Which Three Lightweights Have Best Chance With Duran

Floyd, surely?

 

Barney Ross with a day-before weigh-in.

 

Camacho, Whittaker, Mosley, Beau Jack, Benny Leonard?

 

Benny Leonard with his ability to box and punch, Duran may have looked bad chasing guys but they could not beat him at his best just possibly survive. Many would give him a good battle but a fit Duran at 135lbs had it all

 

Whitaker for sure. I think he beats Duran outright.

Benny Leonard, from what precious little I've seen, seems to have the skills and experience and unflappability to hang with him just fine as well.

Ike Williams, perhaps?

 

Let me just take Mayweather out of that list.

He had four fights at 135 against Castilio, Sosa, and N'Duo. 4-0 1 KO. His first fight against Castilio looked like a loss and the rematch was not all that either. The other two were nobodies before they walked in the ring, and worse when they walked out. Prime lightweight Duran would have mauled all five of them.

Ross is interesting. He is fast and clever and could fight and he would have to against Duran. I do not think Ross is clever enough or has enough fire-power to keep Duran off. I am a big Ross guy but the fights I have seen of him, he exchanges far too much to out-punch Duran.

Whitaker cannot slip and dodge his way to victory over the equally slick Duran. I don't know much about Camacho or Mosley at 135 to give a thought. the way Mosley fights would have made him as tough a challenger as DeJesus was. I think that Duran that boxes can outbox Mosley. Beau Jack was a superb fighter with great power but I cannot see him cornering Duran. He is not going to outbox Duran.

Benny Leonard is a good choice because he can box as good as Duran and punch close to the same level. He is tough and fought plenty of tough guys. I would have to watch more film.

 

Beau jack
Pernell Whitaker
Benny leonard

 

Ike williams
Whitaker
And I'm surprised no one mentioned Henry Armstrong

Ross is good too
Ray robinson fought at lightweight too and he beat Sammy angott so he deserves consideration

 

I think you underrate Whitaker's ability hugely. I don't believe he'd necessaril;y have to simply play the "duck and dodge" game to beat Duran. At lightweight he was no weakling, and had a little bit of pop. Duran is in no way running over him at 135.

 

I know...I am huge fan of Whitaker. Just imagine Whitaker in with the Duran from the Buchannan fight? Sure Whitaker is going to slip punches and make Duran look foolish at times but, what about the times when Duran is connecting with leather? Is Pernell going to stop and bang with him? I think not. I think Pernell is going to get on his bicycle and try to get room. But, this is not 12 rounds, it is 15, and it is with one of the best punchers/boxers in history...especially at LW.

Take Duran from the second and 3rd Dejesus fight. I do not think that Pernell could keep away from the 2nd DeJsus Duran and I do not think he can outbox the 3rd DeJesus Duran. Duran is better or more effective at every part of the game aside from slipping and pivoting.

 

Leonard, Gans, Ortiz

 

Fair enough. Not really asking anyone to agree with me, and can see this side of it too.

I guess I'm just really uncomfortable with what I see as people putting Duran up on this pedestal of untouchability; sure, he looked great against Dejesus the third time around, and was deadly against Buchanan as well, but what about being tested the way he was against Lampkin? Who was Lampkin, after all? A skilled guy, sure, but only that. And frankly, the rest of his reign at lightweight featured rather sub-par opposition. Tough to gauge just how spectacular or unbeatable he was there. Yet, to say he was anything less than a god on this forum seems a crime.

I'm also not trying to suggest Whitaker try to slug it out with Duran when I say he "had pop." Of course he wouldn't do that. But I do think he'd give Duran something to think about if he just tried to rush in. The point is, Whitaker could do more than just slip punches.