BoxRec

Exactly 45 years ago on a Friday night like today in Montreal, Canada, Roberto Duran takes the WBC and Linear World Welterweight crown from the magnificent Sugar Ray Leonard in one of the 20th Century's greatest fights of all-time.

It was indeed Duran's greatest win and finest hour in which he and Leonard gave the world an unforgettable performance. It was the beginning of the decade of the 80s super fights.

Friday night of June 20, 1980

A night people won't forget.

Your thoughts and comments.

I backed Leonard to win. I was psyched out of my mind for this bout. Great, great memories for me. I had Duran by 2 points on cctv, but i had him by 5 points on the television replay.

The atmosphere is incredible when Roberto enters the ring. He plays to the crowd too. Fantastic. I still have no idea how he beat Ray but he did. Greatest performance in the ring I've ever seen.

To me, the greatest performance in the ring of all-time got to be Smokin' Joe Frazier victory over The Greatest Muhammad Ali. Smokin' Joe fought his ass off in that night at Madison Square Garden.

Second, to me, it's Roberto Duran's win over the magnificent Sugar Ray Leonard. Two phenomenal boxers going at it toe to toe for 15 rounds. It was an incredible fast paced bout. The conditioning, the skill, the endurance and the technical prowess could not be ignored. I was surprised at Duran's head movement. He wasn't an easy target to hit. I think Sugar Ray was surprised at Duran's speed and elusiveness.

It was surely and truly Duran's finest hour. The fight that made him a true all-time pound per pound boxing great.

It was Durans finest hour. No question about it. It would’ve been great to actually see him do it again in the rematch. The trilogy would’ve been fantastic. But, after Duran quit the next time out, interest in those two continuing their rivalry dissipated.

Expug wrote: ↑21 Jun 2025, 16:37 It was Durans finest hour. No question about it. It would’ve been great to actually see him do it again in the rematch. The trilogy would’ve been fantastic. But, after Duran quit the next time out, interest in those two continuing their rivalry dissipated.

Totally agree. Duran got high on his own supply, so to speak. He was never the same again.

Ezzard wrote: ↑21 Jun 2025, 17:14

Expug wrote: ↑21 Jun 2025, 16:37 It was Durans finest hour. No question about it. It would’ve been great to actually see him do it again in the rematch. The trilogy would’ve been fantastic. But, after Duran quit the next time out, interest in those two continuing their rivalry dissipated.

Totally agree. Duran got high on his own supply, so to speak. He was never the same again.

You cannot win all the time. Plus, it was a new decade. Your prime could only last for so long.

I agree that we never again saw that Roberto in Montreal. He was like a demon possessed. He was brutal, sharp and well conditioned. The best conditioned of his entire career.

Yet you only thought he won by 3 points against a guy who wasn't even a real fighter.

Ambling Alp II wrote: ↑21 Jun 2025, 18:17 Yet you only thought he won by 3 points against a guy who wasn't even a real fighter.

Here we go again.

Yep. You have said that he won by only 3 points in your own scoring.
You have said that Leonard was not a real fighter.
And yet here we are again with the he was a demon possessed etc.

Ambling Alp II wrote: ↑22 Jun 2025, 12:17 Yep. You have said that he won by only 3 points in your own scoring.
You have said that Leonard was not a real fighter.
And yet here we are again with the he was a demon possessed etc.

Duran in Montreal was magnificent!