Leonard's decision to rematch a less than full strength Duran

How old was Durán in the 2nd fight?

 

58

 

Hagler is 66 now. He may get his rematch with Leonard soon!

 

Leonards decision to rematch a weakened Duran? Do you mean Durans decision to party and eat like a pig and not train for the rematch? Unless Leonard engaged in some voodoo trickery to force Duran to laze around, it was not his decision at all. And if Leonard was fully aware of Duran's condition for the second fight, what then? Is he supposed to travel back in time and rematch Duran when hes in better shape? Is he supposed to wait for Duran to get struck by an epiphany while drunk and stop partying?

 

And still this forum will say the 64 year old Leonard stacked the odds in his own favour and waited until Hagler was past his prime. I don't like Ray's persona but he doesn't half cop some unfair flak on here.

Am I missing a big point in this thread? Wasn't Duran champion for fight 2? Doesn't he say when the fight happens?

 

no. You sign a contract you are responsible to be in shape, or at least fight. It is assumed you will be in shape since you want to win.

 

Leonard brings a lot of this flak on himself, openly bragging that getting a partied out Duran in the ring was part of his strategy. I don't have any sympathy for Duran, who didn't even bother to train properly for a championship fight and a multi million dollar purse, but Leonard's an ass as well.

 

in the third fight between Fenech and Azumah, when was the last time either of them won a title before that 3rd fight? When did Duran win his last title before his fight with Ray? That is a huge difference.

 

Was it fair for Leonard to use his leverage in the Hagler fight for a bigger ring, bigger gloves and a 12 round distance? Probably not, but all Hagler had to do, as champion, was say "No!" Same for Duran. As far as taking advantage of Duran's habits, it's not like Roberto was unaware of his own weaknesses - all he had to do was stay the hell away from the table for a few more months and repeat his performance of the first fight. He made bad choices and paid for it.

In the same vein: Leonard would have been justified in taking a few easy fights after the brutal battle with Duran before looking for a rematch - he wouldn't be the first champ to do so. In that sense, his asking for an immediate return fight can be seen as a bold move.

 

No, and this whole thing is grossly exaggerated. Duran had more than enough time to get in shape and train for the fight, and he by all accounts looked great in the weeks leading up to the fight. Don't believe the hype.

I put together a timeline of contemporaneous sources in this thread:

https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/duran-leonard-rematch-timeline.616387/

 

Well in advance too. These boxing myths are impossible to kill.

 

Ray stayed in shape after the fight, while Duran partied, gained a ton of weight, and was way out of shape...AND RAY KNEW IT. Duran took the fight thinking Ray wouldn't be in great shape in so short a time but was outwitted by Ray.

That's how he tricked Duran.

 

It wasn't a short time though! Duran had more months to lose the weight than he had to put it on!! By all accounts his training camp went as normal.

https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/duran-leonard-rematch-timeline.616387/

He apparently had a rougher overall time making weight in Montreal.

 

Alright alright alright

 

Didn’t ray demand the rematch right away?