The Brawl in Montreal: 40 Years Later

[elmersalsa]

On Friday, June 20th, 1980 in Montreal, Canada, Roberto Duran of Panama took the the WBC World Welterweight crown from champion Sugar Ray Leonard of Palmer Park, MD.

It was, and still is, THE MOST ANTICIPATED FIGHT in the history of boxing that did not engaged heavyweight boxers. This is the super fight outside the heavyweight division that revolutionized the sport. Never before, a non-heavyweight fighter received heavyweight money. Leonard received an astonishing $10 million dollars! Something unheard of at the time. Duran ONLY received $1 million?

This angered Manos de Piedra. How come a fighter that has been fighting way before Leonard ever became pro and had an extraordinary record of 71-1, 56KOs will receive $9 million dollars less? Me, personally, I never got it. And probably never will. Duran was the former World Lightweight Champion. He defended the crown 12 times in almost 7 years. And when Leonard went pro for the first time, Duran was already, at least, a hall of fame boxer.

Duran, the best fighter pound per pound of the 70s decade, was a ferocious perfect fighting machine. A total complete fighter. In 1978, he jumped straight to welterweight. He did not looked as good in some fights at 147lbs. But, the fight that got him into the number one ranking spot was when he dominated former welterweight champ Carlos Palomino of California in 1979. Duran won by decision in 10.

Meanwhile, Sugar Ray was a fanastic fighting machine in his own right. Fast, strong, smart, great ring generalship, great foot speed and markeatable 5th Avenue appeal. He was the superstar that America needed after the retirement of the great Muhammad Ali. I saw him for the first time on live tv when he quickly dispatched top ranked contender Andy Price of Los Angeles, CA. Sugar Ray then became the American hero after he won the WBC World Welterweight crown from great Wilfred Benitez in 15 masterful close rounds. Leonard stopped Benitez in the last seconds of the 15th in November of 1979.

Duran at first, never liked Leonard. He hated him. He wanted to kick his ass. "He talked too much, like Ali", Duran said.

The fight came and Leonard, the champion, was the betting favorite. He supposed to be the stronger, faster, younger and taller foe. He had almost every single advantage except....experience.

The crowd of 47,000 fans at the Montreal Olympic Stadium never got disappointed. Neither the millions watching around the world. Duran and Leonard gave us one of boxing's all time classics. Each round was furious, fast and entertaining. Duran rocked Leonard in round 2 that the crowd went wild. He also rocked him in the 3rd and 4th rounds. Leonard bounced back in the 6th and 7th rounds using his fast hands.

But, Duran was relentless again in the 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th rounds. Round 11th to me, was the best round of the fight. That was the round that showed that both had the heart, will and determination. Both were tired in that round because of the terrific pace of the previous 10. The rounds 12th to 15th showed that both had the championship spirit and heart. None of the two gave in an inch. Both displayed all their skills to the crowd.

Did Leonard fought his fight? In my view, yes he did! He gave the crowd everything he had against a guy that was in top shape. Duran was probably in the best fighting shape of his life. Both of them were. In my view, I can't see a welterweight, past or present or future, beating him that night. Duran was just that terrific. I believe that Sugar Ray was SURPRISED of how quick Duran was in hands and feet. He was surprised of his technical skills, specially in the in-fighting where Duran excelled.
Duran proved to a lot of people that he was much more than a brawling all-out performer. Duran showed that he could box, counterpunch, jab and in some instances, he knew how to pace himself for a difficult fight for 15 rounds.

In the last round of the fight, Duran knew that he had the fight won. So he boxed. In the last seconds, Duran motioned to Leonard, "Hit my chin!, hit my chin!, hit it!" And when the bell sounded, the only bad thing that he showed, (and I admit as his fan) that he did not embraced Leonard at the end. He told Leonard in his way to "fornicate off!". That was not good sporstmanship at all. No matter how you hate a man. If The man gave you a tough fight, you gotta give him his props. But, Duran had any of that. He still was mocking and shouting at Ray before the judges decision. Heck!, he even gave Benitez his balls like saying "suck them, you faggot!". But that was Duran, was he?

