FLOYD VS. MANNY: SHADES OF DURAN-LEONARD I?
Pittsburgh, PA– In the summer of 1980 at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, “Sugar Ray” Leonard put his spotless 27-0 record on the line against the animalistic brawling recent lightweight (135 lb.) champion Roberto “Manos de Piedra (Hands of Stone)” Duran, then 71-1. The outcome would determine not only supremacy of the welterweight (147) division but of the sport, with the decline of Muhammad Ali. As we now know, the contest would be Leonard’s lone loss in his prime because he chose to – or perhaps he was forced to – stand toe-to-toe with Duran, and he suffered a physical beating in a decisive, albeit competitive, defeat.
MANNY THIS GENERATION’S DURAN?
After yet another awe inspiring display this weekend, demand has reached new and greater heights for a showdown, not just for pound-for-pound supremacy, but for status among the all-time greats, between Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) and Floyd “Money” Mayweather, Jr. (40-0, 25 KOs). Interestingly, those who favorably view Mayweather’s status amongst the all-timers evoke memories of Leonard, and with his aggression and thirst for blood Pacquiao has the boxing world speaking of the Panamanian, perhaps the greatest lightweight of all time. While Duran came off as a wild carnivorous beast who was unleashed in the ring, Pacquiao may be his antithesis, a cute, warm and fuzzy smiling assassin, though just as lethal.
HOW DOES PACMAN COMPARE TO DURAN?
So violent that he probably considered monetary compensation as just a bonus while he beat the hell out of people, you can only imagine Duran’s reaction to watching the young gun croon one of the lamest pop ballads, “Sometimes When We Touch.” But having watched both destroy helpless victims, one can’t help but want to hold them until the fear in them subsides. (I couldn’t resist that one.) With Pacquiao, like Duran, it’s becoming evident that, at this point in his evolution, perhaps only a great like Mayweather can stand in with him – but can he?
CAN FLOYD FIND SAFETY AGAINST THE PACMAN?
Leonard tried unsuccessfully to withstand Duran’s assault in their first bout, and when he learned that he couldn’t beat Duran in a fight, he showed his genius in their return match by proving that boxing isn’t only about fighting. He showboated, danced and pot-shotted an ill-prepared Duran in their rematch until his frustration and embarrassment got the better of him. Yet, while Mayweather has much more experience than Leonard did in 1980, he won’t have that luxury of competing against an opponent with a vulnerable psyche; in fact, it’s Pacman’s unflagging love for combat that unnerves his competition.
SO WHO WINS, FLOYD OR MANNY?
The most important similarity between Duran-Leonard I and Pacquiao-Mayweather would lie in the aggressors’ lack of respect for the skills and defense of the Americans. Mayweather has his opponents beaten the minute they start pulling their punches, concerned about getting humiliated and pasted at once. Like Duran, Pacquiao has such confidence that it takes only the most skillful tactician to remove him from his element – that is, fistic warfare. Like Leonard, Mayweather has that capability, but the great thing about the potential of a Pacquiao vs. Mayweather classic is he’ll have to prove that to the Pacman.
Brian Gorman