30 for 30: Duran - Leonard

[Beanflicker]

The phrase "he beat himself" is one of my biggest pet peeves. Boxing comes down to a lot more than skill. You need heart, determination, durability, and DISCIPLINE to go with it. That all gets factored in.

Saying "ohh well he only lost because he wasn't in shape" is, to me, the same as saying "ohh he only lost because he has a glass jaw" or "he only lost because he doesn't have heart." Who cares? Showing up in shape is part of being a great fighter, the same way the ability to take/throw a punch is. If he never showed up in shape than that for sure detracts from him as a fighter.

And this notion that he peaked in the first fight and then was washed up 6 months later... pure nut huggery. He got outboxed by a better fighter. Was he washed up when De Jesus put him on his ass and beat him in New York?

He looked fined a few years later when he was fighting with benitez, or beating the hell out of Cuevas and Moore at higher weights, or fighting compeditively with Marvin Hagler.

He wasn't washed up. He got completely bitched out in his prime by a superior fighter.

[armin]

I got no problem when a dude quits ain't me getin beat, was stupid in durans case but I don't fault a dude for quitin not like we don't ever turn in half assed work ...I'm a fan of espns 30 for 30 but have yet to catch this one