The Brawl in Montreal - who would defeat Duran on that night?

Jose Napoles W15 Roberto Duran with two knockdowns...in rounds 3 and 10.

 

Roided Mosley would give Duran all he could handle with that speed, power and strength.

 

I never saw Mosley as being able to beat Duran. Floyd yes.. Pernell yes.. Mosley no, just because he stood close and he did have great speed , yet still anyone who fought Duran like that is going to get outmaneuvered and suckered into a fight and then get hit with that big right he had which still had power later. Wilfred Benitez and Ray Leonard and Tommy Hearns show that Floyd and Pernell's style could beat Duran, but Mosley would be a tough.

 

Floyd over Mosley in terms of beating Duran? Hm. I really don't see that. In terms of strength and power and speed Mosley rules the day.

Duran would be favoured but I'd throw cash on Sugar3

 

I cannot see Duran beat Floyd with Floyd's safety style. The fact Floyd would not engage would be a good think. Duran had quick hands, but his feet were not the fastest. He kept them wide apart, and if a fighter moved and made him chase, Roberto looked like he was plodding along. I can see Floyd moving and when Duran gets him on the ropes Floyd does the flurries or fast counters which Ray did and moves out. Same strategy. Floyd could do that. Not fight inside and keep Duran plodding forward and when he gets close in ring center counterpunch and keep moving. Don't try to hurt Duran, try to score points. I don't think Shane could do that. Shane would be fast, but still be in Duran's punching range, which is not good with Duran. Guys who beat Duran had to keep him walking forward.

 

I know it is just my opinion but I think Floyd can beat Duran because he moves on his feet much better than Mosley could. Mosley had more power, but guys with power or who relied on it usually came up short with Duran. Mosley would hit him, but eventually I think Duran would take over in the mid to late rounds. Hearns beat Duran with power and speed. The speed was always Duran's weak point. He never could deal with elite speed and foot movement. Look what happened to Barkley, who was so much stronger than Duran.

 

I see your point, and it would be a great fight. It just matters if Shane can hurt Duran. Duran was deceptive when it came to fighting on the inside. He could deal with a fast handed guy since even if the guy outlanded Duran, or a heavy handed guy by moving his head and riding with punches and then countering on the inside. That is where he was a master. When he was in range with his hands. But Duran's foot movement when moving forward was not great and it looked like plodding. He could not move forward well and handle his opponent giving angles and pivoting out. Duran would move forward in a rocking motion almost trying to hypnotise his opponent and do small feints but against a fast guy it never worked well. Leonard fought perfect against him. Move move move and make Duran plod. Then Duran gets close hold him and do a quick punch out and keep moving. Duran spent most of the fight plodding.

 

even at lightweight Duran would plod at times, but he usually caught up with those guys who were not close to Leonard or Benitez quality.

Floyd probably would not flurry like Ray did, but he would hold and land a punch and get out and move. And win by points. Floyd would do more what Benitez did, but then get out of off the ropes after exchanges. Wilfred didn't spin out of the ropes much. I was surprised Wilfred didn't pivot out as much and didn't use his legs much, which is even more surprising how he beat Duran so easily with upper movement and fast hands. Duran did his plodding walking style before and after Leonard. You know what I am talking about. Duran did this throughout his whole career against Dejesus and Buchanan.

 

I pick Floyd not because Floyd is greater, and Floyd would never fight a quality like Duran, but stylewise Floyd moving and making Duran walk forward takes away Duran's momentum .

 

Benitez, Leonard, and DeJesus all had shades of Floyd's style, and they all beat Duran.

Floyd doesn't have that kind of knock against him. He had a close fight with Castillo while injured, which I scored for Floyd.

I feel like it takes less imagination to pick Floyd in the matchup.

 

I respect your opinion Mag. It sure is fun to envision, especially Mosley/Duran at any weight.

 

Floyd gets cornered by Augustus, Chavez, Cotto, Hatton, De La Hoya, Castillo, and somehow Duran is going to have problems getting inside on Floyd? Laughable.

 

thank you. Same here. I agree these are greats fights. If we could only put these greats fighters in the ring with each other. Can you imagine Spinks vs. Foster at 175 prime? Mosley would be a great match with Duran. I just don't know what would happen. Shane in his prime would be hard for anyone to beat.