P4P matchup 2: Roberto Duran vs Roy Jones Jr

Interesting fight would depend on a lot of factors. Roy is faster and I would say hits harder but he he has shown a weakness to being pressured which is a huge no no against Duran. Duran is hard to hit but he can be hit especially by someone as fast as Roy and while he does have a good chin, he has been knocked down and even out before. I think if he's able to take Roy's power he'll be able to do what he did to Leonard in Montreal but with Roy not being as good on the inside I think he beats Roy down and to a late knock out. If not then Roy knocks him out or wins a clear decision with Duran unable to do anything. Pretty much 50/50 fight imo

 

Roy Jones late rounds tko

 

If you’re talking about the Duran from Montreal at 168, then jones loses by way of homicide. Only Joe Frazier from the Fight of the Century could match the fire of intensity that Duran possessed for that fight. Jones had never had to dig deep before, and was already showing signs of being a prima donna. And now you’re talking about putting him in the ring against a same-sized man who was already considered an ATG, and that had the tenderness and compassion of a psychopath
Duran would make jones into his own personal McClellan and would follow jones to the hospital, mocking Roy and his family all the way there.
If you want to put a Montreal 168lb Duran into mythical matchups, then you need to put him up against Marciano, Louis from the schmelling 2 fight, and Ali. Not even Monzon and Hagler would want that smoke.

 

Holy mother of Jesus what a matchup. Jones is nicely suited stylistically, supernatural speed and evasiveness coupled with tons of stamina are great assets here and he also has monstrous P4P power at 168. Duran himself brings enormous all round traits to the battle and will be the aggressor. He's better equipped P4P than most elites to try and pressure Jones.

For me a fair part of it boils down to how they take each others P4P punches. I've never been of the opinion Jones had a weak chin based on the end of his first run. I think all the weight fluctuations and 15 years as a pro. Other greats were retired or retiring by then like Monzon and Hagler for example. By the same token it wouldn't have been granite either. There's also an outside chance Jones could surprise Duran with his power and slow his charges a bit. Jones has that speed which might even see Duran, as acutely aware as he was, not seeing the odd strike.

The matchup is insane. Duran is the one with less questions and guesses. I have a feeling he'd have to win by stoppage tho. I'd very mildly favor that while not being overly shocked if Jones could nab a decision.

 

I think Jones hence the Duran having to win by stoppage. I think his power on top of the elusiveness gives him the space to work his magic and build a lead.

 

Yeah that's where i am coming from. I don't think Duran would get at Jones anywhere near as well as he did against Leonard and Jones as i speculated may well put some boom on him coming in that brings out a bit more caution which would work in Jones favor. I don't think anyone's walking thru Jones punches at 168 all night.

 

Jones relied more on superhuman reflexes, but if you could get him in the ropes you could get in some good work. Duran was the smarter fighter who could make adjustments. His constant pressure and superior defense would befuddle Jones whose speed would be negated by Duran’s ring IQ, aggression and movement, much like the faster Leonard. I would take Duran by UD. 116-112.

 

Im going to go with the more proven figure which is Durán but I’d be nervous, especially if only over twelve rounds. Ultimately Durán is just the more proven guy.

 

My question is could Duan handle Roy's speed?

He handled Leonard okay and won a close competitive battle but was overwhelmed when he went up against the greater speed of Thomas Hearns.

I think Roy would be too much for Duran as he is just much higher up the evolutionary scale of fighters


The speed & elusiveness!

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Duran has never been in with this level fighter other than Hearns who as you recall, overwhelmed Duran with both hands blazing

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I still contend that Roy is an overrated fighter and I will die on this hill. I think Duran is a stylistic nightmare for Roy. He was a tidy technician, a skilled counterpuncher, and perhaps the most capable inside fighter ever. All of these would be horrible for Roy's wild swings and telegraphed looping shots. I don't believe that Toney came to win in the Roy fight, he simply never looked like himself on a fundamental level and was pulling his punches all night. Toney saw some of Roy's big gazelle shots coming from miles away but chose not to counter because Roy was well-connected as the HBO darling poster child. If a Toney who wasn't looking to win was still able to give Roy trouble with his scarce counters then Duran at the height of his powers would steamroll him. Roy was flawed technically and lacked the different dimensions to be a true ATG in the highest sense. I also have a lot of suspicion on the legitimacy of the Ruiz fight, who was also able to maul Roy inside when he tried. Duran was a much better inside fighter than Ruiz and I believe would stop Roy.

 

To my way of thinking, these are best two fighters of the last 50 years. If Roy uses his speed, movement and ring IQ he will win this by decision. Of course, if Roy makes mistakes and a natural 168 pound Duran hits him then Duran would win by KO. I have to go with Jones as long as he doesn't use a Ray Leonard in Montreal fight plan, which I don't think he would.