Duran was a hard guy to hit clean. Especially in the head. He knew how to not only slip but roll with right hands to take off the steam from them. Duran didn't suffer many beatings even though he fought killers. He was that good. He climbed off the canvas to stop DeJesus in 1974. That would be a show of heart. Leonard didn't land that much in New Orleans. Benitez I guess would be the first to really put his hands on him consistently in a methodical 15 rounds. Hagler outworked Duran late to retain the title. Of course older and slower he took some punches from Iran Barkley that he would have avoided in his prime. He had to show heart that night.
He tasted Pipino Cuevas's lefthook a couple of times Los Angeles and didn't budge before disposing of him.
I don’t see the Benitez fight as others do. Even as a Duran fan, I don’t buy the excuse that he came in out of shape or lethargic. Apart from Moore it was the best shape I’ve seen him in above Welterweight, probably. I disagree that Benitez put on this master clinic as well. As I recall, Duran won 3 rounds clear with 3 others that could’ve gone either way. 12-3 is indeed wide for Benitez and I can’t argue against it strongly, but 9-6 ain’t and it’s just as viable a scorecard for my money. I scored it as I saw it. 9-3-3. Duran performed very well given his many disadvantages. He had plenty of good moments, there were high class two way exchanges between them and he landed some big, clean shots. They were just overshadowed by Benitez‘s more consistently eye catching work. El Radar was a bigger, younger, better fighter at that stage and certainly at that weight. It showed. I just think it’s an underrated example of a high quality technical affair from both combatants. Very enjoyable fight for me and great to study. I disagree strongly that it holds much if any bearing on how a matchup between the two would go at Welter or below. I laugh at the suggestion that it proves Benitez would’ve always beaten him. @JohnThomas1 I think Benitez display against Hope trumps it for body punching. Best offensive display from Benitez, period.
https://thumbs.gfycat.com/BareWelltodoHaddock-size_restricted.gif a near 40yo fat LW shouldnt have been taken some of the shots he took from a huge MW and big puncher like Barkley
It's an established fact Duran was in fine shape for this, his effort to win back respect after the No Mas debacle. It was his shot at redemption and he said he was fighting to get a rematch against SRL. His training camp is pretty well documented. He was hard and mean. Benitez was notorious for barely training. Eddie Futch gave Duran two rounds. KO gave Duran two rounds. Mickey Duff had Benitez ahead by 8 points. Duran winning just two rounds was not an uncommon scorecard. Perhaps but Duran was twice the fighter Hope was and Benitez put some excellent shots on him. Who else got to him downstairs that well? It was pretty impressive.
Apparently Benitez had two sizable protrusions on his back thereafter for the rest of his life that resembled a left and right hand boxing glove. It was expected that Duran – inferior in strength and speed – would retire after the fight. “I wanted to put more pressure on him but my body wouldn't let me,” said Duran.
Yes. Ben was never the same. The body is not meant to take such a prolonged and viscous pounding. At ringside it sounded like Durán was pounding a steak. Little 6 & 8 inch punches to the body most people couldn't see.
This sounds like Trump and the election fraud claims. I don't know what this does for boxing. Anyone can say this or anything.
Hagler took his time in that fight. He turned it up in the later rounds and wasn't in trouble at all. The only reason it's considered a close fight is because the expected knockout didn't happen and that's because Hagler never forced it.
Regardless he was the first man to challenge Hagler and go 15 with him. Duran took a few shots that felled 7 previous contenders. He fought a better version of Hagler than either Hearns or Leonard did. At the end of the fight Marvin was a little busted up..his eye was closing. Duran looked like he hadn't been in a fight. He was Salsa dancing an hour later. Meanwhile Hagler was layed up in his suite praying to die..kept muttering..Lawdy Lawdy that man had Hands of Stone!!!!.
I remember that. Cuevas landed some great left hooks and Duran took them and landed his right hands which is what stopped Cuevas. Cuevas was such an offensive machine, but Hearns and Duran were too offensive themselves and they exploited Cuevas defensive weaknesses. I always wondered how Cuevas would have done in other eras.
