Better win: Leonard-Hagler or Duran-Barkley?

Ray Leonard was not a Middleweight, and despite a detached retina and many years out of the ring, he moved up and beat easily the best Middleweight of the 80s who had not tasted defeat for 11 years.


Roberto Duran, at his best as a Lightweight, also moved up to the Middleweight division, and despite being past his sell by date, beat a half decent Middleweight in Iran Barkley.

Both wonderful wins, but I give preference to Leonard/Hagler, because he was inactive, smaller, and still beat one of the best 160lb of all time.

 

This is a great question and it's very hard to split them.
Great as Leonard's win was as Selfkill gives reasons I agree with. I'm gonna go with with Duran's win over Barkley. It wasn't just that Duran was past his prime fighting a younger stronger man. For me it was the way he sucked it up and went to war. The last great performance of one of the "Greats".

 

I'll go with the Hagler win personally. Depends on what light you look at it in really i suppose.

By the way Al, nice avatar.

 

No arguments.

But when I think that Hagler would have tore Iran a new *******, even the version that Leonard fought, I got to give Leonard props.

 

Leonard, probably.

 

Cheers Teeto lad. I'm just watching the mancs.

 

Same here, switching between the two games. I know it's an old cliche, but how lucky was that goal! Terrible they are mate!!

 

Jammy *******s !!!

 

Leonard-Hagler was the best win because even tho there was slightly more size difference between Barkely & Duran than there was between Leonard & Hagler, Hagler at least was on the same tier as Leonard as far as all round skillset, Barkely`s ONLY option was to impose his size as he couldnt match boxing skills with Duran & Roberto knew this & out-skilled him, for the majority anyway.... Ray had to deal with size, skills, 3 yrs ring rust AND a man with a grudge who just happened to be the no1 ranked p4p boxer at the time.

What Duran did vs Barkely was astonishing also tho, thats why I voted `Leonard-Hagler, close but clear.`

:good

 

Had Leonard actually defeated Hagler in 1984 or 1985 it would clearly be the more significant win. But A former lightweight and welterweight champion actually defeating the prime WBC middleweight champion is far more significant.

And it's not even close. Duran's accomplishment is one for the ages. Barkley fought a great fight. But Duran rose above the moment and did something we see few fighters do. Leonard didn't do anything like this. First, he lost that fight, but, second, it was Hagler at the end of a long and violent career. Leonard waited for Hagler to get old. Duran was, well, Duran.

 

if your talking bout Hagler i disagree on the easily part.

 

Who was the best Middleweight during the 1980s?

 

I think he thinks you were saying that he beat Hagler easily.

 

Especially given that Hagler won the fight by several points.