Duran was just frustrated and didn't think he could win. Leonard was dancing all around him, showboating and putting on a pretty severe boxing clinic. Duran seemed to think "**** you, if you don't want to stand and fight toe-to-toe, I'm not giving you the satisfaction of winning like that"
It's not like Leonard was the first guy to dance around the ring and be on his bike against Duran. Bizzarro was on his bike more than Leonard. I didn't see the Adolfo Viruet fight, but I read that Viruet was doing a lot of moving and taunting as well. These guys weren't beating Duran though. Which is why my guess is that the mixture of being behind (but it wasn't like a total domination where he was getting his ass kicked) and being taunted led, among other factors, to Duran just sort of snapping and quitting.
This has to be the major reasoning behind it. Duran's purse couldn't be withheld and the maximum fine was $7,500 (Don King paid this anyway), so he would of known that even though he was quitting, he could still go and party on the massive purse that he had 'earned', despite quitting.
Leonard was a MASTER at winning fights OUTSIDE of the ropes. I saw an interview where Leonard openly said he kept track of Duran's lifestyle and weight. My guess is Duran was killed making weight. Add all the showboat crap and Duran said, "F it. I ain't ready and he couldn't pull this ish if I was 100%." He had the first win, 71 wins, and didn't have much to prove. Who was going to challenge his heart? Leonard was a crafty guy.
Frustrated by SRLs showboating and dancing couldn't get to him knew he wouldn't be able to win so he bailed out.
That is exactly right. And Duran himself said that he figured he could always get him in a third fight. Duran was out of control out of the ring with his lifestyle.
why do people always scream NO MAS when making fun of Duran when roberto was the one that wanted to go toe to toe?
Because he's the one who quit. You want to make the guy go toe-to-toe? Cut off the ring on him then. Duran was a master of that, and it's not like Leonard is the first guy who moved a lot on Duran. Bizzarro was worse.
Of course he quit because he was getting his ass kicked, stupid. Look at how he quit against Hearns. Stupid heartless quitter Duran.
I think he was frustrated as a result of being behind (he wasn't really getting his ass kicked), mad from Leonard's taunts, wasn't in the best of shape, and as a result, sort of snapped and quit. It's his fault though. A professional being paid millions of dollars shouldn't quit because he doesn't like the other guy's movement and mind games and stupid dancing. It's his job to make him pay for all that ****.
i think its because duran is having trouble making weight coz the rematch took place in about 5 months after their first fight and duran ballooned after all the partying. leonard knew he can outbox duran, tire him and didnt get toe to toe like the first fight. duran got frustrated and getting tired so he quit.