no I am not a Duran hater. I do not overrate him tho. He is great, but still his wins are overrated and his losses ignored.
top 3. He was dominant in a division where he was clearly the only real great at the time. Would have been much different with guys like Mayweather and Whitaker whom he would have lost to stylistically.
Well you know that's arguable, you sure yourt not rating the post lightweight Duran at lightweight against those two. I'm not saying he's a def against them but he was a lightweight who stepped up at 30 and beat good champ Palomino and Leonard fight 1 at welter who I really fancied at the time stylistically. By the way I fancy both to give any great of the past major problems at lightweight specially Whitaker. I think both would struggle at lightweight against Chavez as would Duran.
problem is the post Duran at lightweight fought better guys who dealt with his style better than the guys at lightweight. Many guys say that Duran diminished and that is why he could not beat the guys like Leonard,Hearns,Hagler and Benitez, but I think it was the level since he did not fight that level at lightweight. I know he beat Ray, but as people out here know, I think Ray fought his fight the first fight.. And still Ray did not lose too badly. I agree, Chavez would be tough for anyone at lightweight. Stylistically Duran might not do too badly against Chavez. Chavez might have to turn to boxer because that would be tough for him. And I did see Chavez turn to boxer a few times which surprised me. What a war that would be.
the Duran fans would like to say he almost beat Marvin, yet Marvin just had to pour it on a little and won the last rounds and the fight. Also, Duran lost easily to Benitez a year and a half before Hagler. Had he beaten Hagler, Hagler would not have been seen as great and Duran still would have lost to Benitez and Hearns, since he would have had to fight Hearns next and lost early. Fact is Duran only beat one great fighter, who then beat him easily in the next two fights. Duran is great, but overrated. If guys fought his fight he looked invincible and was, but if someone who knew how to elude punches and fight thier fight Duran did not do as well. Pernell and Floyd would have been big problems for Roberto at lightweight.
I don't think he could have decisively beaten Hagler when he fought him. Maybe the Duran of Montreal has a better chance, but Hagler in his prime is just too big for Duran.