The decision came and at first Duran won by majority decision. It was changed to unanimous. It was the first time in 27 pro fights and in a long time from his amateur days that Sugar Ray tasted defeat. His face was a total mess. He looked like he was about to cry. But if he was a golden young boy that night, he became a man. He took his whupping like a man. And that he gave his all, and there was nothing else to it.

The crowd, especially the Latin crowd, went into a frenzy after the verdict. It was the first time ever, that almost all Latin American nations were rooting for a Latin fighter. Someone that they called their own. And the only one that could personify the image, was Roberto Duran.

In this fight and night, a boy became a man and a man became an all-time legend. Bon Jour, Montreal....Again!

[goose 5]

I saw it on CCTV and had Duran by 2 points; I bet on Leonard to win. When I saw the replay on home t.v., I had it 10-5 Duran.

[Duran1970]

Probably my happiest moment as a boxing fan..
Great fight...
Some say fighters get better as time goes on..
But it's hard to fathom anybody today fighting at that level over that distance.

[Bujia]

I don't think Leonard "fought Duran's fight" the way so many people make out. Rather Duran made him fight his fight. Pretty sure Leonard didn't intentionally allow himself to get stunned and driven back to the ropes with those 2 or 3 big right hands Duran landed early on. Those shots landed when the fight was in center ring at mid range, where Leonard was supposed to have the edge.

I've always found the "Why would they have Leonard take it inside!?" quote from ringside to be comical. He clearly didn't. Duran did.

[elmersalsa]

Probably my happiest moment as a boxing fan..
Great fight...
Some say fighters get better as time goes on..
But it's hard to fathom anybody today fighting at that level over that distance.

As a Duran fan, it was one of the happiest moments of my life as a boxing fan. His win over Davey Moore, to me, was more satisfying. Why? Because he redeemed himself. Not too many fighters can come back from a disastrous loss like he had in New Orleans.

Duran to me is a top 5 greatest pound per pound. He got to be. In what position? I don't care. But he gotta be in the top 5.

[elmersalsa]

I don't think Leonard "fought Duran's fight" the way so many people make out. Rather Duran made him fight his fight. Pretty sure Leonard didn't intentionally allow himself to get stunned and driven back to the ropes with those 2 or 3 big right hands Duran landed early on. Those shots landed when the fight was in center ring at mid range, where Leonard was supposed to have the edge.

I've always found the "Why would they have Leonard take it inside!?" quote from ringside to be comical. He clearly didn't. Duran did.

Sugar Ray fought his fight. He just got beat by a better man that was not going to be denied. Duran prepared mentally and physically very well. No mattet what Sugar Ray brought to the table, he was ready for it. And boy!, was he ready! It was one of the greatest performances of all time.

[Onetimeonly]

Let's see....Langford, greb, Robinson, Armstrong & Charles.

Nope, he didn't make it. Easily in my top 5 favorite fights. Duran's absolute peak was dejesus 3 until this fight.

[elmersalsa]

The fight was beyond the hype

[Ambling Alp II]

I don't think Leonard "fought Duran's fight" the way so many people make out. Rather Duran made him fight his fight. Pretty sure Leonard didn't intentionally allow himself to get stunned and driven back to the ropes with those 2 or 3 big right hands Duran landed early on. Those shots landed when the fight was in center ring at mid range, where Leonard was supposed to have the edge.

I've always found the "Why would they have Leonard take it inside!?" quote from ringside to be comical. He clearly didn't. Duran did.

Sugar Ray fought his fight. He just got beat by a better man that was not going to be denied. Duran prepared mentally and physically very well. No mattet what Sugar Ray brought to the table, he was ready for it. And boy!, was he ready! It was one of the greatest performances of all time.

Then how come in your esteemed opinion Duran only won 5-2 with a mere 8 rounds scored even then then?

[Ambling Alp II]

Always wished they fought a rematch.
sorry, I couldn't help myself. I about the "partying " and all.

[elmersalsa]

Sugar Ray fought his fight. He just got beat by a better man that was not going to be denied. Duran prepared mentally and physically very well. No mattet what Sugar Ray brought to the table, he was ready for it. And boy!, was he ready! It was one of the greatest performances of all time.

