Duran legacy?

[Dark Lord Al]

In the 70s Duran was a monster, a phenomenon, he just got better and better.

Some of us suggest he peaked when beating Palomino; the majority say his first (big) fight in the 80s (Leonard) was his best; either way going into Montreal Duran was 72-1; the defeat avenged twice.

And then the King of Machismo (sorry Hector) quit in a fight he was losing but hardly being destroyed in...

Duran was finished, but he carried on, and frankly it got worst; Benitez beat him easy and then the quirky Laing embarrassed him.

At an all time low Duran was brought in as cannon fodder for Cuevas, but Duran defied the critics and beat the former champ, but many, perhaps rightly suggested that Cuevas was shot himself and a matchup with the new sensation Davey Moore would be the finale for Duran.

When the fight came Duran thought as well as he had for three years and dismantled the much hyped Moore in eight, a sort of redemption had been earned for Montreal, but still...

Duran then stepped up and fought the Marvelous One and gave him battle; well done hands of stone, a good way to finish... But no.

Hearns was next and he destroyed Duran, it was a little embarrassing, even more so in some ways than Montreal. Duran refused to call it a day though and things went downhill as Hagler's younger brother, Robbie Sims beat him; and sluggish wins over win contenders were not anything special.

But Duran had a name and Iran Barkley coming off the first win over Hearns needed a body, Duran fit the bill. The hope was Duran would lose with a bit of dignity, but he stood little to no chance over the primed Blade.

And then it happened; Duran fought as good as he had for six years and finally redeemed himself after Montreal, winning a brutal war.

And that is why I think only Robinson, Armstrong and perhaps Greb are better fighters pound for pound in the history of Queensberry Rules boxing.

And lolenga mock ?

[Britkid]

And lolenga mock ?

I stand corrected; the man who as glorified Super Middleweight floored and would have beat the greatest Heavyweight of our lifetimes; if Haye was not fighting at home; and who then beat an ancien... sorry, able former world champ in Charles Brewer is clearly up there with Robinson!

[Spicoli]

His legacy was cemented before and after Lawlor and honestly the 'tko' was as much a result of taking it for granted and coming in fat, year and half out and out of shape as it was anything Lawlor did. They shoveled Lawlor in as they had sparred and fought exhibition prior and thought he knew his role so to speak. Was watching him waddle around and beat up no hopers like Heath Todd and Wilbur Garst any less a tarnish on legacy. Or get absolutely massacred by Joppy in a fight he had ZERO business being in. Seriously one of the saddest fights I've seen. Whatever the case it brought Lawlor a second career and more cash than he knew what to do with. The best thing to come out of that night was a poem Lawlor wrote about it and the sport from a journeyman's pov, at 3:30 or so https://youtu.be/kCrK_I6Y8dk

[THE THIRD MAN]

When Duran fought Leonard the first time he was 72 - 1 - 0 over a 12 year period. It was the final time we saw Roberto Duran at his peak. He had major weight problems, he skipped 140lb and went straight to 147lb to fight Leonard. It was a remarkable performance. Ego got the better of him and instead of making Leonard sweat it out and wait a year for a rematch he foolishly agreed to another fight just 5 months later, it was an insane decision, but let's remember where Duran comes from. He probably had never seen so much money in his life. He was 40 years old when he fought Lawlor and at 168lb was old, tired and a shadow of his former self...he fought on way past his used by date and that was probably the Hagler fight. The Hearns fight was definitely the finish. He is the greatest Lightweight champion of all time and that's his legacy.