After Barkley lost to Nunn and Leonard beat Duran in the rubbermatch, how would this fight go? I rarely make posts myself, but I thought this would be interesting.
I don't know. Barkley got to Nunn and Ray at that point was not as defensive.. I think Barkley might have a chance. He was a lot bigger than Ray.
I'm glad this fight didn't happen. I think Leonard would struggle to be honest. I rewatched the Duran-Barkley fight the other week and Barkley fought well. And if Duran had come in with the same focus against Leonard in their rubber match as he he had against Barkley, he might have beaten Ray too. Bearing in mind in May 1990, it would only have been a year before the Norris loss or a year after the Hearns rematch, I think Leonard was in serious decline by then. Hearns was considered done before he met Leonard and he dropped Ray twice. Factor in the knockdown Ray suffered against Lalonde and the one sided defeat including knockdowns to Norris and you have a fighter who had clearly declined since the Hagler fight and was a lot less durable than in the past. I think Ray was done as a top fighter by '88. The only chance would be for Ray to keep on his toes for 12 rounds and hope Barkley ran out of steam chasing him. Not sure Ray had the legs for it at that point though. Barkley on points or by late stoppage.
Nice post although I think Leonard always beats Duran after June of 1980.. I think he won almost every round in 1989 if I am not mistaken. Duran's only hope was cutting Ray in the last round.
Yes, maybe. I don't think Duran came into the third fight with Ray in anything like the same physical shape and challenger mindset that he did against Barkley. If he had, maybe he would have still been following Ray around the ring but he might have caught up with him and done some significant work. It would have certainly been closer. But that was the story of Duran in the 80s - blowing hot and cold from fight to fight. No great fighter during that era was less consistent.
I think Duran was smart enough to know who he can beat and who he cannot, but he got a good payday. Many guys at that time beat Duran like Benitez,Hearns and Leonard. Even Hagler, who fought within Duran's range got hit a little. Hearns had many things Duran did not and that right hand was the thing Duran could not absorb. But getting back to Ray, Duran might have figured Ray would fight him the way he did. Which is a nonfight. I think Duran had the best inside skills if he was in range of anyone, but at the same time his weakness was when guys were out of his range. He had all the chances to get in shape like Barkley, why wouldn't he? Almost like he knew if that were the case. He looked good he just could not reach Ray, who was not even that prime at the time Duran fought him in 1989. I don't think Duran could have caught up to Ray.. Ray knew what to do and how to beat Duran. He rarely exchanged.
Im going to predict a big upset. At this stage in time if they'd collided ,I see Barkley roughing up Leonard, being seen the stronger aggressor. I don't see Sugar having the legs or energy to keep him off .,Some point in the fight he'd end cut as he did verse Duran. But it happen s earlier ,so suddenly Rays lookin not so confident. Like a shark to blood Barkley goes for the kill .Attacking him with everything ,Sugar finds himself hurt and bleeding badly .Its here where the Blade s score's s a Savage kd .Ray attempt s to survive but hrs got nothing left and the ref jumps in Barkley by 9 round tko
I think the Leonard fight was only a few months after the Barkley fight. Duran wanted to beat him badly to make up for the no mas episode. I think he was in shape but the style of leonard made all the difference in the world.
