Duran vs Whitaker , an All Time Clash ... Terrific Article

I think a priime 135 lb. Duran would have run over Whitaker. Just too strong and powerful.

 

Haugen, Ramirez 2, McGirt 1 & 2, Azumah Nelson
For the Nelson fight he threw close to 1,000 punches within 12 rounds. 100~ more than Duran did in 15 rounds vs Leonard.

I'm sure Duran had more power, but I was responding mostly to the notion of Whitaker being some defensive minded fighter. He threw, and threw a lot. Walked guys down, put a lot of pressure and broke guys down. Plus he didn't mind standing in the pocket with a slick inside fighter like JCC.

 

Whitakers workrate was outstanding and you wouldn't even realise he was getting so much work done.

 

Against those fighters Whitaker didn't have a lot to worry about what was coming back at him. The best fighter was Nelson and he was past it. He'd never, and I mean never throw that kind of volume of punches at Roberto Duran. Not to mention Chavez wasn't half the in fighter Duran was.

 

Then how would the judges have scored for him? Is that why he lost against Ramirez

 

Chavez was a very physical fighter and Whitaker actually looked stronger. Would be interesting to see how he would handle the physicality of Duran.

 

No, that was because of bribed judges.

 

It's very easy to think of defensive fighters as being weak, but there's ample evidence that Pernell was a busy, physically capable fighter.

Counter-intuitively, he won the fight (on a fair scorecard) with JCC cos he won the inside battle.

I do make a prime Duran the slight favourite over Sweet Pea, but the notion of Duran being too strong or too good does a disservice to how great Pernell was. I don't think he's getting knocked out and whilst Duran's ability to grapple and punch at the same time is elite, Pernell's jab, off kilter rhythm and ability to make fighters miss and counter tells me that Duran would have to bring his A game and not take Pernell lightly.

 

Whitaker was actually a pretty physical guy himself...not on Duran’s level of course...but he could get down and dirty when he wanted to

 

You beat me to it lol

 

No doubt. But in my opinion, Duran's a very different animal. We saw Duran's physicality overwhelm a very good fighter noted for his physicality......... Carlos Palomino...... At welterweight.
Same with his mauling of ATG Leonard at welterweight.
As good as Whitaker was at all faucets of boxing he wasn't on that level of physicality.
Sometimes I wonder if lightweight was actually Duran's best weight.

 

Sweet Pea was an incredible talent and he was impressive but in this fight Duran wrecks him.....unlike SRL Sweet Pea doesnt have the power to keep Duran off him and unlike JCC Duran was a more dynamic and faster fighter hand and foot....I think JCC and Duran is a great fight at 135 possible 140 due to styles, mean streaks, chins and destructive abilities

 

I always picked Pernell in this matchup and that will not change, but it would be the 1990 Pernell and not the 88, which was a more improved Pernell who knew how to pick his shots better and control the action after the Ramirez fight.

 

Whitaker ducked Lou Bizzaro his entire career for good reason....he never did fight him.

 

Chavez was certainly half the infighter Duran was. He was one helluva infighter himself as well.