NONE of the fighters you listed are as good as Pea, nor do they bring the same things to the table as Pea. I won't even get into how well it was working for Taylor.... Point is, Pea was NEVER one to just take shots to the body and not use movement. So do you ACTUALLY believe the best version of Pea would actually take all the bodyshots from Chavez? Just don't see it.
While Duran is the only fighter I picked to beat Whitaker, let's just play devil's advocate here, because it's still a very close close fight for me. Here's why, I agree with your entire first paragraph for starters. Your second, I'm not entirely convinced with some parts of it. Namely, the mauling, holding etc etc version of Duran. It's funny cause, the version that beat Ken, and went balls to the wall, is close to the version I give the best shot to beat Pea. He'd rack up points and not let Pea get off as many counters in the process. However, Duran didn't fight like that as he matured as his skills increased. The version that is likely the better overall fighter against more styles, the more patient aggression with boxing more, isn't going to beat Pea that way. He's not going to win a fight against Pea trying to be the boxer puncher who's aggressive in spurts. Just don't see that working with a ring general like Pea, who's as fast with movement and counterpunching as Pea. Further, I know you were trying to say slick fighters aren't really a problem for Duran, but really, even if he had success some of the times against that style, most of his losses came against such a style. Or at the least, that is when he looked the most vulnerable. In Pea, he'd fight somebody as slick as he ever faced, and as good defensively as anybody he's faced. The other thing that isn't noted as much for Pea, was he had a bit of a tough gritty streak in him as well. He wasn't easily bullied, and he's stronger than given credit for, and he was never intimidated, so I don't see Duran's physicality being too much for him. That is what made him great, he could fight at all ranges when needed and do so with excellence and tenacity when needed. Yes Duran was quick, and that would serve him well against Whitaker, but Whitaker was still faster for my money at LW. Again Duran is the only fighter I picked, but I'm not as confident as you guess on him winning.
After a long think and re-evaluating a few opinions I've come to the following conclusions This content is protected Ike is all wrong for Pea imo, he'd line up that laser right hand and would eventually take Pea out. 60-40 fight in Williams favour. This content is protected For a detailed post see @Flash24's above. I pretty much mirror it, although Pea's jab, feet and speed would make it very difficult and probably a razor tight decision. 60-40 fight in Duran's favour imo. This content is protected That workrate just takes too many rounds imo, rough constant pressure with no respect for anything Pea is doing. I'd have Pea outboxing Mayweather, Leonard, Chavez and Gans. Arguello could possibly provide a few issues but he couldn't really catch movers well and would lose a UD imo.
Good points, and I agree with some . Especially about Pea's toughness, something I would be the 1st to give him credit for. And I didn't mention anywhere in my comment, or anytime here or on other sites Pea would get intimidated by Duran. So I don't know were you picked that up at. But my thoughts were mainly the pure physicality of Duran. And in my opinion that physicality would be the difference in the fight. The wrestling, holding and hitting, the speed and power of his attacks and the ability to sustain that style of fighting for 15rds. In my opinion would be too much for Whitaker. Whitaker was and still is one of my favorite fighters to watch. And in his prime he easily defeats most great Lightweights. But fighters like H.Armstrong , Duran , or Even A.Pryor you got to be able to discourage from coming at you. Whitaker for all his greatness and ability just didn't have that type of firepower. And fighters of that style would keep him in defensively oriented. And when were talking about speed and quickness along with power . Leonard at welterweight. But how much did that help him in Montreal? Duran wouldn't have a problem tracking and catching Whitaker, especially at lightweight.
Moseley to easy to hit, even in his prime at lightweight. Arguello didn't have the foot speed, Whitaker would keep him turning, nail him when he reset. Another thing In my opinion about Moseley and it was proven in all of his losses he was a one-trick pony. He wasn't capable of adjusting to an opponent in the heat of battle and go to plan "b" if plan " a" was taken from him. From Forrest to Mayweather Jr. All of his losses looked the same way. If he fought some one at lightweight that could force him to adjust, He in my opinion would get that same "deer in the head light" look he had at the higher weights in his losing efforts and not change tactics. At Lightweight fighting Whitaker he would need to be able to adjust. It wouldn't happen because it never happened at least not when he faced true world class competition. Whitaker beats Moseley convincingly.
I wouldn't favor Arguello, Rosario, or Mosley but they're all solid fighters at LW and they do have a puncher's chance against Whitaker. I would have loved to have seen Whitaker how he handles them, although I think he would have beaten them convincingly.
Prime Duran and JC Chavez would probably win a decision over him. But, he would be highly competitive all the way. They were so good at getting inside that I envision them outworking him. He could fight on the inside rather well so he holds his own. The prime 135 lb. Chavez of 87-88 was a lot better than the version Whitaker faced at 147 lbs. in 93.
Duran at lightweight could match Pea's speed and quickness. He was also relentless, he's not gonna stop throwing lasers. That right lead is a nightmare. Pea couldn't afford to misread even one of them.
