greeter fighter - Duran or Ali

both have their obvious limitations but I believe Ali went out much better and therefore i nominate Ali as the better man

 

Duran was far more skilled. Ali was very skilled for a heavyweight.

 

Muhammad Ali ...because he actually beat the best fighters that he fought

 

What obvious limitations did Duran have? Bigger fighters were able to beat him on the outside but Buchanan couldn`t do that to him at 135, Buchanan had the best jab out of any fighter Duran fought according to Roberto but Ken`s jab wasn`t as long as Leonard`s or Hearns, no boxer wa able to out-box Duran at 135.

 

Duran beat Leonard and was fighting above his weight class against his best opponents.

 

Duran was more complete fighter. I rank him higher.

 

I think Joe Louis was the greeter fighter.

 

Big stiff idiots like Foreman and Liston

 

Oh Dear !!!!!

 

Duran was better and it ain't even close.

 

Frazier weren`t stiff.

 

I didnt mention Frazier.

 

He did work as a greeter for a little while, due to his IRS problems but I fail to see how he should be judged in his boxing greatness by this biographical tidbit, Jel.

 

Comparing competition, you could say Duran faced more versatile opposition; Leonard & Hagler and I thought did extremely well against Hags. You could also throw in Barkley.

Whatever competition was lacking in the lightweights, was there at welter & Middle. I still say Duran could have done more to beat Benitez

so while edge in competition goes to Duran, overall, Ali gets the nod because of his better overall record

 

Buchanan was one of the great lightweights when it came to tactics and skill. His intelligence made him very difficult to beat even though he wasn’t a very strong opponent. Sugar Ray Leonard was faster and stronger but Buchanan had tremendous skills.
Buchanan: He was tall, boxed well and his lateral movement was extremely good. Buchanan’s jab was difficult to deal with because he threw it on the move.
Buchanan: He was hard to hit cleanly. I was very young, lacked experience, and Buchanan had been world champion for a long time. A lot of people will expect me to say Wilfred Benitez or Leonard when it comes to defense but I wasn’t prepared properly for Benitez or the Leonard rematch. Davey Moore, who I beat easily, knocked Benitez out so there’s no comparison there. I was coming into my prime against Buchanan and he made me miss often.
At lightweight the opponents were much swifter on their feet and, back then, we were boxing in 15-round fights. Buchanan always kept on the move but I caught up with him eventually. That victory means a lot to me.
This is what Roberto told the ring mag.