The ending of Leonard-Duran II...

Ray was not going to let Duran do anything. Ray would land his punches and move and land and move and counter. Duran knew he could not beat him that night. I never thought much about the quitting. To me that was overrated a bit. Most guys quit at some points in their careers, and sometimes it is not the most obvious thing I do think Ray was starting to land body punches and Duran thought this is not winnable.

 

Perhaps it was the timing. I mean there were only a few seconds left in the round.
He could have gone back to his corner and simply not come out for the next round. Liston did that in his first fight with Ali, and he didn't catch any grief for quitting.

IMO Duran's most humiliating moment was the quick KO by Hearns.

 

I never saw the knockout to Hearns humiliating to him or any knockout by anyone since Hearns was a fellow legend. Or Curry to McCallum, I think it elevates the winner. Duran came back and won a title at middleweight which sort of redeemed him certainly on this board. With Leonard? I just think he Duran didn't expect that kind of fight totally different from the first one and he didn't want it. Sort of simple and the decision made in one moment. I don't think he guessed it would create all the talk it has over the years. He just reacted like someone reacts to a bee chasing them is my guess. He just turned and react. He was just saying screw today. That is it. If we look at many fights guys quit even when they don't. I remember Barkley against Toney his corner said I am going to stop it and he said no no no but his eyes said yes. They are human. Who wants take punishment.

 

Personally, I think his quitting looks absolutely outrageous.
He wasn't taking a beating.
There were 7 1/2 rounds left in the fight.

Leonard's clowning and taunting was entertaining for the crowd but for how long ? How long would Leonard be able to keep that up ? Running around doing party tricks, the novelty would soon wear off. He'd also run the risk of running out of gas over 15 . At some point he'd have to settle down to box steady or come in for the KO.
You'd think someone with the boxing IQ and professional experience and reputation of Duran would be able to bide his time, work out his plan B, and try to trap an over-confident Leonard. At least try.
It raise the question : was Duran just a hot-headed overly emotional bully ??

 

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Yes, I've heard he took a pay off to lose too.
Or something along those lines.

Which would explain how weird the fight is.

But my point is : the fight was weird ! Taking the fight at face value, looking for explanations in the ring only : it makes no real sense. (The only fight I can think of comparable is McCall in the Lewis rematch, but McCall was a rubbish boxer anyway, with a crack habit, so it doesn't really count).

But maybe Duran needed to crap. There is always that.

 

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