Quote:
Originally Posted by LegendBoxing65
Realitycheck, my point was that yes Duran did beat guys at Welt., Junior Middle and Middle, but he didn't beat the cream of the crop guys. The only great guy he beat in the 80s was Leonard, whom he beat because Ray fought the wrong fight.  HAd that fight really proved he was better, he would have won the rematch and the rubber match. And the next best guy he beat in the 80s you go way down a notch from Sugar Ray to Iran Barkley..   Iran was not exactly a great fighter. So just on the 80s Duran fought the best in Leonard,Hearns,Benitez,Hagler.. but he didn't beat them. And look what Hearns did to Duran 16 years before Duran retired. But yes back to Chavez.
Ok, let me get one thing straight.
Are you by anyway trying to put the great “Manos de Peidra” down, because if you are then please read on.
First of all this topic I’ve started has nothing to do with Duran please find title of the topic again for your ref:   J C Chavez or S R Leonard ?
What I’m about to say is a completely unbiased viewpoint, Yes, Sugar Ray did beat Duran, but how dare you take anything away from Duran’s performance in the “Brawl in Montreal” Duran was 30 and in all fairness he had established himself as one of the Greatest Lightweight fighters EVER, he moved up a weight division to challenge Ray Leonard when Sugar was at his peak or near enough, irrelevant of what fight Sugar fought, Duran beat him DONE. EVERYONE knows why Duran forefitted the returm match so I’m not going to go into that. Duran would party TO MUCH between bouts and the rest is history, their 3rd encounter I wouldn’t even class that anywhere, both fighters were way past there best especially Duran and the rubber was about 8 years to late. I would call there fights 1 each, Duran won the first fight at what he does best and Leonard the second at what he does best.
You say look what Hearn’s done to Duran, yes Hearn’s was the first and only person to KO Duran, he caught him Fair enough it could have been the other way around if Duran caught him first because we know Hearn’s has a weakish chin, but then look what Barkley done to Hearn’s and Duran knocked down and beat Barkley, so what does that say about Duran.
You try to make a point by saying Duran hasn’t beaten anyone in the 80’s, Duran fought anyone who was put in front of him, Duran had no business mixing it with the likes of Hearn’s, Hagler, Barkley and Leonard, but he did and he done very well, he beat Leonard, beat Barkley and he was the first and only person to take Hagler the full 15 rounds, and he only lost that match by a very narrow margin, infact Leonard has gone on record to say it was Duran’s performance against Hagler that showed Leonard the way to go up against Hagler.
Duran’s career was in 3 parts, Part 1 was from the beginning to the brawl in montereal, part 2 was from that night in New Orleans to his redemption against Davey Moore and then part 3 was him mixing it with the Middleweights, taking Hagler the full 15 and beating Barkley to win his 4th title.
Duran greatness and legend status is so much that when he SHOULD have retired he was still winning and knocking guys out, although the latter part of his career had mixed results, it was his greatness that ensured he was able to mix it up till when he did.
Sugar Ray had this habit of going into retirement when ever he felt like it, so therefore he didn’t have many battle scars and was able to keep fresher, call it what you want, clever or anything that’s what he done, I personally don’t think he beat Hagler and he didn’t deserve the decision against Hearn’s, but that’s my opinion.
Why put a restriction on just the 80’s – Duran is one of the greatest fighters EVER, in any all-time list he will always feature somewhere in the top 5 ahead of all the fighters you’ve mentioned.
Everyone knows when Duran fought in the 80’s he was not at his peak, but yet he still more than held his own, if he was in his prime and came to fight he was the closest thing to UNBEATABLE!
I’ll come back to you on Chavez!
