Immediately after quitting against Leonard, Duran came up with an excuse that he quit because he had stomach cramps. I knew it was nonsense and that a real champion doesn’t ever quit. It was not fair to Sugar Ray, since the press was reporting Duran’s claims as if they were factual. Ray wasn’t really the champ some claimed since poor Roberto had eaten too much before the fight and had a tummy ache. What a damn joke!
Sugar Ray had proved his greatness to me that night by getting into supreme condition and beating Duran fair and square. He had repeatedly nailed Roberto with solid right hands, stayed off the ropes and boxed effectively throughout. I didn’t care what the press reported. To me Duran had quit because he was losing and being embarrassed and couldn’t handle it. The bottom line was Sugar Ray Leonard was the new WBC welterweight champion of the world, while Duran went home to Panama to a country that was ashamed of his cowardly performance.