SRR, Hearns, and Terrell scored Leonard-Duran I for Leonard

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by mrkoolkevin, Mar 27, 2018.


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  1. mrkoolkevin

    mrkoolkevin Never wrestle with pigs or argue with fools Full Member

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    Chicago Tribual, Sunday, June 22, 1980, Page 51.

    What the Experts Think

    Sugar Ray Robinson:

    “I thought Leonard won, but I didn’t think it was a bad decision because it was such a close fight and a good fight. By rounds, I had it 8-7 for Leonard.

    Duran’s style brought back memories of Jake LaMotta. Just like old Jake, he always kept coming in and throwing punches.

    It didn’t seem to me that the trainer had a plan for Ray to follow. Boxing is the art of self-defense, and I was surprised he didn’t move around more and try to take advantage of his reach. Those first rounds I was wondering if he’d be able to stand up under those punches that Duran kept landing.

    But neither fighter ever seemed in big trouble. One would take it for a while, and then he’d come back and dish it out.

    You can bet there’s going to be a rematch. I pick Ray because he has youth on his side, and he should have learned a lot in this fight.”

    Ernie Terrell:

    “I thought Leonard won, but he fought against the grain. I expected him to backpedal and jab a lot, and instead he came out and wanted to mix it up, which was what Duran wanted. He stayed on the ropes too much and wrestled with Duran.

    Leonard fought brilliantly in the last two rounds and scored with some tremendous combination punches. A the end, Duran started backpedaling, and champions just don’t do that.

    We could be in for two more classic fights between these two, and I think Leonard will win the next two because he’s young. This is the first tough fight he has had.”



    Wes Moon, Cuevas and Hearns are Both Confident, Asbury Park Press June 28, 1980, p 19

    “I thought Leonard won,” said Hearns. “I think I can beat either one. Duran and Leonard won’t trouble me. Leonard has no heart for fighting. Duran will keep coming at you but he won’t come back after I get through with him.”
     
    mrkoolkevin, Mar 27, 2018
    mrkoolkevin, Mar 27, 2018
    #1
    JLP1978 likes this.
  2. mark ant

    mark ant Canelo was never athletic Full Member

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    I could see where Robi was coming from but Ray was beat you could see it on his face during the bout, Hearns was half right in his statement because no way could he have taken the beating Ray did but when he met Duran he didn`t have to.
     
    mark ant, Mar 27, 2018
    mark ant, Mar 27, 2018
    #2
  3. KuRuPT

    KuRuPT Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Thank God these guys don't judge fights and never have. Literally, and I've been on many a boxing site, I've seen a handful of people give the fight to SRL. I've rarely heard of this fight even being hard to score or up for debate. So again, I guess sometimes fighters don't make good judges is what I took from this.
     
    KuRuPT, Mar 27, 2018
    KuRuPT, Mar 27, 2018
    #3
    Jel and The Morlocks like this.
  4. Matt Bargas

    Matt Bargas Member Full Member

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    Interesting comments, everyone Wanted Leonard to backpedal and clown around, but somehow Duran wasn’t allowed to do so. Of course Duran didn’t throw as many punches in the last round. Duran knew that he was ahead on points. There was no need to take any chances. Duran made Leonard miss repeatedly as he out-clowned him.
     
    Matt Bargas, Mar 27, 2018
    Matt Bargas, Mar 27, 2018
    #4
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  5. PernellSweetPea

    PernellSweetPea Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Hearns sure knew the style to beat Duran. His power and speed were too much.
     
    PernellSweetPea, Mar 27, 2018
    PernellSweetPea, Mar 27, 2018
    #5
  6. Matt Bargas

    Matt Bargas Member Full Member

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    Yes. His comments were prophetic.

    Hearns’ speed wasn’t the issue. Hearns wasn’t any faster than Leonard. Duran didn’t have trouble with Leonard’s speed. It was Hearns’ reach and power that made the difference.
     
    Matt Bargas, Mar 27, 2018
    Matt Bargas, Mar 27, 2018
    #6
  7. PernellSweetPea

    PernellSweetPea Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    power and speed and straight punches.
     
    PernellSweetPea, Mar 27, 2018
    PernellSweetPea, Mar 27, 2018
    #7
  8. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

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    Well, his comments appear prophetic because he beat Duran, but in his other comments he said he'd beat Leonard and that he thought Leonard outpointed Duran - so he got one right out of three.
     
    Jel, Mar 27, 2018
    Jel, Mar 27, 2018
    #8
  9. GoldenHulk

    GoldenHulk Boxing Addict Full Member

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    It was a close, competitive fight, but Duran definitely won it.
     
    GoldenHulk, Mar 28, 2018
    GoldenHulk, Mar 28, 2018
    #9
  10. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    Nobody mentioned clowning around for SRL.
     
    JohnThomas1, Mar 28, 2018
    JohnThomas1, Mar 28, 2018
    #10
    mrkoolkevin likes this.
  11. Matt Bargas

    Matt Bargas Member Full Member

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    Did they use that word “clowning” specifically? Probably not. When Leonard changed his strategy in the second fight and did what the commentators wanted him to do, that’s what he did mostly, clowning: sticking out his chin, winding up with the bolo etc.

    In the last round of their first fight, Duran clowned around with Leonard, making him miss, sticking out his chin, etc. The commentators seemed outraged that Duran wasn’t fighting.
     
    Matt Bargas, Mar 28, 2018
    Matt Bargas, Mar 28, 2018
    #11
  12. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    They were simply surprised he didn't move more, box more. Noway would that lot be looking for clowning. Interesting that they didn't believe Duran made him fight that fight.
     
    JohnThomas1, Mar 28, 2018
    JohnThomas1, Mar 28, 2018
    #12
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  13. Longhhorn71

    Longhhorn71 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Duran was in his prime and had his goal of putting a whupping on SRL for about a year. SRL was still maturing as a top fighter. You saw the result in Fight #1.
     
    Longhhorn71, Mar 28, 2018
    Longhhorn71, Mar 28, 2018
    #13
  14. mark ant

    mark ant Canelo was never athletic Full Member

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    It was closer than people thought and also closer than Leonard thought while he was in there, Mayweather has a better poker face than Ray did, Duran got into his head but Ray landed a lot of punches even though Roberto got underneath most of them, awesome fight from both men.
     
    mark ant, Mar 28, 2018
    mark ant, Mar 28, 2018
    #14
  15. Skins

    Skins Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I have the old boxing illustrated that covered the fight and the writer had Leonard winning
     
    Skins, Mar 28, 2018
    Skins, Mar 28, 2018
    #15
    Longhhorn71 likes this.
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