In a brilliant new film 'I am Duran', Leonard admits he had no plans to clown around until he saw Duran was a shell of the fighter who stunned Ray months before. Some have said this is just an exuse, but Leonard has confirmed Duran was ill prepared, what are fans thoughts on these insights in this new documentary?
My thoughts are that these "insights" are yet another new ploy from Leonard intended to reheat the leftovers of the leftovers of the last time people tried to accurately gauge just exactly how much orange juice Duran drank on the night before No Mas.
I think Duran would have a better claim to saying Ray never beat him had he beaten Benitez or Hearns or Hagler. But since all those fights were losses, I am not sure he has much backing for his claim that it was not him. Too many excuses for him a too many losses against top fighters, but he is shrouded in some sort of legacy which dilutes a bit of the truth. Which is fine. That happens. However, it is not fair.
Yer , that was a pathetic fight . Two past it fighters going through the motions. Compare that with the Leonard v Hearns rematch where Tommy really WANTED the win .!
Duran still wanted to win. Ray easily beat him after the first fight. He had the style to hit and not get hit.. Duran just couldn't do anything.
Leonard knows that his win over Duran is like wearing a cheap suit. He cannot stand that Duran was better than him. The thing that eats at him is the fact that Duran scared him. He will not admit it. But, Ray knows Roberto is the better man, the better fighter, and that Leonard had to catch him at his worst in order to win. As bad as Duran felt in the 2nd fight, he was still doing well against the supposed "new and improved" Ray. Ray was boxing, but still was losing on the inside, the only reason he was able to clown and disrespect is because Duran was not feeling well, looked peked and sick , and was obviously not at his best. yet.... Leonard was still only up a point. This is a sad win for Leonard, no matter what his fans say. Duran took more away from Ray than people realize. He knows this himself, hence his obsession.
The insights were spot on, Duran was a shell of himself and Leonard took the chance to try and humiliate the proud Duran. It was a low class and cowardly move by Sugar Ray. Duran would not let him. That makes me laugh as Duran took away his "win" by quitting. I love it. Leonard was afraid, and him clowning was like a child taunting a caged lion that could not strike back. Duran > Leonard
If Duran were the better man he would beat the greats fighters Ray Leonard beat. Benitez, Hearns and Hagler. History shows us he lost to all of them and Ray beat all of them. Ray made Duran quit and he beat him in the third fight when Duran did in fact want to win. He gave a great fight with Barkley in Feb. 1989 and won the middleweight title. But Ray had his number. Ray took away Duran's aura a bit. The same as Hagler took away Hearns.. Fighters see this and they have more of the key to a win. Ray exposed it. A cheap suit? That was the win which sort of exposed Duran's weaknesses.. Which to me is the frontrunner aspect. Which is going to get people upset.
