Duran is an anomaly

Absolutely. Panamanians have a very distinct and unique style as boxer punchers. They herky-jerky head movement to set up straight shots. Lots of using their height and speed, and often relying on uncommon combos like 1-2-1s or 2-3-1s. Marcel, Laguna and Zapata are especially crazy good at this sort of thing.

But yeah, Duran absolutely breaking that mold and just destroying people is something that isn't noticed too much. Probably because he takes shine away from all the other Panamanians.

 

He’s no tire iron jones but he’s decent I guess

 

Mostly because he’s half Mexican… partial credit to Freddie Brown who wrapped his hands and held his spit bucket just right!

 

He's an incredible unique fighter. I've appreciated him more and more the older i get. He might be second to SRR as the best fighter I've seen. Even then they are so very different.

 

I think the bigger influence on his style was not so much from his nationality but from Ray Arcel. Arcel trained Barney Ross, Tony Zale, Benny Leonard, Freddy Steele and many other that had that aggressive nature.

Aside from that, when you are blessed with the power that Duran had, your trainer is going to have you go after folks. I agree with the OP, Duran was certainly an anomaly. Natural 135 founders don't typically go on to win titles at 160 especially against big middleweights like Barkley.

 

Not trying to check you or anything but Freddie Brown taught Duran how to fight. Arcel came in towards the end of camp, learned the plan etc if we had to pick one man to have made DURAN to be called his trainer it was Brown.

 

Man Duran was wayyyy slick. Especially when he got older. When have you ever seen Duran shelled up blocking punches? Drawing a blank aren't you?

 

And as aggressive as he was compared to the fighters mentioned by the OP he still probably had the best defense of them all. Amazing fighter.

 

Don't forget Eusebio Pedroza who also had that Panamanian characteristic of being a slick boxer. But he also had some of that Duran mean-ness to him as well where he also threw some vicious body shots and also bent the rules with dirty tactics.

Duran certainly stood out the most out of all the Panamanian fighters though. Mixing ferocity with brilliant boxing. Very unique fighter.

 

Far too many Street brawls from a very young age had already established his style, more 'technical' skill sets in the Gym can only add to his repertoire, but it won't always change it.

and in the case of 'Stone' Hands, dance with you're best steps FIRST, always and usually.

 

Absolutely!! Pedroza certainly had a meanness to him and a win at all cost mentality. He was the dirtiest player in the game back in his day.

 

I hear what you are saying, but we can't be 'shaped' or 'expected' to be 'like' the top famous fighters, whom, when you get down to it, are a very, very large Minority, compared to the literal thousands that graduated, shall we say, to successful ends, even if only National or Regional levels.

the point is Fighters are Fighters, Boxers are Boxers...
certainly honing skills & correction can be employed & incorporated into a Fighters 'style', however rough & tumble, boar in or just stand & fight types are more or less going to be that way forever, more or less.

Yes, there will always be exceptions, but like the group of Super Status Slicksters mentioned, again, they will not necessarily be the outcome of the Thousands who Box.

Duran is a natural Fighter, hard, tough, resilient and skilled in seasoned fighting learned attributes and No Refined First Class Boxer Slickster training would ever change that in these kind of guys.

Some people are GREAT Dancers, not just smooth, but graceful elegant gliders, poised and subtle, rhythmic and near flawless and some people just aren't ... and never will be.

anyway, that's my 2 cents worth.
Be well.

 

I think that country based styles is a bit of a cliche, it depends on the trainer and then what works for the student. Manuel Medina is an example of someone who fought almost originally with little instruction. Duran wasn’t “polished” by Brown he was built by Brown his amateur trainer had a great talent on his hands and he’d have been successful however he boxed but Duran needed a great education to become the guy who beat Ray Leonard. Yes Duran wasn’t typical of his countryman at the top level, it just happens but the question of his style? Toney had an amateur trainer but it takes a real teacher to make a fighter like those guys.