Throwback ThursdayThe Four Kings - an era when the best truly fought the best - in their prime - Duran, Leonard, Hagler and HearnsThis week is a look back at the trilogy between two of the four kings, Roberto '
Manos de Piedra' Duran and 'Sugar' Ray Leonard
There are books, documentaries, films and anything else you can think of on these two (and the Four Kings), made all the more famous for Duran's 'No Mas' decision at the end of their second fight. This was a real rivalry with two completely opposing styles both trying to implement their will on each other. It's what Mayweather and Pacquiao should have been!
If you're into your books then Hands of Stone by Christian Guidice and The Four Kings by George Kimball are well worth a read as is the Four Kings documentary
To understand the magnitude of their first fight...Sugar Ray Leonard was undefeated, 27-0, an olympic and WBC champion and seen to be the much bigger man compared to Duran who had moved up from lightweight having won and defended the WBA and WBC World Champion for 6.5 years. Duran was coming into the fight with a 71-1 record!
It was as big as it gets. The rematch and arguably one of the most famous fights of all time doesn't need much more to be said. The tough Panamanian was seen to quit in the ring although he says today he has no regrets, I'm sure he would like to rewind that one back. They did meet many years later to 'rewind' it but both were past their primes although it's well worth a watch.
Duran finished his career with a record of 103-0-16 (70KO's) and as a 4 weight world champion capturting belts at Lightweight, Welterweight, Middleweight and Super Middleweight
Sugar Ray Leonard finished his career with a record of 36-1-3 (25 KO's) and as a three weight world champion winning the WBC and WBA Welterweight title, WBC Middleweight title and WBC Super Middleweight Titles
If you haven't seen these fights, congratulations, you're in for a massive fucking treat!
Fight 1https://youtube.com/v/ZuGZVkYuHM4https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuGZVkYuHM4Fight 2 - No Mashttps://youtube.com/v/x7aChC6U3Kshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7aChC6U3KsFight 3https://youtube.com/v/QX5GnoLjPhchttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QX5GnoLjPhcI am Duran - Leonard Duran interviewhttps://youtube.com/v/BfHymlxsJlwhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfHymlxsJlw