Montreal Duran vs New Orleans Leonard

Leonard in my opinion. Leonard learned a very valuable lesson
in Montreal.
That was don't let emotions override your physical and tactical
advantages.
The fight undoubtedly would've went the distance, and no way
Duran would quit as he did in New Orleans.
However the bigger, stronger , and faster Leonard fighting to
his physical advantages wins this fight by close , but
unanimous decision.

 

Still Duran

 

I have to take Leonard even though I think Duran was the better fighter pound for pound. Leonard, was a natural welterweight and had every advantage at that point. Strategically speaking, he would box Duran from range using his superior reach and speed to negate the one advantage that Duran had.

 

I'd go with Leonard as well. He came pretty close to beating Duran in Montreal fighting him in the trenches AND facing a Duran who was in absolute prime condition. If SRL used his superior lateral movement throughout the fight in June 1980 he wins. (Duran would give him a hell of a battle but SRL edges him in a close 8-6-1 UD.)

 

Leonard didn't fight Duran's fight. This is revisionism done by none other than Leonard himself.

Prior to Montreal, Dundee and Leonard spoke about Leonard being the bigger man and standing his ground.

Leonard used lateral movement but boxed and faced his man - he didn't get on his bike. How he moved in New Orleans wasn't typical Leonard - even when Duran no mas'd it wasn't a whitewash.

The Duran of Montreal was one of the greatest skilled boxers that's ever lived. I'm not 100% convinced that Ray could've avoided him for 15 rounds and kept it on the outside.

For me, it's a pick em fight and I'm inclined to think that Ray will be forced to stand toe to toe and the fight will resemble parts of the Montreal bout. I'm also thinking that Ray will be better equipped to offset Roberto's forward momentum and keep Duran from overwhelming him.

I'm inclined to think Ray might just about win but no surprise at a razor thin decision and Roberto winning.

 

Even with his strategy in Orleans, it's not like Duran wasn't able to get his hits in, and he was undoubtedly a lesser fighter there than in Montreal- Even with a better gameplan, it'd still be a tough going for Leonard.

The outcome is not very clear imo.

 

Duran

 

Leonard.

 

Leonard

 

The ring looked absolutely massive in Leonard V Duran second fight but Leonard was unbelievable that night and boxed Duran's head off.

 

Ray Leonard, but Montreal Duran makes it to the 11th or 12th before quitting.

 

Leonard was the same bloke.
Duran was listless, unmotivated, slow footed, and looked ten years older.

Montreal Duran beats any version of Leonard

 

At the time of the stoppage, I had the second fight closer than the first. That was with a compromised Duran, at that.