Leonard will kiss the floor – Duran

Press, 26 November 1980, Page 42

Leonard will kiss the floor - Duran

NZPA-Reuter New Orleans Roberto Duran promises to make Sugar Ray Leonard “kiss the floor of the ring” while Leonard promises a change in tactics to win back the World Boxing Council welterweight title when they fight in New Orleans this afternoon (N.Z. time). Duran, a 29-year-old street brawler from Panama, won the title on a unanimous but close decision in a fight that earned Leonard about SIOM and Duran SI.SM. The rematch is even richer. Various figures have been reported, but Mike Traitner, Leonard’s attorney, said Duran is getting SBM and Leonard S7M. In the first fight, Duran controlled the tempo, especially in the early rounds, by bulling Leonard to the . ropes. It won’t be that way this time, said Leonard, who is known for fancy footwork and blazing hand speed. ' “I just found out I have ? a left Jab,” said Leonard, who feels he didn’t use his to- jab to full advantage in Montreat ‘Til just pace myself more carefully this time.” ft; “We’re going to fight him but this time later on when Ray’s taken the steam out of Duran,” said Leonard’s trainer, Angelo Dundee, who expects more movement from his fight,er.. The 24-year-old Leonard, whose loss 'to Duran was his only defeat in 28 pro-

fessional fights, has been content to forecast a victory, while vowing to make, better use of his swift left jab and footwork than he did in the first fight In that bout, decided by a margin of four points on the cards of the three judges, Duran dictated the flow of the action, while crowding Leonard into the ropes through much of the fight. “I think I’ve conquered my stubbornness,” said the 1976 Olympic. Gold medalist, in an allusion to his strategy of trying to slug it out with Duran at close quarters in. Montreal, a tactic which many observers believed cost him the fight . ._ “I don’t think he can do anything more than he did in the first fight,” said Duran. “If he does anything more, I’ll be ready for it”

Duran, winner of 72 out of 73 professional fights, has predicted he will knock but 'Leonard, while declining to specify a round. “All I want is a referee who can count from one to 10,” he said. Duran and Leonard will fight before a crowd that a fight publicist said will be between 45,000 and 50,000 and before fans .at 345 closed-circuit television, locations in the United States and Canada. The bout, which, is scheduled to start at 5.30 p.m (N.Z. time) will be shown live on Television One.-