Interesting how Menelaos’ presence in the duels in both books 3 and 7 has the effect of creating a hierarchy of strength and bravery:
Book 3’s duel tells us: Menelaos is stronger than Paris, and Paris is fearful of Menelaos (and only fights him owing to pressure from Hector).
Book 7’s duel tells us: Menelaos is weaker than Hector but not afraid of him (and is only restrained from fighting him by Agamemnon), while Hector is stronger than Menelaos, but somewhat weaker than Aias, and a little afraid of him.
I guess we knew these things anyway, but not so clearly defined, and it’s an interesting authorial choice to have Menelaos be the one who first challenges Hector.
Perhaps the real point is to draw a contrast between Menelaos, the lawful husband, and Paris, the seducer and usurper: the former is unafraid to fight, as a matter of honor, even a person better than him, who would surely defeat him; while the latter can’t even face the man he wronged.
.i`` * ^ / . . . . . ` `~ 