Anyone really better than a prime SRL?

By the way, can you guys point me out which fights, outside of the Duran rematch and the Hagler fight, that Leonard fought in a purely defensive/spoiling style? Apparently he didn't fight his fight in the first matchup with Duran, which is why he lost. Funny, I always saw him as a pure blooded boxer-puncher who stood his ground and out-boxed/punched his opponents at range, even pressing the fight. The same was the case against Duran, except that he was on the backfoot for the majority of those rounds, and still got out-skilled. I love the revisionist history, though. Keep up the fine work.

 

Let's get back to the crux of the thread. Leonard was simply extraordinary, went 2-1 over a consensus top 15 ATG, and beat other greats with size advantages in Hearns and Hagler. Probably the best I've ever seen on film, there's a few candidates, he'd clear up today's division and make it look easy.

 

Hey Pea, did you see SRL's "Ringside" on ESPN classic? He was pretty much talking about exactly what you just said. He said that going through the amateurs and going into his pro career he looked at himself as a sort of Joe Frazier.

 

I think there's a distinction between attributing a loss to bad tactics or implying that one fighter was physically inept. It's damn right insulting to Leonard, not to mention Duran, to say Hands of Stone was out of shape for the rematch. I think Leonard could have fought smarter in the first fight, not saying it would have changed goings on, but let' be serious. Duran looked perfectly healthy and was doing okay up until he gave up. No grounds...AT ALL...to suggest he was anything but in great shape.

 

I figure they just both deserve credit for what they did and I leave it at that. Really no use trying to tear down either.

 

Marnoff...nailed it.

 

Seriously? There are enough grounds to cover a football field. Duran was nowhere near his best for the rematch, in more ways than one. Of that I'm entirely sure.

 

I'll just take what the facts and circumstances give me and come to my own conclusions. Duran was the superior fighter with both at their best. In my humble opinion, of course.

 

There's accounts of Duran being over 185 pounds, possibly closer or at 200 when the fight was signed....and additional reports that he was 20 pounds over when the fight was only 15 days away. quotes from carlos eleta and ray arcel exist about duran eating, drinking, partying, and struggling to lose weight. just sayin...there's some things to base those claims off of.

 

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j4KZZOuQtQ&feature=related[/ame]

I simply can't believe how weight drained, bloated, and dead Duran looks here. In actual fact, he looks fine. Full credit goes to Leonard, just as Duran gets inflated credit for the first fight. Tell me, Pea, without being patronizing, what grounds are there to suggest Duran was out of shape. On film he looks fine, just being bettered by a better man on the night.

 

Now that's conclusive. :bart

 

Eh it wasn't a asswhoopin, it was a good tough fight where Duran won clearly, but it wasn't a blow out. SRL held his own, but he got worked.

 

I had Duran up by 2 points, apparently that constitutes as an ass whooping when King Duran is involved. ...It simply gets worse.

 

Yea it was a close fight, not sure where all this ass whoopin talk comes from.

 

:good Thanks for clearing that up.