BoxRec

In the lead up & during the first Ray Leonard fight Duran did everything to piss off Leonard. Called his wife a whore, stuck his middle finger up and so much more.

This was typical Duran behaviour.

In the Hearns fight he was so f*cking respectful. He touched gloves several times a round. I heard, after the fight, that he thought Hearns was a bit of a nutter "His eyes".

The Hearns fight was only a few months after his spirited effort against Hagler - who would later destroy Hearns.

Duran was no coward but against Hearns he was not the Duran that we all know. He fought like a man scared,

How do you view it?

Hagler Hearns - Long version

Duran should never have gone back down to light-middleweight after his magnificent Hagler effort. He said in his biography by Christian Giudice that getting back down to 154 pounds was one of he hardest things he ever did and it left him with nothing against Hearns. It was much like Roy Jones Junior boiling back down again to light-heavyweight after beating John Ruiz for the WBA heavyweight title. Jones was never the same.

Roberto Duran was moving up and down weights later in his career which obviously must have had some effect but in his earlier career he was a great fighter and in my time of watching boxing I’ve never seen a more complete fighter the guy had everything skill speed movement power and was a real beast in the ring we will never see the likes of him again

Duran fought with such incredible ferocity through his lightweight reign, into the fight up in weight with Palomino, peaking in the first SRL fight. There’s absolutely no way you can sustain that kind of his speed, high intensity, high power attacking style throughout an entire career. He’s human, he had to burn out, and afterward eventually had to save energy and pick his spots. Although inconsistent after his greatest triumph, he did have great nights versus Moore & Barkley, a noble effort vs Hagler and a cracking little fight with Hagler’s cousin, Robbie Sims.

Autobarn wrote: ↑23 Jun 2018, 03:41 Duran fought with such incredible ferocity through his lightweight reign, into the fight up in weight with Palomino, peaking in the first SRL fight. There’s absolutely no way you can sustain that kind of his speed, high intensity, high power attacking style throughout an entire career. He’s human, he had to burn out, and afterward eventually had to save energy and pick his spots. Although inconsistent after his greatest triumph, he did have great nights versus Moore & Barkley, a noble effort vs Hagler and a cracking little fight with Hagler’s cousin, Robbie Sims.

Sims was his half brother.

Taansend wrote: ↑23 Jun 2018, 00:37 In the lead up & during the first Ray Leonard fight Duran did everything to piss off Leonard. Called his wife a whore, stuck his middle finger up and so much more.

This was typical Duran behaviour.

In the Hearns fight he was so f*cking respectful. He touched gloves several times a round. I heard, after the fight, that he thought Hearns was a bit of a nutter "His eyes".

The Hearns fight was only a few months after his spirited effort against Hagler - who would later destroy Hearns.

Duran was no coward but against Hearns he was not the Duran that we all know. He fought like a man scared,

How do you view it?

Duran was terrified of hearns, he went to a witch doctor in panama because he was convinced hearns had some kind of hold over him.

To say that Duran was terrified of Hearns is untrue, in my opinion. Duran had just gone 15 hard rounds with Marvin Hagler, showing no fear at all of the middleweight great. Nobody terrified Duran. Yes, Duran was pissed off that he couldn't faze Hearns before the fight but no more than pissed off. Duran, a lightweight great who always loved food (and still does), filled out once he hit 30 and moved through the weights until he found himself tackling light-middleweights and even middleweights. It is to Duran's great fighting credit that only one of those bigger men proved too big for him. That man was Hearns.

bennie wrote: ↑25 Jun 2018, 08:07 To say that Duran was terrified of Hearns is untrue, in my opinion. Duran had just gone 15 hard rounds with Marvin Hagler, showing no fear at all of the middleweight great. Nobody terrified Duran. Yes, Duran was pissed off that he couldn't faze Hearns before the fight but no more than pissed off. Duran, a lightweight great who always loved food (and still does), filled out once he hit 30 and moved through the weights until he found himself tackling light-middleweights and even middleweights. It is to Duran's great fighting credit that only one of those bigger men proved too big for him. That man was Hearns.

Hello Bennie

But have you not heard the talk of Duran fearing Hearns? If so, do you discount it?

I've been hearing it since the 80s. Obviously I don't mean Fear like cowardice (like many so called fans throw about today) but he just had a thing about Hearns.

I remember reading one story about Duran being very uneasy about the famous Hearns stare.

I've never heard that Duran was afraid of Hearns. Why should he be? Hearns had failed to budge Italy's Luigi Minchillo (who Duran had beaten) and Murray Sutherland in his previous two contests. Before that he had outscored Wilfred Benitez in their 15-rounder to win the WBC title. There was every reason to believe that Tommy didn't punch as hard at light-middleweight as he did at welterweight. Duran simply couldn't make light-middleweight any more but he forced himself down to 154 pounds for the payday and ruined himself. Duran is reckless from the off against Hearns and the Panamanian, for all his ferocity, was never reckless. He knew you had to respect an opponent. He fought with his chin and paid the price.

In the brilliant Four Kings by George Kimball, Manny Steward is quoted as saying that Hearns always had an edge over Duran, that Duran would never try any of his intimidation tactics with him and was always very respectful around him. This wouldn't be fear in the usual sense of the word but it seems he was wary of him for him to change his behaviour around him.

I think that in much the same way, Holyfield always had an edge over Tyson.

Yeah I actually thought it was common knowledge Duran had 'issues' with Hearns.

