Did Duran just have Leonards # that night, Or did Sugar just fight the wrong fight?

A little of both. Leonard did fight the wrong fight, but Duran was well prepared and mentally at a peak for that fight. I think Duran was was going to beat Leonard that night regardless of what type fight Leonard fought.

 

SRL fought the wrong fight the first time, though exciting to fans. it was all the more obvious how easy he made the second one look.

 

Both. Duran got into Leonard's head that night, making him fight the wrong fight.

 

How was SRL able to be so dominate in the 2nd fight? Where did he get that confidence to perform so differently?

 

SRL had the talent, speed 'n tools to adapt, 'n didn't let street macho color his judgement the second time.

 

I think SRL was made to fight that fight, ambushed by by the tenacity of Duran, they may of thought Roberto, the naturally smaller fighter might of been a bit hesitant, or looked to feel his way in, But No, Roberto Raked him from body to head and back and staggered him in the second, Roberto did not seek to match tactics, stratagems and ruses...he just did...instinctively.. Once SRL was dragged into that Trench...he wasnt going to be allowed a Ladder or Rope...

 

If Ray would have boxed that night it would have still turned into a brawl. Roberto was the Buchanan Roberto that night, only with better footwork and defense.

The second fight was close on the cards and Duran was nothing like Montreal.

Funny thing is, even with the fight Leonard fought in Montreal, I sometimes score it for him. Some of those rounds are so close that I have a hard time scoring them for Roberto because, Leonard does something that counters my previous leanings on who to score the round for.

 

I'm not sure you can say he fought the wrong fight though... That is exactly HOW HE FOUGHT. He never really fought like he did in N.O. before or after. That wasn't how SRL fought. So he didn't fight he wrong fight he fought how he always fought. Plus, let's not act like Duran was the same fighter mentally and physically the second time. Just because SRL got better results the second time doesn't mean the variables were all the same.

 

Magnificent fight. Both were awesome in different ways.

 

Ray had a reputation for taking a good shot, and probably didn't expect former LW Duran to be able to hurt him as severely as he got stunned by that second round hook. SRL himself said during the review of that match that it took him three rounds to recover from that shot. By then, the complexion of that bout was established.

SRL may have been able to adapt accordingly in mid match if he realized beforehand that:

A) Duran could hurt him

and,

B) He couldn't hurt Duran [which he never did in 35 rounds of action]

Once he got clobbered like he did, it was already too late.

In a first time match, the odds would always be in favor of a highly motivated prime Duran, less susceptible to surprise than SRL was to being stunned like he was in round two of Montreal. Watch Ray's performances against Ranzany, Price, Benitez and Green, leading up to Duran I. He was no defensively oriented lateral moving cutie runner, but an aggressive boxer-puncher with fast hands and feet. He was never going to take on Duran like he did in New Orleans for a first time meeting in the ring. He had to lose their first match to know how to change his approach for the rematch, to even know that those adjustments were necessary.

 

Duran beat him when they were at their best.

Don't quote me MAG.