Duran Leonard I : The Best Match of Pound for Pound Skill?

Quite simply, yes.

 

for skill im gonna say leonard hearns was a slight bit better
im assuming u mean skill instead of stuff like bravado machismo etc which there was a lot of in the duran leonard fights

 

Can't think of a better one.

Edit: Oh, and good thread.

 

Both men in their prime are clearly amongst the 5 best all-around fighters I've ever seen. I can't say the same for any other match.

 

hell yes

 

Re-watch it. Duran showed more skill in that fight than I may have ever seen in the ring.

 

That's a statement.

 

Well the two best fighters in the ring together were Robinson and Armstrong. But Armstrong was past his best.

Both Duran and Leonard were arguably at their peaks, and Duran was more skilled than Armstrong... so I guess it's probably the correct choice.

 

I agree. Duran put on a masterful performance. He actually outboxed Leonard at times. Duran had Leonard jumping at his feints and was nailing him with right hands and hooks all night - and then the in-fighting was just phenomenal from both men.

 

there are 2 reasons im stickin with leonard hearns

1) duran was in his prime - this is arguable
2) leonard did not fight his fight... he did in their 2nd fight which took place a matter of months later and that one did not look like it was going to be close even without the premature ending

 

You guys forgot manfredo vs. Mora

 

Two of the greatest Contenders ever pitted against one another in mortal combat.

 

He was coming off two of his best all-around showings ever (Palomino and DeJesus) and against Leonard gave forth arguably the greatest performance by a boxer ever, almost certainly the greatest filmed. If his prime was winding down, which I beleive it was, it still doesn't mean he wasn't prime for that fight. That was his peak IMO, though 12lbs above his best weight, it is the best he ever looked (DeJesus III a year before being a close 2nd).

Leonard generally was a flat-footed fighter, not a stick-and-move type. The only other time he fought in similar fashion as he did in Duran II was against Hagler. Leonard wasn't going to beat Duran with his usual game, so in the rematch he took a new approach (all to his credit and proving his ability to adapt when need be) that would be better suited to deal with Duran. That said, the fight was still relatively close before Duran quit.

Duran on his best night was a more well-rounded fighter than Hearns, and he showed it in the first fight with Leonard.