I just read an article here on ESB (http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=16192&more=1) about the "Brawl in Montreal", and in it the writer claimed Duran probably was at his peak for the fight. First I was surpised by this, since most seem to believe his peak was at LW a couple of years earlier, but thinking about it made some sense. He was still only 29 and had been at WW for the last two years, so the added weight might just be because of his body was naturally maturing, not because he slacked off with his training. And he was hardly beginning to get too old when he moved up to WW at 27 years of age. He was also very well prepared and supremely motivated against Leonard. On the other hand, it's hard to argue against that he was more dominant at LW. So, what do you think? Was the version of Duran in Montreal comparable to the one that beat for example De Jesus for the second time a couple of years earlier?
He was around the prime years of his career(though they were starting to fade probably) still. He was not however, at his best weight. But still, he got up for that fight like no other he'd ever had, even at LW, so I'd pretty much agree that we saw Duran at his best that night.
Duran's prime ended after the first Leonard fight. Thats with the benefit of hindsight after his showing in New Orleans five months later. I don't think Duran lost much speed after jumping up two weight divisions. Probably because he matured physically combined with the fact that the higher weight suited him at that stage of his career. He wasn't struggling with the scales any longer. Sometimes it's not about weight making difficulties, it's about how you take the weight off. How a fighter copes with it. When Duran fought De Jesus for the third time the feeling was that whoever made the weight easier would more than likely win the fight, epecially as the fight progressed deep into the late rounds. Rumour has it that Duran did make the weight easier than De Jesus. End result, Duran KO 12. Some other observers feel Duran's prime ended after he knocked out De Jesus for the third time. IMO I don't have a problem with such an opinion.
Physical prime right after DeJesus III. Mental prime...the day he saw Leonard on TV after a fight, and Roberto told his management to "Get him".
Personally I believe Duran was at his peak when he beat Leonard in Montreal. At that point he was 71-1-0 and Leonard 27-0-0. It was without doubt a great performance by Duran. Duran's only blemish prior to this was of course against DeJesus years earlier. It's just unfortunate that Duran was coerced into fighting Leonard again coming off a very poor level of fitness (he'd become an absolute slob) in short time. History shows that Leonard deliberately frustrated him in that match to the poiny where he could see he was being made a fool of, and just quit.
Duran did not mature into the WW division. He was a natural LW until his late 20s before Arcel and Brown decided to have their charge challenge bigger men. The WW division was the $$ money division at that point with Benitez, Palomino, Leonard, Cuevas, and Hearns all ready to go. Duran joined that roster. His absolute peak was probably DeJesus III -he was on top of his game and physically at his best -and in his natural division. In Montrel at age 29 against Leonard he was never more inspired, still close to peak, but 12 pounds above his best weight. So, even though he was probably slightly past it, and fighting out of his division, it was his best performance. Again, Duran is a passion fighter. Passion explains why he was able to periodically rise out of the ashes of his career lows, shake off the weight of age, and remind everyone of his greatness. Moore, Hagler, Barkley, even the first Camacho fight were examples.
loads of people say his performance against palomino was pefect and his best ever. i say his peak was the third bout with esteban
I too would say Palomino was his best performance, but you have a case with DeJesusIII. Either way after DeJesusIII to Palomino, Duran did not have to worry about weight and probably peaked IMO.
Duran was still at his peak for the Leonard bouts. He simply was fighting bigger men who were better fighters than the ones he fought at lightweight. Once he left welter he went down a full step.