Then how come in your esteemed opinion Duran only won 5-2 with a mere 8 rounds scored even then then?

Duran winning only 5 rounds? What pipe are you smoking?

[Cap]

I lived in Montreal then and took in the fight with my Dad. The "Latin" population of the city was tiny, so they must have trucked a bunch in for them to go crazy. The French Canadien fans were pretty much split between the flashy Leonard and the fiery Duran. From what I recall though, the decision for Duran was a popular one. I most recall Cleveland Denny being carried from the ring after being stopped by Gaetan Hart, and the roar from my section when Trevor Berbick upset John Tate.

[Ambling Alp II]

Then how come in your esteemed opinion Duran only won 5-2 with a mere 8 rounds scored even then then?

Duran winning only 5 rounds? What pipe are you smoking?

That would be actually you who scored it 5 rounds for Duran, 2 for Leonard, and 8 rounds even.

[elmersalsa]

Duran winning only 5 rounds? What pipe are you smoking?

That would be actually you who scored it 5 rounds for Duran, 2 for Leonard, and 8 rounds even.

I never did.

[Ambling Alp II]

Yes you did, and I have mentioned several times how silly it is that you Duran winning less than half the rounds and you calling it a "whuppin".

You have once said Leonard was a not a "real fighter". Remember that one?

[elmersalsa]

Yes you did, and I have mentioned several times how silly it is that you Duran winning less than half the rounds and you calling it a "whuppin".

You have once said Leonard was a not a "real fighter". Remember that one?

Duran kicked his ass....That's what I have said. He whupped Sugar Ray...End of story!

[Ambling Alp II]

Remember this one: Leonard only beat one true welterweight.

[Onamastus]

I lived in Montreal then and took in the fight with my Dad. The "Latin" population of the city was tiny, so they must have trucked a bunch in for them to go crazy. The French Canadien fans were pretty much split between the flashy Leonard and the fiery Duran. From what I recall though, the decision for Duran was a popular one. I most recall Cleveland Denny being carried from the ring after being stopped by Gaetan Hart, and the roar from my section when Trevor Berbick upset John Tate.

Superb that you were there. Thank you for sharing. The Tate collapse seemed to come out of nowhere. And what a main event to have witnessed live. History!

[elmersalsa]

Remember this one: Leonard only beat one true welterweight.

Do not destroy the great Roberto Duran's thread.

[Ambling Alp II]

So if a thread was started about Leonard's win in the 2nd fight, all the comments would just be about how well Leonard performed?

[elmersalsa]

So if a thread was started about Leonard's win in the 2nd fight, all the comments would just be about how well Leonard performed?

And why not? Sugar Ray fought great that night, didn't he?

Whether Duran was in shape or not, stomach cramps and what any other thing that happened, it wasn't Sugar Ray's fault, but Duran's for not coming to the fight in the very best of shape.

But, we have to agree, when BOTH were in their very best and in shape, the better man won in Montreal. We got to recognize that.

[Bujia]

So if a thread was started about Leonard's win in the 2nd fight, all the comments would just be about how well Leonard performed?

And why not? Sugar Ray fought great that night, didn't he?

Not really. Probably one of my least favorite performances from him. A better performance than Duran's, though.

[pound per pound]

Duran's best stuff was at light weight. While his win over Leonard was huge that night, he's not beating Tommy Hearns at Welter Weight.

[Ambling Alp II]

So if a thread was started about Leonard's win in the 2nd fight, all the comments would just be about how well Leonard performed?

And why not? Sugar Ray fought great that night, didn't he?

Not really. Probably one of my least favorite performances from him. A better performance than Duran's, though.

Leonard fought a great fight in the Duran rematch. Out-boxed him to the point that Duran quit.

[elmersalsa]

And why not? Sugar Ray fought great that night, didn't he?

Not really. Probably one of my least favorite performances from him. A better performance than Duran's, though.

Leonard fought a great fight in the Duran rematch. Out-boxed him to the point that Duran quit.

So, Sugar Ray got whupped on the first fight. Look at his face.