30 for 30: Duran - Leonard

[Violent Demise]

I thought it was very poorly done there's just so much more to it other than the typical ESPN contrived emotion but I still loved it. As a Duran fan I've tried to buy all the excuses but no mas. It's so clear that being more of a man than Ray was essential to Roberto. He simply knew he wasn't going to win and he wasn't going to give Ray the opportunity to beat on him. I wish he would just say "I didn't have it that night, that night he was the better man" but he just won't give that ti Ray. Oddly I've always hated Ray because he seemed to have it all given to him. Over the years I've softened on that and I'm getting close to considering myself a fan.

He was wrong. The fight was still within reach. He was only down by 2 points on 2 cards and 1 point on the other. With 4 rounds to go he a chance.

[Ron Swanson]

I thought it was very poorly done there's just so much more to it other than the typical ESPN contrived emotion but I still loved it. As a Duran fan I've tried to buy all the excuses but no mas. It's so clear that being more of a man than Ray was essential to Roberto. He simply knew he wasn't going to win and he wasn't going to give Ray the opportunity to beat on him. I wish he would just say "I didn't have it that night, that night he was the better man" but he just won't give that ti Ray. Oddly I've always hated Ray because he seemed to have it all given to him. Over the years I've softened on that and I'm getting close to considering myself a fan.

He was wrong. The fight was still within reach. He was only down by 2 points on 2 cards and 1 point on the other. With 4 rounds to go he a chance.

Certainly on the cards it was within reach I agree. But that's not really what I'm alluding to. Not trying to steal any glory from Ray when I say this but I think Roberto knew full well he didn't have it all when he entered the ring. I think making weight hurt him. He went out there to give it a shot, when he tired and Ray made it look so easy in the 7th he knew Ray wasn't going away and he was defeated already. His eyes between rounds had no fire. He willed himself out in the 8th but wasn't going to let Leonard make a fool of him. That's why he wanted the immediate rematch. People think that was about the money but he really wanted a shot when he was at his best. You don't need much money to live like a king in Panama. Dude just didn't have it that night. It would have only gotten more onesided.

[Violent Demise]

I thought it was very poorly done there's just so much more to it other than the typical ESPN contrived emotion but I still loved it. As a Duran fan I've tried to buy all the excuses but no mas. It's so clear that being more of a man than Ray was essential to Roberto. He simply knew he wasn't going to win and he wasn't going to give Ray the opportunity to beat on him. I wish he would just say "I didn't have it that night, that night he was the better man" but he just won't give that ti Ray. Oddly I've always hated Ray because he seemed to have it all given to him. Over the years I've softened on that and I'm getting close to considering myself a fan.

He was wrong. The fight was still within reach. He was only down by 2 points on 2 cards and 1 point on the other. With 4 rounds to go he a chance.

Certainly on the cards it was within reach I agree. But that's not really what I'm alluding to. Not trying to steal any glory from Ray when I say this but I think Roberto knew full well he didn't have it all when he entered the ring. I think making weight hurt him. He went out there to give it a shot, when he tired and Ray made it look so easy in the 7th he knew Ray wasn't going away and he was defeated already. His eyes between rounds had no fire. He willed himself out in the 8th but wasn't going to let Leonard make a fool of him. That's why he wanted the immediate rematch. People think that was about the money but he really wanted a shot when he was at his best. You don't need much money to live like a king in Panama. Dude just didn't have it that night. It would have only gotten more onesided.

Yeah it would of got more one-sided. But I don't think it wasn't that he didn't have it. I think it was more that he hadn't prepared right. Duran always felt he could out fight Leonard in his sleep. And that's what he was expecting. A fight. He trained for a fight. He didn't expect Leonard to box him. That's what threw him off. Duran had dealt with boxers before. He knew how to cut the ring off and break a fighter down. But he hadn't train for that going into the fight. Frustration kicked in. And like you said he wasn't gonna let Leonard make a fool of him. Little did he know things would of actually been better for him if he would of just stood in there for the the whole fight

[IamInuit]

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

[Violent Demise]

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

[IamInuit]

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.

[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.

[Violent Demise]

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.

Perception played a big part. Duran looked liken he was the boss the whole fight. His mannerisms and the way he bullied Leonard helped him out. Even in the rounds Leonard won it always looked like Duran was in charge.