Duran II,,,,,,,,NAH,,,,,,,he was only leading 4-3 on the Scorecards. And versus an unmotivated Roberto Duran. 1) Hearns I 2) Benetiz 3) Davey 'Boy' Green (He was in total control, and could end the fight anytime he wanted)
Leonard/Duran II was just a terrible fight on all counts. How anyone would mention that among his best performances boggles the mind.
1. Duran II. Duran had previously beaten Leonard via 15 round decision. Leonard made Duran quit. 2. Hearns I. Leonard had to dig down deep to pull this one off. 3. Benitez. Stoped one of the best defensive boxers of all time. 4. Hagler. Hagler was so highly favored. I can't recall anyone picking Leonard who had not fought in 3 years to win. I think this would rate higher even as high as #1 if it had been a more decivese victory.
Price is a good call also. Stopping a top contender like that. His best performances are really top notch.
he can't really be faulted for any of his performances circa 1979-81. That chilling ko of Dave Green,the chessmatch with Benitez,and his come from behind victory over Hearns stand out. The first Duran fight answered questions about his toughness.
Duran II was an awful affair on all accounts, Duran not coming in shape and then quitting, Leonard clowning around like an *******, just horrible.
I didn't think Duran II was that bad until the last two rounds. I'm a fan of Leonard but his clowning annoyed me and was uncalled for.
Dave Green was Ray's Cleveland Williams moment. "I felt like a champion, and fought accordingly." The best right uppercut-left hook combination of his career, producing the final clean knockout win he ever registered. Andy Price was the penultimate count out win of his career, and Price had been on a tear since 1976, only losing decisions to Weston at MSG, and Green in Piccadilly. Of course The Hawk also had those wins over Palomino and Cuevas before Carlos and Pipino gained their world titles. Best win has to be the WW unification over Hearns. Even Ray's own promoter Bob Arum predicted Tommy would catch him early. My number four would be Benitez. Number five would be LaLonde. I'd seen Donny casually trash deadly punching Carlos "The Force" Tite in two rounds while weighing 168, knew that he had later stopped Benito Fernandez in nine while weighing 167, and believed him when he dismissively said he'd take Ray and "pound him into the ground." Instead, SRL came from behind, off the floor early, and joined Sandman Edwards as the only two men to ever halt the Canadian Golden Boy for his final knockout win.
Hearns and Benitez and then Hagler. Duran was a case where he would have won easily the first time had he boxed. Hearns and Benitez were fights where the speed of both guys made it so that Ray had to gut it out to win.