19th Hole: The Readers Take Over

MONTREAL BRAWL (CONT.)
Sir:
Right on for the extraordinary article on the Leonard-Duran fight (June 30)! Right on for the breathtaking photographs (the spread on pages 14 and 15 actually caused my head to snap back)!

However, right off to the winner of the fight. I hope the Hartford Whalers, Connecticut's entry in the National Hockey League, take heed of Duran's bull, push and shoulder tactics—they need a defenseman who can smash awaiting centers out of the goalmouth—the way Duran did to Leonard.
JIM SHANNON
Bridgeport, Conn.

Sir:
I caught the Duran-Leonard fight on closed circuit and from what I could see, Sugar Ray could easily have beaten Duran had he fought like the Sugar Ray I saw before the Duran fiasco. I still can't understand why Sugar Ray fought Duran flat-footed for 15 rounds.

It has been written that Duran cut off the ring, put pressure on and didn't give Sugar Ray a chance to use his speed. That's a bunch of bull. From the opening bell in Round 1 Sugar Ray stood flat-footed and invited Duran to be the aggressor. At no time during the fight did Sugar Ray try to jab and move.

Should they fight again, I say Sugar Ray will make Duran look like an amateur. That is, if Sugar Ray uses his speed the way he should.
LOUIS T. EVANS
Baton Rouge

Sir:
Because of your excellent coverage of the Leonard-Duran fight, you are hereby forgiven for not having the New York Islanders on your June 2 cover.
GEORGE REED
Springfield, Ill.

Sir:
As I saw it, the "Brawl in Montreal" could have aptly served as an undercard to a heavyweight wrestling match. Although the bout was certainly exciting, it was marred by Duran's grabbing and shoving tactics, which were allowed by the referee.

In other fights I have witnessed, such "bullying" has usually resulted in the issuing of warnings by the ring official, and I cannot understand why it was permitted in this fight.

Additionally, Duran's behavior while awaiting the decision was virtually uncivilized, and certainly unbecoming to a champion. If the inevitable rematch is officiated more closely, the boxer with the most talent and class—Ray Leonard—will surely win. I, for one, am not entirely convinced that he lost this one.

Then again, I've never really been a wrestling fan.
STEPHEN J. LASKARZEWSKI
Naugatuck, Conn.