How would Pernell Whitaker have fared v Roberto Duran`s world title opposition?

LW = same other than he doesn't lose to De Jesus

WW = same other than he doesn't beat SRL

Above WW = becomes more difficult to assess as Whitaker had far fewer fights, less wear and tear and retired much younger. I doubt he loses to Laing and doubt he beats Barkley at MW age 37. Moore at LMW would be 50/50, imo.

 

Didn’t go the way you’d expect, did it?

 

He’d lose to some of them especially at the higher weights

 

I would rank Durán higher on accomplishments - & even solely at Lightweight - if that’s what you mean. I only intended to compare them head-to-head at 135, where I’d expect Whitaker to beat Durán as I regard him as superior at that weight. I don’t think he’d fall short with Durán’s defenses at Light, either. He could duplicate it but probably would not drop a fight to DeJesus.

 

What people have to take into account with all these fantasy scenarios is how long both fighters were successful at the top.

Whitaker peaked between 1989 to 1994.

Duran peaked between 1974 to 1980.

So both fighters had a window of about 5 or 6 years where they were at their absolutely best. Except Duran had more longevity as Whitaker was already badly fading at age 32 getting controversial decision vs Rivera the 1st time and needing a come from behind KO vs Hurtado.

But overall I think Whitaker should be favoured over all of Duran's opposition at Lightweight.

Moving on to Welterweight Whitaker beats Palomino but loses to Leonard twice.

Moving on to Jr Middleweight Whitaker would be 32 years old and that's the point where he started to fade as a fighter. I think Whitaker had enough left to beat the likes of Laing but he loses to Hearns, Benitez.

I'm not going to carry on from that as Whitaker was pretty inactive after the ODLH at age 33 and never fought at Middleweight so it's pointless.

But overall I agree with @Greg Price99 not much alters except Whitaker doesn't lose to De Jesus or Laing but he doesn't beat Leonard.

 

Whitaker is more solid on his own weightclass,but did worse when going up, Duràn had the good tools and never really turn into a cokehead,so...

 

Same as comments by Greg and DP, with the possible exception of De Jesus in Fight 1. Because while obviously we'd fancy Whitaker over De Jesus 9/10, you'd have to treat the circumstances the same- a non-title fight 3 weeks after a previous bout and the surprise element may still feature (although I doubt the Duva's would allow such a fight).