ray robinson v ray leonard?

That fight was at 154, not 147, where Benitez was simply the greater fighter. Benitez hardly used lateral movement in the fight either, Duran was just so far gone from his peak days he didn't have the strength to get in on Benitez against the ropes, something he most certainly would've in his peak WW days.

 

If you'll watch most of Leonard's fights, he was primarily a flat-footed boxer-puncher who used his combination punching and precise shots to take care of his opponents. He was capable of using great footwork, but it was not his usual style to fight on the move, pot-shotting. He fought his fight against Duran, he was simply overmatched for the most part against the more skilled fighter at that game. However, being the incredibly adaptable fighter he was in the rematch, he was able to switch his style up and frustrate an out of shape Duran. But make no mistake, he was simple out-done in the first fight, when both were at their very best.

What?

 

Actually, Leonard was more active, as he fought Hearns 6 months earlier. Duran's last fight was 10 months earlier. Duran was 38 and fighting 33lbs above his natural fighting weight. Of course he has more reason to deem the last fight invalid, with regard to the first two.

Anyway, I think we've flogged this one long enough. :good

 

I think Ray wins!

 

You just don't know what you're talking about. I suggest re-watching their first fight.

 

:happy

Knowledge Is Power.

 

He fought his usual fight against the smaller fighter with less power and was handily outdone. He had beaten almost everyone, including monster puncher Hearns later on, using that style, yet was simply out-skilled by a Lightweight.

 

Robinson was a huge welter weight even by todays standards, his speed and power would have to favored over Ray leonard's

Ray Robinson by 10 th round ko

 

Robinson would win. He was just to good.

 

And thats what he should have done throughout the first fight. While Leonard wasn't a constant mover prior to facing Duran in Montreal he did have it in him to adjust and fight on the move as he eventually showed the second time around. No observers expressed the opinion that Leonard was going to stand within range and trade punches like you do. Even Dundee was looking for a hit-move stratgey from his fighter. It was the mind games that suckered Leonard into warfare rather than him simply fighting his normal fight. Are you telling me he never had any other options in Montreal apart from fighting the way he did on the night?

 

Disappear troll.

 

I just don't see the purpose of this. "OK then, if Leonard had fought a completely different and far better fight, he might have won". There, idle speculation rules.

Or we could just say the better man won on the night, and say the same for the second fight.

If this rather pointless debate does continue though, I ask you this - watching this fight I believed all through that Duran had the edge. I think Dundee knew it, Duran knew it, the fans knew it, and Leonard knew it. Therefore, why didn't Leonard switch tactics during the fight when it was obvious that he wasn't winning clearly? If it was so simple as that if he changed to stick-and-move he wins against a Duran in rampant form, why didn't he do so?

Because Duran wouldn't let him. Leonard wasn't in control of the fight and couldn't change it. The better man won.

 

Duran was trying to close the distance early on throughout the fight, often fighting at mid-range and using feints to try to work his way in, as Leonard was indeed using movement to keep the fight at his pace. Once Duran hurt him with his combo Leonard resorted to covering up, which more or less set the tone for the fight, or at least the pace of it. Once Duran figured out how to get in on Leonard he started working him over, which undoubtedly contributed to Leonard's lack of energy.

Both were at their best for the first fight, and only the first fight, and Duran proved his class. If the Leonard from the rematch fought the Duran of the first fight, it's very possible he could've won a Decision by keeping on the move, but as it was, that's not the way it played out, nor was it Leonard's usual style period.

 

:good

 

You quoted my post and replied with the above. Who said that if Leonard employed the same stratgey that he did in the second fight he would have won? Certainly not me. Why didn't he do so? I will tell you one thing. Leonard was asked by a posse of press before the first "how are you going to fight Duran" he replied "flat-footed" He intended on trying to beat Duran at his own game. Mainly because of Duran's foul mouthed antics towards Leonard and his wife. The better man won on the fight and looked awesome in doing so. Duran happens to be my favourite fighter of all-time, so I'm hardly going to play down a win which was perhaps his finest hour.