Was Duran the Best PFP Fighter in both decades ( 70's and 80's)

70s Lightweight YES
80s WW/MW: up until the 2nd Leonard fight yes, but after that it was hit or miss.

 

Not even remotely close in the 80's. Far different story in the 70's tho.

Bracketed together which might be what you are getting at? Hmmmmm.

 

Best 70s lightweight and that's about it.

 

Ali's competition in the 70s was far far far superior than Durans. Duran's was ok, but not great.

 

He was the fighter of the 70s. The best P4P.

 

I cannot see how his resume was better than Ali's or even Foreman for that matter. He did well, but the guys he fought were not the level of Ali. I pick Ali..

 

For every great effort he had ( Leanard #1, Moore, Barkley even Hagler) he had some complete disasters (Leonard #2 and #3 , Benitez, Hearns, Sims and "gulp" KIRKLAND LAING") he had some moments during the 80's but wasnt top 10-15 of that decade.

 

Very true.

 

Duran fought some great fighters who also beat great fighters Ernesto Marcel, Esteban DeJesus 2x, Viuret brothers,Ken Buchanan, Sugar Ray Leonard,Carlos Palomino, Iran Barkley, Pipino Cuevas, Davey Moore, Duran had his share of losses but not always in the best of condition still he managed some great wins at other fighters peak and he was 72-1 after Montreal & the leonard win.

Thing is Duran was a 5"7 lightweight who then fought one of the best welterweights ever Leonard & Duran fought the great Hagler to a close loss. The Hearns fight was strike out but he went on the drop & beat Super Middleweight Champ Iran Barkley (who had 2 wins over Hearns) at the age of 38

He has a good argument

 

Duran beat Barkley at 160 tho obviously still relevant.

 

70s yes, 80s no.

 

Kinda like evaluating SRR in the 50's.