Do you think Duran thought he'd have his handsfull against Benitez like that and lose

Benitez and Leonard were not styles Duran could beat if they fought their fight. This had nothing to do with Duran and being in shape or not. Give him a guy who stands in front of him in his range and he can beat him. But a great like Benitez will not be beaten at 154, a weight he fought I think almost his best.

 

Bruce Curry was not at 154 which makes me think Benitez had this window at 154 of fighting great in 1981-1982. He was almost fighting peak. After he lost to Hearns he moved up in weight, which was not where he should have been fighting. He needed the title to motivate himself.

 

Neither is the hypothetical match with Duran.

 

thing about it is Duran fought at 154 as early as 1978, before his fellow legendary opponents, Leonard,Hearns,Benitez fought at that weight. And those are the significant fights he fought post 147.. except for Hagler and a few others.

 

Duran fought well when he moved up, although that does not mean he was the greatest lightweight ever. That has to do with who he fought at lightweight. Pazienza fought at 168 better than I ever thought he would, it does not mean he was great at 135 or 140. He lost sort of easily to Roger Mayweather. Duran was great at lightweight, but not because of moving up succesfully is my point.

 

Not really... if SRL could hurt Hearns to the stomach... Duran certaintly could as the better body puncher and all. If a prime hearns and duran fought 10 times.. people act like all ten would go to hearns.. NO way no how.. With hearns chin.. Duran would test it.. and if he hurt him.. it's game over.

 

Don't necessarily disagree, but to be fair to Ray, he dug hooks to the body as well as anyone.