Ray Leonard didn't really fight that much out of character in the first Duran fight

Agreed. Leonard did not move around nearly as much as the fighters who now get compared to him. Although capable of using his feet to dictate the pace of a fight, he typically did more of a "moving within the pocket" movement than the "on his bicycle type."

I might get lit up for saying this, but Andre Dirrell did a fair representation of that style in the first half of his fight against AA. Alexander did it to perfection against Urango. Moving without running is a lost art.

 

I agree somewhat. A lot of times when you are fighting an equal, you have to adjust two times during a fight-adjust to your opponent, and adjust your game. It took time for Sugar to solve Duran's head movement and sheer agression, and by that time it was too late.

 

It wasn't a hugely dramatic shift, but you can't ignore the abilities SRL chose not to employ at certain moments in that fight going toe to toe. I give Duran full credit for that win though.

 

Leonard fought Duran's fight because he was so green! ...And Duran was on PEDs! A-side Meth! Anyway, STFU, noob ******* *****! Duran is overrated!

 

Only a matter of time before the imbeciles descend on any legitimate and interesting boxing thread.

 

:deal SRL didn't change his style so much as neglect some of his strengths. He didn't make that mistake in the second fight.

 

Agree that Dirrell fought well against Abraham and adapted well from the Froch fight where he was plain running.

 

Leonard didnt fight poorly in the first fight, he showed a lot of grit and fought well in a good competitive fight. But he wasnt going to beat Duran at his own game. In the second fight, despite popular belief, Leonard didnt really start to fight his fight till around the 5th round. At the time Duran quit, Ray was ahead by a point or so but it wasnt the boxing lesson people made it out to be. The last two rounds of the fight Leorard was masterful in his boxing, but his adjustment didnt really happen till those last rounds.

 

True.

 

I just still can't believe people have to be told this..it should be boxing 101 now and we should move on.

For a guy who was so universally recognised...I mean the dude was on Married with Children for christsake..A lot of people dont seem very familiar with the man and how he fought.

 

I dont really know mate.

With Hagler I think its a little more ignorance on the part of the casual fan...unable to discern between a brawler and a boxer-puncher just because they have a narrow view about boxing styles. When they see someone aggressive must be a brawler and the only other style they can spot is that of the Ali type slickster.

With Leonard I dont know what it is...I think its just people completely making stuff up and it becoming accepted because they really havent checked for themselves.
Plus one of his most iconic and widely viewed victories, against Hagler, he used that style...most people just think thats they way he always fought, not really knowing to much about his earlier stuff or understanding the context as to why he used that style.