Is saying 'no mas' in the middle of a fight an indication of cowardice?

It was a stupid, unthinking reaction to being schooled/mocked by Leonard from the previous round in my view. It was a ‘I don’t need this ****’ reaction.

While I don’t think he did it out of cowardice - more out of frustration - it’s hard to know what else to call it because he did quit… and it was not a reaction from a punch or undue punishment either. He quit in the clearest terms imaginable even if the reason for doing it remains unclear.

If Duran could do it all over, I’m pretty sure he’d take the embarrassment of being outfought and outthought by Leonard over the adverse reaction he received afterwards.

 

The way I view it is that the same impulsiveness that caused Duran to quit out of frustration against Leonard is the same impulsive instinct that meant he hugged and kissed a dying Esteban DeJesus in hospital despite not knowing the impact of his actions.

Two impulsive reactions that make Duran the person he is, for good or bad.

 

We have to be careful about throwing around the term coward when it comes to combat sports. Anyone willing to participate in hand to hand combat in front of an audience risking their health and/or potential defeat isn't a coward obviously. What Duran did was born of frustration & petulance, not cowardice.

 

It was more sookiness and petulance than cowardice i think.