Sugar Ray never truly beat me & he knows it

I heard something like that as well. That seems like being over cautious. What worked against Durán may not have worked against Hearns.

Benítez had a 4" reach advantage over Durán and an 8" reach deficit against Hearns. Tommy should have been able to pin him up against the ropes without getting too close. And of course Benítez could dodge many of his bombs, but not forever. Eventually one of them would land clean.

 

Yes you have, you claimed that since Duran fought 15 years after Wilfred and still got some big wins, he wasn't past his prime in the 80's. So by claiming he wasn't past his prime in the 80's, that means he was prime or close to it, which he mostly certainly wasn't.

Still waiting on those answers

 

He was 32 and 364 days and 20 hours old when he fought Hearns. So basically 33.

He was 31 and 3 months when he fought Laing. Not even close to 29.

Yeah, he wasn't prime at 154. Hence why most normal people excuse him for his losses to Laing, Bentiez, and Hearns.

 

What I'm hearing is that Ray fought the same way against Benítez as he did against Durán.

 

I know I never said he was prime in the 1980s. I rarely use the word prime or peak, but if I do I am specific.

 

How old was he when he fought Benitez? And with Hearns he was still 32.. I go by facts on this.. Still 32.. How old was Hopkins when he beat Tarver? Floyd when he beat Manny. Manny recently. And I am picking Manny to beat Thurman.

 

Benitez had a different style than Duran. Ray could match Benitez speed and Duran could not. But Duran had great inside skills. so in range of Ray he could win. The rematch Ray fought differently.

 

I was joking, but you're right.

Do you feel Buster quit instead of got stopped by Holyfield? Interested in your views.

 

Duran was the greatest Lightweight ever, it's not even up for debate. His lifestyle forced the moves up in weight but in his prime, at the right weight, simply amazing. The fact that he went up in the weight divisions and was still a top level fighter, beating one of the best, speaks volumes.

 

Duran was built like the perfect swarmer against Leonard 1 imo, but it's true the no mas and Hearns Duran was obviously porky.

That said, how many people (especially those whom were essentially blown up lightweights) would have gone the distance with Hagler?

 

Hearns injured his right hand in round 8. Leonards "KO" to Benitez was pretty weak really and perhaps a bit premature.

Sounds easy but in the actual ring things were much different. SRL found it virtually impossible to hit Benitez with right hands, even when he was right in front of him. Kronks entire gameplan was built around not following Benitez to the ropes and feeding his strength. They wanted to fight in ring center and outbox him which they did - convincingly. The one time Hearns strayed from the plan and unloaded on the ropes Benitez was like a will o' the wisp. Hearns expended a lot of energy for no reward and being a 15 rounder he couldn't simply flail away no stop and hope something eventually landed.

 

I meant in the first fight

Ray's strategy wasn't a whole lot different when you compare his fights with Benítez and his first Durán fight. The big difference is Durán hit him back more than Benítez.

Both Durán and Benítez were very hard for Leonard to hit. In the case of Benítez, it was no surprise. Durán surprised Leonard with his defensive skills.

 

I watched an English group evaluate the greatest boxers. You have to watch the whole thing but they rank Duran as one of the very best.

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