He would only be given a 12.5% purse split. He would have to agree to fight in Montreal, (in the same stadium where Leonard won his Olympic Gold). Leonard used his position as Americas golden boy, and boxing's number one draw,to go into the Duran fight holding all the aces.ĭuran would have to move up two full weight divisions. He didn't even drop a point in the entire tournament. Leonard dominated Olympic boxing like no athlete before or after.
One of Lady Libertie's greatest Olympians. The important thing to remember about Leonard was that although he was quite possibly one of the braver fighters in this great sports history, he was also one of the smartest. Rapidly approaching his 30th year, he realised time was short to cement his legacy, so shocked boxing by moving up two weight divisions to challenge the seemingly unbeatable 27-0 Sugar Ray Leonard.ĭuran was surely too old, too small, and too bloated to challenge possibly the greatest Welterweight of all time, at his peak, at his own weight right? Duran was 72-1, and already a boxing legend. A lot of answers can be found within 'The Brawl in Montreal '.
