Duran vs Leonard 1

I would think Duran is just the kind of fighter Cus would admire and fancy.

 

Well, I suppose that everybody was expecting Leonard to try to stand up to Duran and brawl. No need to be a genius to know that Duran would have the upper hand then.

And D'amato was right in the sense that Leonard's ability was neutralized... by Leonard himself, when he decided to brawl.

Leonard-Duran II was a totally different thing. Although I didn't like Leonard performance in the second fight, I admit that he fought a very smart fight.

 

Not getting into it, can't be arsed arguing with Robbi, still a bit hungover (which is pathetic at this hour i know)

 

Duran forced Leonard to brawl, and Leonard certainly helped him out to go with it. Leonard had the athleticism and ability to move far more than he did. He could have made things easier for himself. No question about it.

The press and observers in general were surprised with Leonard's tactics throughout the fight. The commentators on the version I have even mentioned Leonard's flat-footness while calling the fight live. As I've said before, I wasn't quite looking for Leonard to move like he did in the rematch.

 

The press? Come on Robbi you know better than that, it's ESB Classic that counts mate, dissapointed with you there (haha).

Still need to find you that clip of the fight i was going on about last time we did this dance.

I want to say though that i take nothing at all away from Leonard's win in the rematch at all, solid win totally.

 

The general feeling at the time was that Leonard would box Duran prior to the fight taking place. That puts an end to it all. The man was in his prime and also in good physical condition. But he simply fought the wrong fight. Duran gets credit for applying the pressure as skillfully as he did. Nothing wrong with Leonard standing and trading. But he allowed Duran to drop inside too far often. No moving to the side to avoid the charges set upon him. He was tentative and unsure. It wasn't as if Leonard was boxing and moving, using some lateral movement, and Duran overcame all of that.

 

Robbi, i'm sorry to be argumentative but i disagree. Whenever the man attempted any movement or snapped a jab his whole game was nipped in the bud. I've made lengthy posts in the past and you know them all too well. To attribute the win to Leonard fighting wromg in my opinion is pretty bad, no disrespect.

 

Nonsense. Leonard had the ability to move more than he did. Especially when it came to Duran dropping inside. Leonard's legs were stuck in mud.

 

Did one of the greatest displays of bodywork ever have anything to do with that though? I know Leonard can take it downstairs but i feel you might be a tad uncompromising here with the write offs.

 

I think Duran applied way too much pressure for Leonard to do anything. If Ray opted for boxing and moving, I feel the fight would've been closer. However, I still have Duran winning, albeit by a narrower margin. He was just too hungry that night.

 

Who says that? :think

I understand that the argument is not that Leonard lost because he had a bad strategy. The argument is that he could have done a little better with a different strategy.

My opinion is that he would have lost anyway, because Duran in Montreal was simply too much of everything and anything. But I think that Leonard could have done more.

In any case, Leonard deserves credit for brawling with Duran in Montreal and still come out alive from the ring

 

I thought Leonard fought brilliantly though.

Sorry if i misunderstood where you were coming from there PBP