Duran vs Leonard I: 30th Year Anniversary

[elmersalsa]

I cannot believe that thirty years has gone by of this classic fight. It is the most anticipated fight of all time in the lower weight classes waited by millions around the world. I have not experienced nothing like this fight. The anticipation of the fight and the hype was unique. It was the beginning of a decade of unforgettable great fights. Probably, in the lower weight classes, the Leonard vs Hearns I fight come as close as anticipation. I think Leonard vs Hearns I was way better fight, but not more anticipated.

Duran won clearly in the biggest fight of his career. Montreal, Canada, the venue will never forget that night.

What you guys remember of that Friday night of June 20th, 1980?

[Badhusker]

Well for one I remember losing money. I am not a big better, so it didn't hurt too bad. I thought Leonard was foolish for trying to stand toe to toe with Duran. It was a pretty close fight though, but no one questioned Duran having the edge. Leonard used his style the next time, and totally dominated Duran with his speed, footwork, and handspeed. Leonard was actually a bigger welter than Floyd is today.

Hearns would have won their first one if it was 12 rounds as he was ahead. Leonard showed heart and a good punch, and Hearn's only weakness, his chin, didn't hold up in the 14th.

[elmersalsa]

I don't buy that belief that "Sugar Ray did not fight his fight" at all. Duran simply whupped him and was the better man that night.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I don't buy that belief that "Sugar Ray did not fight his fight" at all. Duran simply whupped him and was the better man that night.

He was forced into that fight. duran was relentless and leonard had no choice but to stand his ground. As much as i hate leonard, he really showed a lot of guts taking that thumping. Just a brutal, brutal beating and in my opinion that Duran was virtually unbeatable. Yes, I would take him over SRR on that night.

Another myth is that Leonard dominated the rematch. That was closer than the first fight. I think Duran was winning the round he quit in. That was a 4-3 fight either way imo.

[Seamus]

I can accept anyone saying Duran won the 1st fight, but claiming it was by anything other than the narrowest of margins is ridiculous. Don't forget that Ferdie Pacheco had Leonard winning by a point, and there were a few other sportswriters at ringside who agreed.

Duran winning by a point, maybe even 2, I can see that, but I've heard guys say things like Duran totally dominated, took Leonard to school, could have scored a KO etc, and you can't get anymore ridiculous than that. Sure Duran gave Leonard a beating, but I guarantee you he got one as well. Most remarkable thing about that fight for me was how close so many rounds were. It seems Duran fans think he deserved every one of the 10-10 rds

[BoxBuzz]

As long as they were both in top condition Duran would get my betting money every time.

Anyone who kept up with Duran following that fight and saw Duran balloon up had to know that Roberto's ego was going to hand the next chapter to Ray. Duran believed his own hype by the next fight. And you see where it got him. He should have taken a little longer to get into shape OR he should never have lived quite such a decadent life in the following months after the first fight. I put no money out the next fight out, fortunately.

In addition I do also think that some sort of anomaly played out in that next fight. I think more of a "gut" issue that a "guts" issue on behalf of Roberto. But his conditioning was suspect as well IMHO.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I can accept anyone saying Duran won the 1st fight, but claiming it was by anything other than the narrowest of margins is ridiculous. Don't forget that Ferdie Pacheco had Leonard winning by a point, and there were a few other sportswriters at ringside who agreed.

Duran winning by a point, maybe even 2, I can see that, but I've heard guys say things like Duran totally dominated, took Leonard to school, could have scored a KO etc, and you can't get anymore ridiculous than that. Sure Duran gave Leonard a beating, but I guarantee you he got one as well. Most remarkable thing about that fight for me was how close so many rounds were. It seems Duran fans think he deserved every one of the 10-10 rds

9-6 or 10-5 is about right, it was competitive throughout but Duran was landing the cleaner and harder stuff. As evidenced by Ray urinating blood and having bruises on top of bruises. No way Leonard won that fight. Anybody scoring it for Ray had an agenda.

[Goodnight, Irene]

I am fond of calling this fight, in regards to its margin for victory, as a, "Mosley-De La Hoya I" type of fight --- it's competitive, excitingly so, & the loser won a good chunk of the rounds on offer, but it was still clear & decisive, without being one-sided, who won. It was Duran.

I am of the take, however, that the Duran of that night may -- or may not --- have bested the smarter, more disciplined & tactful Leonard of their immediate return fight.

No matter --- Duran beat Leonard at his own weight, & at the pinnacle of his career at a time when Duran was a little beyond his own pomp. Duran will forever be the pound-for-pound better fighter, & his legacy as Leonard's superior is solidified with his greater CV. Duran as a Welter is a little over-rated in general, though. Both, in fact, are a touch over-estimated. I imagine that has a whole lot to do with the people who grew up watching these guys are a large part of the posting demographic on any website.

[bennie]

The second fight was actually close on the cards when Duran bailed out, some say because he defecated in his shorts due to the amount of orange juice he had consumed.

[Counter-puncher]

I am of the take, however, that the Duran of that night may -- or may not --- have bested the smarter, more disciplined & tactful Leonard of their immediate return fight.
.

i am inclined to agree. One of the things that always stuck out for me in this fight was the superbness of Duran's punch-picking: against one of the beter defensive fighters of the last few decades, and a man who most fighters struggled to land more than a punch at a time on, Duran's bombing of Leonard with those two-fisted, body-and-head attacks, counts as one of the most impressive offensive displays I have seen, in its context.

[Bricks]

I don't buy that belief that "Sugar Ray did not fight his fight" at all. Duran simply whupped him and was the better man that night.

Exactly, The Duran that showed up here was relentless. The Duran that showed up in the second fight was less than an imposter.

[Bricks]

I am of the take, however, that the Duran of that night may -- or may not --- have bested the smarter, more disciplined & tactful Leonard of their immediate return fight.

You will find most people have one of those two views...........

[elmersalsa]

What I don't like about the broadcast with Ferdie Pacheco, he was ass kissing and licking the Sugar Boy. Never seen a commentator so biased. I thought the late Howard Cossell of ABC was biased, but, at least, Cossell gave the great Roberto Duran lots of credit.