30 for 30: Duran - Leonard

[Ron Swanson]

I've probably watched Duran/Leonard 1 more then any other fight save Chacon/Limon 4. I'm not convinced that Duran won.

I'm not convinced he lost it. It was a close fight. A lot more than people remember it to be. Both landed big punches. But Duran clearly hurt Leonard a lot more than Leonard hurt him

Yup I agree. I think the case could be made for either man. Its simply not as clear cut as many assume it to be.

I tend to agree. In the larger sense neither fighter was a loser that night. As for the scorecards it could have gone either way. I tend to think this is one of those fights that the judges could see more than the television viewers. Ray admits how hard that fight was for him. Maybe the judges could see that as well.

But there is also the possibility that how it was fought influenced the judges. Sometimes they score it towards the boxer if it's a boxing match or towards the brawler if it's a brawl. Some times unfairly. In this fight I think Duran was rewarded the swing rounds for his ring generalship and that seems justifiable. It's strange to say but I usually score it 8-7 Leonard but say Duran won the fight.