Duran beat Leonard more convincingly than I originally thought.

I"ve always scored the fight 8-5-2 for Duran.

It was a great fight, tremendous showing from Duran.

I thought he looked better in the 3rd meeting with DeJesus, he simply looked unbeatable that night, but not by much.

 

I can't mind exactly how I scored the fight. It was a very competitive fast paced fight with only some rounds being slow and lacking in bell to bell action. The early rounds were probably the fastest when Duran set his marker and went right for Leonard's throat like a Lion going for a Gazelle.

The combination which rocked Leonard during the 2nd round is one of my favourite Duran moments in a ring. It's just a beautiful moment. They were both circling and throwing 'feelers' at long range. I'm sure Duran jabbed to the body, adjusted laterally, slipped Leonard's jab, then threw a right hand followed by a left hook/uppercut right behind it. I just loved the way he was matching Leonard at long range, slipped his punches, then came right back to rock him across the ring.

IMO Duran's defense was brilliant. And I thought he timed his overhand right to perfection over Leonard's jab. He clearly landed the harder shots with more variety throughout the fight. No question in my eyes. Ring generalship was his domain as well. Duran never kept his head in the same place for too long while working inside.

 

I disagree..... i thought it was a very close fight, i think i had it 8-7 or 8-6-1 for Duran. Leonard trashed Duran in the last two rounds making a fight that Duran was winning clearly to a close fight, though still a clear win mind you.

I also had the impression that Leonard choose to fight Duran instead of boxing him; clearly underestimating the Latino fighter. The rematch pretty much proves this, although obviously the Duran of the first fight would've given a better account of himself.

I was surprised how Duran took some of those shots, though. Make no mistake about it, Sugar Ray is a big hitter at welterweight. He took Dave Green out with a single left hook. Duran sometimes ate 2 or 3 flush, hard shots and while he was stunned here and there, he wasn't close to going down, let alone out. I'm not a big fan of Duran, but that was impressive stuff.

 

Duran was well in front after 12, then coasted home, letting Leonard narrow the gap in his supreme arrogance.

Tough competitive fight overall, but would have been an outright robbery had Leonard got the nod.

 

This fight wasn't a brawler beating a boxer on the night as some would make you believe. Leonard even told the press before the fight that he would stand and fight Duran. During the mind games when Duran insulted Leonard and his wife he just wanted to hurt him for the trash talking. This fight was clearly two brawlers on night who were focused on those tactics. When the action was at distance Duran was equally as interested in long range boxing as Leonard was IMO. Duran was actually patient before striking when he was at arms length. His counters while stepping into mid-range were that of a man who was waiting for the right moments rather than rushing for the sake of it. Mid rounds especially.

 

Sweet Pea, obviously im a Duran fan, but i have always had Duran by a few poiints at the end of this bout. Like you said, i though Duran took the vast majority of the first two thirds of the rounds, and even though Leonard came strong thereafter, the last 5 rounds were by no means all Leornards.

On the subject of Leonard losing the fight and not Duran winning the fight, i think most people know my thoughts on not just this case of that way of thinking, but all cases, just not right.

 

Just to follow up on this. Duran's defense wasn't in the same class as Whitaker's or Peps as he was attacking minded against Leonard. However, many of Leonard's punches to the head were not flush as Duran was either making him miss altogether or they were parcially hitting the target. To get straight to the point, Duran's defense could not have been any better considering the manner in which he fought.

 

You're right, while he could stick and move, he often went for seek and destroy often. Why? Because he could! His chin and power at 147 rank up there with almost anyone. That's what makes Hearns' blowout of Duran even more impressive; Leonard couldn't dent Duran with some of the hardest combinations he ever landed.

As for why Leonard is seen as a stick and move boxer, probably because of the Hagler fight. It is certainly the most discussed fight and the last one where he truely shined; those are the ones left in most peoples memories... unless your name is Redrooster.


The thought that he could stand and trade with a lightweight, considering his (Leonard's) credentials is not that crazy, though in hindsight it was a stupid decision. One thing i can tell you: despite the flashy personality, his heart is unquestionable. After those 13 hard rounds he managed to dig deep and finish really impressive in the 14th and 15th. Everything Duran did suggested he thought he'd already won by that point.... and he did of course, but fighters have been robbed in clearer wins than that by coasting the late rounds. Think De La Hoya - Trinidad.

 

Totally right, ive always said this, if you look over the duration of my posts you'll find stuff to this effect and most likely saying the exact same stuff. Im glad you have said this.

I always thought he was an attacking fighter and his movement was usually to set up some offense, by no means was he a defensive minded fighter throughout his career in general. His best shots imo were his single, rapid fire hooks, he usually threw the combos which had mean intentions when he had a guy backing up or against the ropes (though not exclusively i must say), good eye and mind for finishing opponents really.

The style you have described, he attempted early in te bout with Duran in Montreal imo, but Duran would not allow the movement, he was at his best and at his best he was rapid at closing the distance on his man and would cut off the ring not in the conventional pressure-fighter way, but with body punches that came from under in rapid succession, atopping his opponents' lateral movement, then he would go to work, really unique Roberto's mixture of skills.

 

Leonard had the ability to move more than he did. While I agree he wasn't a constant mover like he showed in their rematch up until that point when they first fought. He had it in him to keep things at long range more than he showed. If you notice when Duran attacked him and bullied him, very seldom did Leonard use angles and skip away to the side to make him miss. He was content with himself standing in there and he hardly held on inside when he knew that was Duran's office. And as i previously stated Duran was patient at times before launching his attacks at long range.

 

Cant remember what round it was, but i think it was mid to late, they're simply just both attempting to bully each other with strength, not many shots are thrown, its like something from Ketchell's era, but it actually looks exciting to watch. Not sure if it is actually just good action, or wether the event has the viewer in awe of the battle taking place. Anyhow, Duran was better at it and took the round.