Name a lightweight you’d pick to beat a prime Duran

I love and respect Kenny but Duran beat Kenny pillar to post even though Kenny had his moments. And thats the only stoppage loss Kenny ever had. Plus, he was a great fighter. I don't know how that detracts from Duran's victory.

 

There were only 2: DeJesus in an over the weight non-title fight that Duran brutally avenged twice when it mattered. And probably the 2nd greatest welter ever in Ray Leonard, whom Duran had previously beaten at the end of his prime. Nobody else. And this thread is only about lightweights.

 

My apologies Scar. I stupidly responded to the wrong contri. Apologies

 

Didnt know that. Thank you

 

I know this is futile exercise because “Duran does everything better than everyone else”, so I doubt I will reply.

At the highest level I don’t think anyone is unbeatable. I would pick JCC. But I would also say Ike, Benny, Armstrong and Pac are all reasonable picks to beat Duran even if he was favored and I am not sure he would be...except of course in our very own classic section.

 

Avenged or not he was still beaten i don’t care about the little technicality DeJesus was a lightweight who beat him fair and square a little overweight or not it wasn’t Pac vs Margarito.

 

Don’t matter

 

Respect this post because it's so rare to see people speak positively about both Mayweather and Pacquiao, which I don't understand because I personally like both of them as fighters. I also agree with basically everything you're saying.

The only thing I'd offer as a counterpoint to be considered is that the post asked specifically about lightweight. Going off that point, Pacquiao only fought at lightweight once during his career (although it was a great performance against David Diaz), and I personally don't think any of Mayweather's best performances were at lightweight. This is opinion-based and can certainly be argued, but I consider Canelo, Corrales, Genaro Hernandez, and Marquez to be Mayweather's best performances when considering both level of competition and how Mayweather looked in the fight.

Pacquiao's style, combined with his speed and power, makes him a tough fight for anyone. Duran also fought very few top-level southpaws.

Everything you said about Mayweather is accurate. In the 2nd fight against Leonard, when Leonard used his movement instead of trying to beat Duran at his own game, Duran ended up quitting. Floyd was as good at fighting while on the move as anyone, in my opinion, and I think he would frustrate Duran.

Both Mayweather and Pacquiao would have had great chances in a hypothetical fight vs. Duran, in my opinion.

 

Not one to be honest. Whitaker though would have the best chance of pulling it off if Duran is not focused. Whitaker would also prove to be Duran's biggest threat even if he was prime and focused.
Whitaker would give Duran fits prime vs prime.

 

I mean, you may disagree but it's legit opinion. Mike Gibbons was excellent fighter.

 

Viruet
Mamby

 

With older rule-sets (and rule set should definitely be discussed here, but is forgotten as always) I would give Packey McFarland, Joe Gans and possibly Freddie Welsh as a few options with a higher chance in their era, especially in 20+ rounders. Though I'm still not sure they'd actually win!

 

Absolutely true, but the facts remain that Duran never lost at 135 or below and avenged his only loss below welter brutally on 2 separate occasions.

 

No one is unbeatable but there's no one who would be favourite for me v lightweight Duran, put it that way