Is Roberto Duran the most overrated fighter in boxing history?

Duran is one of the ATGs. You, of course, are 10 years old or VASTly ignorant.

 

OK,

71-1-61KO's at Lightweight. (Ruled the Lightweight division for almost 7 years. Only ten people went the distance during those seven years.)

Moved from 135 to 147. Beat Sugar Ray Leonard for the Welterweight title. Quit against him in the second fight but, before that he did beat him in a toe to toe war. So we know he did not quit because the going got to tough for him. That alone is enough to end this question..but we will continue.

Moved to 154 and won a title there by destroying the champion. At 160, Hagler in a recent Ring article said that Duran was the toughest fighter he ever faced. This is the same Hagler that fought in the Hagler-Hearns war. Moved to 160 at 38 and beat a tough, tough Iran Barkley in a fighter for the ages. Duran was a man who was in the top-ten at 126 rankings before he moved up to 135.

After reading that, I have a question for the poster who started this thread. Give me 15 fighters in boxing history that fought at this level. Give me 20. If you can, then I think that you are over-rating other fighters over Duran. If I see Mayweather's name before Duran I will not respond.

Thanks, standing by.

 

duran had serious skills...watch his fights when he was younger...

and duran was like wine...he gets better with age.....

 

Duran is overrated in the sense that his run as a lightweight has been greatly overestimated. It took this guy almost six years to actually unify the division, blatantly avoiding Rodolfo Gonzalez during his earlier years as a champion. He really didn't fight all that many proper contenders during the 70's, either. But ability wise, he was the real deal and could have beaten any lightweight in history and a lot of great welterweights, too.


By the way, the guy who said Hagler rates above Duran is smoking crack. The term 'overrated' applies a lot more to him than it does Duran.

 

I dont think he is overrated. In fact it seems he is very underrated here. He had losses against great fighters but so what. All ATG fighters have losses on their record. Ali and Robinson had losses to much lesser opposition and they are still ranked very high in all rankings.

 

yes he fought legends,but he lost to them convincingly.i can do that am i great ?

 

Duran beat Sugar Ray Leonard in a toe to toe brawl.You nor I or anyone else in the world at 147 in 1980 could have done that. Duran was the only contender beside Leonard to go the distance with Hagler. That is seven years of Hagler knocking men out until Duran stopped by. Leonard is the best out of the four and Duran beat him. Duran did this after ruling a lightweight divison for nearly 7 years.

We talk about his lighweight reign like anyone could have done what he did there. Please post me 5 lightwieghts that have a better record than Duran there. After that, show me that same lightweight moving up to take the Middleweight title.

BTW, DeJesus and Buchanan are Great fighters. DeJesus beat Duran, Guts Ishimatsu, Edwin Viruet, Ray Lampkin, and fought a with Antonio Cervantes. Buchanan fought a beat Laguna, Watt, and Ortiz. He was a certified great fighter. Him and Estaban would have had longer reigns if not for Duran. Duran moved up to welter and took care of Palomino and Leonard in short order.

Seriously, Mayweather best win is arguably Corrales and all I hear is how great he is. Duran took care of Buchanon, DeJesus, Viruet, Lampkin, Palomino, Leonard, Moore, Barkley. Titles at 135, 147, 154, 160. Not picking and choosing but fighting the best. Today's fan how bought this idea of undefeated is the true tale of greatness. If I fought guys who were tailor made for me, I would never lose as well. Does that make me great?

 

:deal

 

Somewhat but so are most all time greats.

 

If he hadn't beaten SRL in that first fight then he wouldn't be regarded as highly. For what ever reason that win against SRL is held up as a top 3 ATG win. SRL was a little green in that fight though.

 

seriously.

 

Threads like this are cancer to the sport of boxing and disrespectful to legends like Duran!