Who was facing the better fighter that night...

Ali. Leonard chose to brawl with Duran. He chose to play to Durans strengths. True Duran may have forced him to do this to some degree but there was zero attempt from Leonard to box him. The pre fight games got into his head. Plus he was the naturally bigger man. I'm not downplaying Duran, he is one of my favourite fighters, certainly in my top 10. But I think Ali had a bigger challenge overall, in my opinion. Frazier was a animal. Good question though, interesting to think off

 

My bad, I misread it. But I think Frazier had a more difficult challenge than Duran. It's very close but I think Ali fought more to his strengths than Leonard did. And even though he had had 3 years away from the sport I thought he looked good in his 2 comeback fights

 

Frazier had the bigger obstacle to climb and he did.

 

Frazier wasn't scared of Ali, and was motivated from what Ali had been saying for 2 months pre-fight. Plus Yank Durham, Frazier, and some guy named Eddie Futch (lol), had a plan that maximized Frazier's strengths against Ali's weakness, and in reality, the result wasn't surprising for the FOC.

 

Frazier. Leonard fought Duran on the inside. he chose it and gave Duran that fight. Once he fought out he should not fight Duran he won easily... Ali never beat Frazier easily. Ray would have beaten Duran 10 out of 10 after that first fight.

 

IMO Duran overcoming a peak Leonard was greater. Frazier beat a lesser Ali while Leonard was close to his best.

 

Leonard was 24 and at the peak of his powers. Ali was 29 and even
though he had 2 comeback fights he was not the peak Ali before exile.
So therefore Duran was facing a fighter more at his peak.

 

I disagree SRL was peak. The Duran loss improved him as a fighter (particularly mentally) and the Hearns win was the icing on the cake. Imo he was absolutely peak when he first retired.

 

Good point JT . But going on OP question the Ali who fought Frazier was not the same as
before exile. The post Ali exile was not the Ali before exile who had cat like reflex's and
post Ali was more stationery and relied more on guile and experience to win fights.

 

Totally agree, just saying i do not believe SRL was peak. Ali wasn't either, absolutely. I think he fought better here and there post Manilla too.

I think it was tougher for Duran i guess, due to moving all the way up from 135 which is two divisions. Frazier must have been rather close to peak and in his own weight category and Ali was a probably a touch further off peak than SRL.

So yes, i am going Duran for those reasons.

 

he didn't overcome. Ray fought his fight. And when Ray boxed, Duran couldn't dominate any rounds. Once Ray fought the key, it was an easy fight for him.

 

Ali was more experienced, but Leonard was closer to his physical prime and less rusty. So I'll go with Ray.