Duran's Defense

Ray was not prime at all I don't think. And I have been consistent with saying this, since I have been saying this same statement for almost 4 years on ESB, and for 30 years in normal boxing discussions. Ray was in his second defense of his first title. And the one thing he admits to not being complete about is fighting his fight. He said Duran made him so mad he wanted to beat him at his own game. Once Ray boxed he beat Roberto easily. Roberto taught Ray the thing he needed to be a complete fighter, and to play the boxing game inside and outside of the ring, and Ray exhibited the lesson in the second Duran fight.

 

Yes MAG, it's almost all you ever post about; how Ray, despite his Ring IQ and natural speed advantage, was too dumb to switch gears and "just box" against a master infighter in Duran while losing over 15 rounds, and how Roberto's weakened condition isn't a valid aspect of analyzing the rematch, where Leonard is suddenly no longer green.

For some reason you can never accept the notion Leonard couldn't escape the ropes because Duran made him fight there, whether Leonard wanted to or not, as Dundee admitted post-fight. The first 3 rounds where Leonard was maintaining range saw him get eventually rocked by a mid-range hook, and from there he knew he had to stand his ground. Only when he beat Duran outside the ring did his cute style ever see success.

 

That mightve been Duran`s finest all around performance. He had come of age as a fighter. The patience was there and the poise and experiance.

 

ETM,

Correct, at 135 lbs.

Roberto's finest defensive perormance.

Esteban De Jesus III