't have the "No Mas" fight to his credit since that match wouldn't have happened.

 

People lose sight of the fact that the second Leonard Duran fight was very close and competitive until Duran blew a mental gasket. Roberto was not being dominated. Roberto was simply not up for the fight as he should have been while Ray was motivated as never before. If Ray tried to box more in Montreal he may have squeezed out a decision or he may not have. At their best at 147 they were razor close.

 

Duran was the Champ in Fight 2. Should have just backed off and told SRL to "fight" if he wanted the title.
BTW: Which Leonard v Duran was the one that had their 2 kids on TV in commercials being "Kumbala" with each other?

 

2nd. Feeling 7 Up

 

The second fight was the result of what Duran brought into the ring, nothing. Leonard was the same fighter.

 

I always thought Ray would win easily since he had that style to beat Duran with speed.. Just don't fight Duran. it works in Duran's favor. Barkley found that out. Even when he fought Hearns, Hearns engaged with Duran in round one and got hit a few times. So Hearns backed off and landed from the outside. You don't fight Duran on the inside. he is great there.

 

It’s not just speed alone, but the combination of speed, reach, and power that made it impossible for Durán to beat Hearns. Barkley certainly had the reach and the power over Duran, but not the speed. That’s how Duran was able to get inside.

 

It could go either way. I never bought the “Leonard didn’t fight his fight” line. If you watch the Leonard vs Benitez fight, you’ll see a very aggressive Leonard without a lot of lateral movement, sometimes flat footed. This style won him the welterweight championship.
All great fighters have to be adaptable as Leonard was against Hearns. When he found himself out-boxed, he turned it into a slugfest, and went in for the kill. IMO that was his greatest victory.