Duran vs Leonard 1

Commentary, live. "what surprises me is that Leonard is standing right in front of Duran, i thought he'd fight him side to side. Leonard looks like he wants to beat him at his own game. Thats what he wants to prove. I cannot believe that Leonard would come out fighting as if he's fighting Pete Ranzany".

 

Like i said before, you know that going off commentary is not as big as going off ESB Classic!!!!

About mid-way through Leonard started to do the cobra like in and out snapping the jab, just got nipped in the dam bud. Wasn't the first time either.

I appreciate your opinion Robbi, but media is media (in terms of the commentators)

 

Definitely, Ive always thought this & I like both fighters just about even.

 

There were instances of Leonard trying to disengage and finding that option was not available.

 

What I'm trying to show you here is no hindsight involved. After the fight - well he should have fought another way, etc. This was said as the fight was happening. Doesn't that tell you something? Surely it must.

 

Yeah i understand fully, it's just that the emphasis is on (and not by you but by commnetators etc) Leonard making the choice to fight that way consistently throughout a fifteen round battle with Roberto Duran, and not that the way the fight was one was much more to do with Duran's overall performance in more than one area of the game and ring generalship. Duran's defence was very good that night also.

I keep saying i respect your opinion on this though Robbi.

 

Absolute delusion as usual Robbi:yep

I remember watching the ABC Howard Cossell interview 2 weeks after the fight & Cossell got Leonard 2 spill his guts up 2 the fact that Duran had outboxed him, Leonard stated that he tried 2 use lateral movement but wherever he went Duran pre-empted & after the 2nd round when Leonard was caught by that counter that buckled his legs Leonard had 2 admit 2 Cossell that he decided 2 fight inside as it was safer than long range as he was suprised by Duran's speed ov hand:yep

Leonard went onto explain his logic, being that if he could cut down Duran's leverage by closing the distance he thought he stood a better chance at KOing Duran in the later rounds as he was natually stronger/younger & trying 2 box from range was'nt the best option after the 2nd round as Duran had nullified every move 2 slip & slide he attempted:smoke

Cossell countered with " He just never gave you the time you expected did he Ray" Leonard replied in a low voice Yes Howard Thats Correct:good

Cossell continued with "He nullified you did'nt he Ray" Leonard replied "Yes sir thats Correct"

Straight from the bitches Sugar Sweet lips:hey:smoke

 

Duran made Leonard fight his fight but its not black & white like that... it was obvious early on that Leonard was more flat footed than usual, he felt he was younger, fresher, bigger, faster, stronger than Duran, so why not show the world how complete & good he was by beating Duran the way nobody thought he would.
This is obvious.

There WERE moments in the fight were Ray tried to box to catch a breath from the frantic pace as well as the punishment he had taken... but as said above, Duran was in the zone & in brilliant form + Ray was already in that fighters mould, that flatfooted mould, big difference from coming into the ring with a `boxing` intent from the start.

Either way, I think the Leonard of the 2nd fight beats the Duran of the 1st fight by UD, thats the sharpest Leonard Ive ever seen TBH.

:good

 

Good post, but I can't quite agree with you on the Leonard-in-the-second-fight call. What did Leonard actually do and/or show in that fight? Speed? Yes. Sharpness? Of course. But what did he actually do in an effective, offensive, productive, meaningful way? Not much. He may have been capable of a great performance that night, but the fight didn't pan out that way. My favourite Leonard performances are Benitez and Duran I. In those fights, he proved some things. He showed the unmistakeable signs of greatness IMO.

 

We all know the machinations surrounding the 2nd fight with regard 2 Leonard antics & Durans weight issues, no excuses here but as 2 regarding leonards performence it was'nt that hot if you take all the hype out ov it, he knew what he had in front ov him that night & it was not a Montreal Duran:verysad

The scoring by the judges only had Leonard up by 2/2/1 & no where near as convincing as what with all the aftermath ballyhoo it created about speed/side 2 side movement & such, Leonard obviously had a deep seated fear & respect for Duran after the Montreal battle & wanted 2 keep as far away as possible, anybody other that SRL would proberby be booed by today's fight crowd as his performence was anything but stella:nono

Leonard proved 2 me what a great champion he is by overcoming the master boxer in Benitez & sucking it up against Hearns when staring defeat in the face, absolutly brilliant & that 2 me makes him one ov the greatest boxers ov our times, he could adapt 2 anyone, love him or hate him he's got my respect:yep

Don't forget that in the 3rd leonard/Duran fight he legged it again for 11 rounds & not until the crown chanted "Bull****" Bull****" & started walking out, did he try 2 engage an old Duran & he very nearly got KO'd:smoke

It'll allways be a shame that he would'nt fight a in-shape Duran in the 2nd fight as we'll never know whether he could have won on a level playing field. I think Leonard would have got the UD as Duran would have had 2 pull off another Montreal Performence, now whether he could have is anothe matter:huh

 

why do rahman does not get enough credit for beating lennox lewis the way duran's win over leonard is highly regarded...

lewis and leonard set the record straight in the rematch

 

Hardly similar performances are they? (Duran-Leonard 1 and Rahman-Lewis 1)

 

You're not trying 2 compare Rahman 2 Duran are you:huh Duran was a 50/1+ dog against Leonard in Montreal & a blown up 29 yr old Lightweight.

Why Rahman has'nt got credit i'll never know, maybe it's a bit like Douglas hammering Tyson, no real pedigree or following maybe, unfair all the same.

 

Holy **** asero..you have said some pearlers in your time at ESB but this one is right up there.

MEGA atsch