If Duran didnt exist...

[klipsch speaker]

Answer me this people...

1. Would Sugar Ray Leonard become the great fighter that he was?
2. Would Esteban De Jesus become an ATG?

I really believe I would get better responses here than over there at NSB...

Thanks!

[BennyST]

Don't know about Ray Leonard, I think he would have anyway, but De Jesus would definitely be known as a legendary LW. He already is although slightly overlooked.

I'll tell you something though. If Duran wasn't in that era of LW's then, even more so than De Jesus or at least as much, Buchanan would truly be known as one of the greatest LW's of all time. Easily in the top ten or higher. He has a brilliant record and was a truly stunning fighter who was sadly overshadowed by the force of nature that was Duran.

Sad, because he was one of the most underrated fighters in recent history. See? Even you overlooked him!

[wmute]

Answer me this people...

1. Would Sugar Ray Leonard become the great fighter that he was?
2. Would Esteban De Jesus become an ATG?

I really believe I would get better responses here than over there at NSB...

Thanks!

1. Yes, he would still be great. But I do think fighting Duran made him a better fighter than he would have been otherwise.

2. Don't know about ATG, but no one would call him a bum/nobody, like some people do now. As Benny points out De Jesus and Buchanan would have been excellent champions at 135 through thr 70s.

[Terry A]

I always thought of Duran's DeJesus of being like Carlos Monzon's Rodrigo Valdez....very good fighters who were beaten only by the super elite. That they gave the legends trouble is validation of their skills.

ATG...To me that means top 10 lightweights of all time. No, not with the rich history of the 135lbers.

And yes, Ray Leonard would still have been a great fighter, what with Benitez, Hearns and et all on his resume.

[BG_Knocc_Out]

I think Ray Leonard would still have probably been a star, but those first two Duran fights were a very good experience for Ray to learn from, which he did, and helped him on later in his career.