When i first saw the Duran-Leonard fight i tought it was nothing special i tought it had too much holding and that they spend too much time on the ropes,but after a while i saw it again and saw all the little things they were doing in there and the skill that was involved in it and now its on my top 5 fights ever. btw i think Leonard-Hearns is very overrated.
I think all of those. Leonard knew he had to dig deep to get the win, and i really love that in a fighter. Duran felt he'd already won anyway (which he had)... that's my impression.
Oh i Agree, Leonard gets my 100%+ & some prop's, he gutted it out when other well able opponants would have involuntary folded.
I think I had it 9-6 to Duran. I think it is the best fight ever filmed. Maybe not as exciting as others, but when else have two p4p top 15 of all-time (and IMO two top 10 of all-time on ability) went to war for 15 solid rounds when both were prime or near-prime (I would say SRL was peak and Duran was still pretty much peak too even though he had moved up)? Not often. It is a highly skilled fight, thrilling in parts, and always fought with true full-blooded intensity. Two special performances, as Duran showed everything that was great in him, and Leonard proved he is one of the most gifted and versatile fighters in history. It's pure pugilistic art. As it has been mentioned already on this thread I will comment: Leonard-Hearns I is horrendously overrated simply because it fits the criteria of two young prime undefeated big-name fighters coming together in their primes. Round-by-round, it simply does not merit being considered as one of the best fights ever. JMHO.
Popkins: I agree with you on the Leonard/Hearns 1 fight, never took off, too much huff/puff & bluff going on, it was only the 5th or 6th round when Leonard cracked that body shot in & the 13th round barrage he unleashed, otherwise he'd blown it, to coin dundee's phrase.