How do you mean that his reputation went sown after he quit? It was Leonard the one that opted not to fight him again. The strategy was to win back the title and do not give Duran a rematch. That was the STRATEGY FROM THE GET GO.Ambling Alp wrote:The reason that there wasn't a 3rd fight immediately was because there wasn't much interest.
Duran's reputation went way down after he quit.
Leonard was afraid of losing to Duran? That makes no sense.
Why on earth would he be afraid. In the rematch he fought a smarter a fight and won easily. There is no reason to think a 3rd fight would have been much different except maybe Duran wouldn't quit again.
If Duran really wanted another fight with Leonard, he could have stayed in the welterweight divison and beat a couple of contenders. Eventually Leonard would have to fight him again. Instead Duran moved up in weight and out of Leonard's division.
If anything it was Duran who didn't want to fight Leonard again.
5 months wasn't enough time for Duran to get ready for the 2nd fight with Leonard? How much time does he need? Didn't Leonard have the same amount of time?
Duran want it to fght him right away after that. Why Sugar did not want to give him a rematch in 5 months? He knew better. He was afraid to lose his title back. And you're saying that he was winning the fight easier this time? What type of fight you was watching? The fight was only 2 points in 2 of the judges scorecards and 1 point with the other judge. All with Duran not being in shape.
I do not believe that crap that Leonard was better than him and that Leonard would have won every time after that. The mastery that I saw in Montreal, Duran had an answer for everything that Leonard did that night. Watch that fight again. Leonard missed so many punches it was unbelievable. That fight duran won by 3 points in my scorecard, and it was not that close like people think. Watch the fight again...I mean, both fights.
A well prepared Roberto Duran, like in Montreal, gives Leonard nightmares, and Sugar Ray knew it. I would not give him a rematch either.