The "Leonard Fought Duran's Fight" Fallacy

If only he had been more classy and dignified in defeat like Duran was.

 

Nobody can be that classy. :nono

Angelo was very likable and the media bought his excuses hook line and sinker not just after this fight but in many of Ali`s fights.

 

A smart fighter tries not to fight the other mans game. If you look at Durans career up until he fought Leonard no one was really successful out brawling him. There were fighters who through boxing skill were able to win some rounds against him. SRL game was not brawling but outboxing his opponents, drawing them into ko punches. Leonard in fight one decided to fight the other mans game....he almost pulled it off but it was not the way a smart fighter should have approached a fight with prime Duran.

 

George C. Patton in defeat?

El Cholo hits Buchanan in the nuts, and Duran's the story. He loses to DeJesus, and Duran's the story. "No mas boxeo" in New Orleans makes Duran the story. Hissing and spitting at Benitez when the final bell goes off after losing their prefight exchange makes Duran the story. Losing to Laing makes Duran the story. Moral victory over Hagler makes Duran the story, so much so that Al Bernstein exclaimed at the conclusion of Hagler-Hearns that, "This makes up for his [Hagler's] 'loss' to Duran!"

Roberto's injured left in Pat Lawlor I was the story of that one. [This was definitely not a no mas situation. It was clearly injured abruptly, the referee halted action immediately, the the ringside physician called a halt upon examination over Duran's vehement protests, although it was clear only his right arm was normal. He was out of action for a year and a half after Lawlor I, which he avenged with the penultimate win of his career nine years later.]

He over-confidently partied his way into the Hearns blowout after going the limit with Hagler.

Nobody exploited his defeats and got as many miles out of his losses as Duran did. He sure sold me. I'm a Duran apologist for life.

 

All this has nothing to do with Duran. Duran was a very exciting figure in and out of the ring. Every fan loves a killer and Duran was just that. Closest thing to Jack Dempsey in terms of intensity and killer instinct as per Ray Arcel his trainer. The press as they should ate it up. Duran was certainly the most exciting fighter below the hwt division in my lifetime.....greatest lt weight, one of the greatest welterweights. Above welter Duran lost a lot of his power edge and became less effective. His bouts with Moose and Barkley however are examples of his great fights at weights above welterweight but against less skilled opponents. Here Duran used his smarts, a sign of true greatness, when he could no longer used his physical assets as effectively to win against stronger opponents.

 

Duran dominated Buchanon and was well on his way to a victory. His performance in a title winning effort was the story. I dont remember Duran getting much credit after Benitez. He got outboxed cleanly and Wilfredo was the story.

The Hagler fight was a good performance by Duran in a losing effort. Being the first contender to go the distance several divisions above his best weight. Don`t remember reading many saying Duran should`ve gotten the decision.

He didn`t get much mileage out of the No Mas fight in New Orleans. Duran suffered and paid for that mistake. He was hated by his own country.

Duran did redeem himself later but IMO the dominance he displayed in his prime and the way he cameback when everyone thought he was done inspired a great deal of loyalty.

Love him or hate him Duran was genuine, unlike Ray Leonard. That show last night only proved how disingenious Ray Leonard still is.

 

Ironically, watching Duran - Benitez Ray says early in the fight (2nd round i think) that Duran doesn't look as strong as be did in Montreal and that he noticed a difference in strength between the 1st and 2nd fights.

 

The difference between fight 1 and fight 2 was conditioning, Dundee had a lot to do with pushing the rematch quickly because he threatened to fight Hearns because SRL brought the American $$$ so with the knowledge that Duran was in full partying mode drinking and snorting cocaine and drinking soda pop and blowing up. Duran agreed but he was not in the shape for fight 2 and Leonard and Dundee were prepared....Dundee always had that inside info and always looking for the edge, it worked for Ali numerous times and Leonard as well

 

Completely disagree. SRL was a boxer first and foremost. If you watch most of his bouts leading up to his bout with Duran...he is a boxer not a brawler. Duran just the reverse...he fought his entire career as a super aggressive stalker...brawler. No way shape or form was it a good strategy to walk into a ring as a boxer and decide to brawl with Duran. I don't care how big or tough Leonard was...it's never a good idea to pay another mans game. It was proven because he LOST the fight! In fight two and three he boxed Duran and the result was in his favor. End of story!