Go back and watch more Sweat Pea. And in all confidence, I met that guy and really disliked him. He was a complete *sshole. But he was a brilliant fighter. I would give Pac the best chance of those you listed, but not much of one.
Seen plenty of him and I gave those guys "a decent shot". Meaning I wouldn't put money on it, but I can see it as a possibility
I wouldn't say decent. I would say better than the average and the average was scant to nil. Whitaker was awfully, awfully good at his best. Nothing really to argue more. And I respect your opinion.
Roger Mayweather - who wasn't an all-time great and not even a lightweight champ - had Whitaker down in their fight at 135. Whitaker didn't fight any ferocious punchers at lightweight. The best punchers who fought in that weight class over the years certainly could've hurt and stopped him - if Roger could put him on the deck. Duran, Pacquiao, Arguello, Corrales ... hell I'd even give guys like Andy Ganigan a faint shot at bombing him out. After Mayweather hurt him, seems like they tried to steer Pernell away from the really big punchers in boxing until his career was nearly over.
This is way over the top. Guys like Mosely, Duran, JCC, Pac etc, definitely had a chance to get him out of there. Whether they would or not, is speculation but to say they had next to no chance is ridiculous. I happen to think that Duran would at least win a decision against him, and depending on how the fight unfolded, he could very well get the KO. And Pac is a speed merchant with power that comes at you in unconventional ways, he only needs to land once cleanly to hurt Whitaker than it's likely the beginning of the end for him.
I don't think people today really appreciate how incredibly good and hard to hit cleanly Whitaker was. He was the greatest defensive fighter of his generation and second place was a very distant place. Didn't help that he was a southpaw, had great upper and lower body movement and a really unique coordination between the two. I simply can't name a better defensive fighter, tho there are likely some equals. He is still underrated.
I would think Pac-man would have the best chance. Blinding speed, raw power and a southpaw who threw straight punches to the body. He always had good success with his 1-2-1 combinations especially when the 2 went to the body, not a particularly slippable punch, tough to defend and because they were both leftys Whitaker wouldn't have the same distance as he was used to working with, combine that with the way Pac threw his jab with such power without having to deal with the "crossed swords" that accompany an orthodox southpaw matchup. I think he could wear him down and MAYBE stop him late.
Duran would be the only one i'd throw in with a chance. I see him as the GOAT 135 and he was quite intense at his peak.