Duran and Chavez are often considered some of the greatest fighters pound for pound of all time. Both are pressure fighters, but I have always maintained that Chavez hit harder. Chavez may have stopped or Koed many of Durans opponents. IE Buchanon, De jesus. Opinions?
For me it's Duran for one punch power and he carried it up better than Chavez did also. Who can 4get the 37 yr old Duran dropping a top shape Barkley who probably weighed about 180 on fight night.
Agreed robert, Duran visibly hit harder with one punch imo. He often gets labelled as being an attritional-type puncher even at 135 but I'd disagree I think. It didn't take many clean blows for him to hurt an opponent and have their legs going at lightweight, and he usually finished people quickly when they were. Very, very hard hitter. It's a controversial opinion to some, but I'd rate him on par p4p as a puncher with the likes of Olivares, Zarate, Gomez, Trinidad, Napoles etc in their best weight classes. Chavez hit hard but was definitely a cumulative puncher, more debilitating than concussive. Wore people down more gradually, though he stopped some tough guys to be fair.
Duran was a big puncher at 135, absolutely. He still had enough sting even at 147 to stagger SRL, who had a very good set of whiskers. Chavez is powerful too. He threw hard punches consistently at his finest. Body, head, left or right. Duran for me is the harder puncher. Chavez however is not to be scoffed at.
Duran did stop DeJesus and there`s no way Taylor could`ve taken Duran`s punches for 12 rounds, Ray was a lot tougher than Taylor so he could go 15, the left hook that hurt Ray in Montreal was harder than any shot that Chavez ever threw, JC never hurt a welter as tough or of the quality of Ray plus Duran decked a middleweight in Barkley who would have blown Chavez away at middle, Duran also overpowered a light middle world champ in Davey Moore.
I would have to agree that Duran carried his power up in weight better. Chavez would not have had the success Duran had against Barkley. This is a solid argument and I have changed my mind on this now.
Roberto moved up better than Chavez. Chavez is a naturally smaller man than Roberto is, who later carried probably near 250 pounds. I doubt Julio could.
Duran won the the "Equine Championship of the World" that evening: “Yes, it's true I once knocked out a horse. It was at a fiesta in my mother's home town of Guarare. Someone bet me a bottle of whiskey that I couldn't do it. per Roberto Duran” https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/roberto_duran
Duran had the heavier hands or more snap, he could change up speed & become explosive. Chazez could hurt you with both hands as well but was more of a wear you down type. Duran was vicious
This shouldn't even be a debate. There's NO case for Chavez hitting harder than Duran. None. Duran had far more power.
Agreed they were different types of punchers and fighters they were both apex predators but I see Duran as more of a stylist where Chavez was a more subtle fighter....both were ruthless and at 135 I see this fight as spectacular brutality with style watching Duran work on the inside perpetual motion and superb defense would have been terrific to see against Chavez's short body shots, punching and masterful subtle defense. Duran's longevity and style carried better to higher weights and a longer career against world class caliber opposition through to his highest weight