LAS VEGAS, NV, September 13, 2025 — What boxing is, and always has been, is a fight of reflexes… first and foremost. Unless, as a fighter, you can make the fight about something else, (or the owner of the reflex has a glaringly obvious weakness, like chin for example) which Duran did vs Leonard 1…. You’re going to lose.
One attribute can over come reflexes… but the owner of the finer reflexes has to generally give up that advantage in order to lose.
If a fighter knowingly acknowledges his inferior reflexes and makes the fight about another attribute… say ENDURANCE… (Interesting, note the DURAN within the word endurance) …you can level the playing field and overcome the advantage of reflex.
This is what Canelo didn’t do and didn’t prepare for.
He was willing to box but wasn’t willing to put his health on the line to win the fight.
Unlike Frazier vs Ali 1… for more recent example, neither did Fury do it vs Usyk.
Think Hagler’s “Silk Pajamas” quote.
It takes a sacrifice many fighters aren’t willing to negotiate with, to walk through the fire, and that’s the difference between today’s fighter and yesteryears fighter.
Next time someone tells you today’s fighters are greater than the past, tell them that.
100% Silk.