Duran and Leonard of their thriller from June 1980. Photograph by Give attention to Sport/ Getty Pictures
For a couple of cause, you can also make a case that it was the best triumph in boxing historical past.
On June 20, 1980, Roberto Duran claimed the Ring and WBC welterweight titles by scoring a 15-round unanimous determination over Sugar Ray Leonard on the Olympic Stadium in Montreal. The official scores have been 148-147, 146-144 and 145-144.
Why was this win so huge?
The beforehand unbeaten Leonard was a 9-5 favourite and regarded by many because the most interesting fighter on the planet.
Duran, the previous undisputed light-weight champion, skipped the junior welterweight division and moved direct to 147 kilos in early 1978. He turned the primary fighter since Henry Armstrong to win light-weight and welterweight championships.
The naturally smaller Duran took the battle to Leonard and exhibited talent ranges up shut which have not often if ever been bettered.
The battle was a never-to-be-forgotten basic and each males went to near-otherworldly lengths in pursuit of victory. The 2-way motion was so ferocious that each one three judges has a tough time separating the fighters on the scorecards. Angelo Poletti, extremely, scored 10 rounds even. Raymond Baldeyrou scored 5 even. Harry Gibbs scored 4 even.
Duran took his report to 72-1 with the best victory of his profession. Leonard dropped to 27-1.
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