Not Fear but he didn't try his normal stuff.

Yeh now its mentioned all the touching of gloves etc and the complaint when he didnt like something hearns done was very unduran like.I dont think duran feared anyone but he definatly wasnt comfortable around hearns.

bennie wrote: ↑25 Jun 2018, 09:13 I've never heard that Duran was afraid of Hearns. Why should he be? Hearns had failed to budge Italy's Luigi Minchillo (who Duran had beaten) and Murray Sutherland in his previous two contests. Before that he had outscored Wilfred Benitez in their 15-rounder to win the WBC title. There was every reason to believe that Tommy didn't punch as hard at light-middleweight as he did at welterweight. Duran simply couldn't make light-middleweight any more but he forced himself down to 154 pounds for the payday and ruined himself. Duran is reckless from the off against Hearns and the Panamanian, for all his ferocity, was never reckless. He knew you had to respect an opponent. He fought with his chin and paid the price.

It wasn't a rational fear.

In the biography on Duran, there are several members of his entourage who confirm that Duran had a fear of hearns.

Taansend wrote: ↑25 Jun 2018, 11:58 Yeah I actually thought it was common knowledge Duran had 'issues' with Hearns.

Not Fear but he didn't try his normal stuff.

It’s in the Duran book I read. I think it’s Hands of Stone but can’t remember. He was finding it difficult to maintain eye contact in staredowns. This was quoted from Duran’s people. They said he was indeed, scared of Tommy.

If you wanna know what happened in that fight read HIS book...he didn't train, was partying pretty hard.. and I love his quote "those damn lesbians!"
P.s. Duran feared no man.

Duran1970 wrote: ↑25 Jun 2018, 19:30 If you wanna know what happened in that fight read HIS book...he didn't train, was partying pretty hard.. and I love his quote "those damn lesbians!"
P.s. Duran feared no man.

He didn't train for many of his fights in the early 80's but his behaviour was off for Hearns

Taansend wrote: ↑25 Jun 2018, 19:57

Duran1970 wrote: ↑25 Jun 2018, 19:30 If you wanna know what happened in that fight read HIS book...he didn't train, was partying pretty hard.. and I love his quote "those damn lesbians!"
P.s. Duran feared no man.

He didn't train for many of his fights in the early 80's but his behaviour was off for Hearns

This. Again, like Tyson vs Holyfield, especially in the rematch where Tyson looked intimidated in the stare down and started very passively, until he lost the plot.

Roberto could read people. He knew the stuff he used on Leonard, who was a bit weak, wouldn't work on guys like Hearns and especially Barkely.

well Duran turned 33 years old around then so maybe "middle-age" was starting to creep in and he was loosing his "demon'
and was just naturally becoming more 'mellow" with age.
(as said in the classic 1970 movie PERFORMANCE )
anyway how mean exactly was he again fights after this one ?

Whenever Duran fought for a big payday he was shit in his next fight... post Leonard 1 and Hagler... should never have been in the ring for either of those fights..at least not at that time.even post Benitez and Barkley fights he looked terrible....he also was a slow starter and got caught cold early by a great puncher....

bennie wrote: ↑25 Jun 2018, 08:07 To say that Duran was terrified of Hearns is untrue, in my opinion. Duran had just gone 15 hard rounds with Marvin Hagler, showing no fear at all of the middleweight great. Nobody terrified Duran. Yes, Duran was pissed off that he couldn't faze Hearns before the fight but no more than pissed off. Duran, a lightweight great who always loved food (and still does), filled out once he hit 30 and moved through the weights until he found himself tackling light-middleweights and even middleweights. It is to Duran's great fighting credit that only one of those bigger men proved too big for him. That man was Hearns.

He might have been more concerned about Hearns. Hearns was a harder puncher than Leonard and Hagler plus he had huge height advantage than all of them over Duran.

Allegedly, Duran trash talked Monroe Brooks for the entire eight rounds of their bout in 1978. The word is that Duran was verbally insulting Brooks as the two boxed. Head stuff. Psychological warfare. I know this because Carlos Palomino discusses it on his youtube interview, which is fascinating.

As for Palomino, he claims that prior to his weigh-in with Duran in 1979, he expected interpersonal trouble from the Panamanian. I guess Duran had a reputation for intimidating opponents at the weigh-in. Palomino, before the weigh-in, told his manager that he wasn't going to stand for any crap from Duran, and that he was ready to push or punch Roberto if he had to. But, to Palomino's surprise, Duran was reserved and respectful at the scales. Duran even asked Palomino to autograph a photo of himself for his (Duran's son). Palomino was surprised.

When I heard this, I couldn't help but wonder if Duran's "nice guy" approach at the weigh-in was a subtle mental method of taking Palomino by surprise, just to disorientate him. I don't know.

As for Duran's attitude against Hearns, I honestly got the impression that Roberto was trying to toy with Hearns's head. It looked that way during the stare down. I thought I sensed Duran making some gestures toward Hearns during the first round too, as if to unnerve him.

Obviously the "Hit Man" was not intimidated or psychologically confused in any way.

Duran1970 wrote: ↑25 Jun 2018, 19:30 If you wanna know what happened in that fight read HIS book...he didn't train, was partying pretty hard.. and I love his quote "those damn lesbians!"
P.s. Duran feared no man.

He definitely would have shown respect to Briscoe and Monzon. Most definitely to Monzon.