Arabmaffia (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

nice one. i didnt know sugar ray was only 24- tanks for the info

1288game (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

It's not necessarily the age of the fighter but the number of fights they've had at the professional level. Duran had more fights 69 or 70 at this time than Sugar Ray ever had in his career. Keep that in mind when judging greatness.

evol121 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

yep. he was 24 in this fight. duran was 29 so he werent past it.both in their prime.

evol121 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

duran said he quit becuz he felt srl hadnt come to fight in the 2nd fight. watch it again. he pokes out his toungue and acts like a clown. srl was great a fighter. but duran was a step above him.

Benjodnb (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

One of the all time great fights (and my personal favourite). A boxing rivalry only matched by Lamotta and "Suger" Ray Robinson.

K2ThaPhukkinC (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Yes, he deffinitly was, this is only 1980, and Leonard started his proffesional career after competing in the 1976 olympics. I don't think Leonard can be shot in his proffesional career after 4 years. Leonard lost because he never faught a fighter like Duran, so he studied him and beat him in the second fight. You can't really be prime Leonard against Duran, that's why Leonard faught a bit differently throughout the rest of his career and made him more successful.

K2ThaPhukkinC (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Being younger doesn't always mean your in your prime. Duran turned proffesional when he was 15 and before he was about 23,those were his golden years. He was faster,way stronger, and had quicker reflexes. In a sense Duran switched alittle bit of his style up when he got older, more noticably his defense and that he faught more inside where as his younger counterpart would be alot more aggresive and start punching trades. Get what I mean? A good example of a shot young fighter is Jeff Lacy.

stevieVantanna (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

thanks

RecordStr8 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Not so my friend, I would hardly call 29 being WAY past prime in boxing. Duran was 29, Leonard was 24, there was only a few years between them. These were just two legendary fighters.

1288game (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Duran was completely out of shape when he fought Benitez. If he would have been in half the shape he was for this fight he would have knocked him out!!