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

Too many excuses. He gets too many excuses for an ATG. If the excuses are to be accepted fine, but then he really did not fight or beat many great fighters. The best guy he beat turned around and made him quit.. So I think the excuses are in line with being overrated a bit.. Since he lacks wins over great fighters. Part of the challenge of moving up is seeing if you can beat great fighters moving up with less advantages. Hearns beat Hill at 175. Spinks beat Holmes. And Cooney. That is what makes fighters great, not excuses.

 

Duran used the jab and feints to stalk Ray and cut the ring off in Montreal, he didn`t do that in the rematch and Ray made it hard for him to do that, Ray used the uppercut well in the rematch also but a stiff jab always stopped Leonard getting his offence going like against Hearns and at times Benitez who should have jabbed more v Ray, so it may have been a case of who won the battle of the jabs in the first fight had Ray through the jab more and kept it on the outside.

 

I always thought Ray was the variable in the fights since Ray was more versatile than Duran, and proved it in his great wins vs. Hearns, Duran, Benitez, Hagler.

 

Duran was to short too fight Hearns Leonard had a better reach which took him further than Duran at the higher weights, no-one could overpower Duran the way Hagler did at middle, Duran could walk through any lightweight that stood and traded but had to throw less punches at middle because they punched harder, he was brilliant at light middle when he beat Moore though and looked better than Ray did vs Kalule but Ray complained his power was effected in that fight because back then light middles had to where bigger gloves.

 

Good post. Hearns had power, but to say Duran was too short. Well had Hearns fought at light heavyweight in the 1980s and moved up to fight Qawi, would Hearns be too tall to fight Dwight? Most people would think Dwight would be too strong. Yet Hearns fought Duran at 154. Duran was pretty much 5'8" althought the stats say 5 7 1/2. Tommy punched hard and was fast, and the speed is what hurt Duran not the height, which Duran dealt with, not that reach before, but Hearns had the reach of almost a heavyweight. 78 1/2 inch reach

 

Immediately after the first Leonard fight he was an ATG. He was never the same after that. Sure he had his moments, but he totally lost the edge he had before.

How about the time when Duran beat DeJesus in their second fight. DeJesus had his excuses. He wasn’t in optimal shape. It was too hot (something like 100 F) and the heat got the better of him. Duran accepted the excuses and he was like “bring it on. Come back again when you’re in better shape and we’ll duke it out again and see who is better” (not his exact words, but something like that).

 

Dwight was a legitimate LHW with a reach of 71” vs 66” for Duran. He went the distance with Michael Spinks and Evander Holyfield at LHW, which indicated he could take a punch. I think Hearns wins by decision, but not by KO.

Besides Dwight had the same problem that Duran had when he moved up in weight. He had no business going against George Foreman and the larger bionic Evander Holyfield at cruiserweight.

 

That is the selective talk about Duran. He was great after Ray and then whatever he does after does not matter. Ray was not the great he would become later. The way he beat Duran in the rematch proved his greatness, but he got better. He learned from Duran, to fight his fight and play the game before the fight also. Put it all together. Duran didn't care who was in shape. he looked for those weaknesses in people, which would surprise me why he would not come in shape. But shape or not. I don't think he could be in or out of shape for Hearns, the style and speed would not do well for Duran. I think Duran is an ATG, but where he ranks is where I sometimes argue with people.. top 30. but not top 10.

 

that was about height, and Duran's reach was 67. I don't know if Hearns could have beaten Qawi, that is a lot of pressure for Hearns from a solid guy at 175 who would work the body. Hearns had better get Qawi out of there early or do what Spinks did and rock him and make him back off but at 175, I don't know if Hearns could beat Qawi.. I love the punch Evander landed on Qawi in the rematch. Evander just got better and I guess Dwight declined.

 

ok, they faced off just over 5 months from the first fight. Does anybody on here know when the 2nd fight was agreed because we hear Duran had no time to get in shape/ leonard took advantage etc...etc....I was of the belief that although it was a quick enough rematch by todays standards, he still had a couple of months training. Its like he had a fortnight to train the way some people act when this fight is talked about. Can anyone actually pin down when it was agreed?

 

Along with Dempsey ducking Greb and Wills THIS is boxing forums no 1 subject

 

Some time in September, 1980.

Leonard needed time for Duran to gorge himself senseless, before leaving him 10 to 11 weeks to prepare.

 

Exactly

 

PERFECTO!!!! Like Roberto!

 

Great ****in posts K. KO!