Terence Crawford vs Roberto Duran @147

Depends on what's being talked about.

In speculative H2H battles, that win definitely serves Duran well (and rightly so), despite his waywardness after that success, because it demonstrated an incredible level of performance against an incredible fighter.

But he also had an ATG Lightweight career in the bag, before he even met Leonard, which had already sealed his place in history. And, despite being north of his best weight class after New Orleans, he still managed to pull out some high-end performances later on, in Cuevas, Moore and Barkley. So, it's not just that win.

The guy, if he put his mind to it, was going to be a nightmare for almost any opponent in and around his weight class. Duran is typically viewed as Top-10 P4P. Difficult not to hold him as a head-to-head favorite in a lot of cases.

 

Never, in my 6 months and 7 days of posting....

 

But the thing you're not getting is Duran didn't outsmart Leonard in the ring, he outsmarted him outside the ring. He provoked him and Leonard took the bait wanting to prove he could go toe to toe with Duran. You can't praise Duran for psyching out Leonard, then cry and make excuses when Leonard got in his head in the rematch embarrassing him.

Credit to him for winning the psychological warfare, but Duran didn't beat a Leonard who was using his legs, thinking, and boxing. So that hardly applies to him being able to "outthink and outbox" Crawford who recently proved he wouldn't fall for the tricks of wanting to prove he could duke it out with the harder puncher in Canelo.

 

No I get your point and I agree with you to some degree about Leonard being provoked, but still I think you're making it sound too much that Leonard suddenly forgot his boxing IQ in the first fight. In the opening rounds he was still trying to box Duran from the outside and even after he got nailed he still tried to win the fight. He made adjustments, fought from all ranges, Duran was just all around better and smarter in that first fight. If you have the time, this video details it pretty well.

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Nah stop that BS. Commentators were noting early from round 1 Leonard was flatfooded. Leonard took the bait and paid for it

 

Easy work for Bud, whether he decides to outbox Duran or go for the kill

 

So u trust commentators more than what is actually shown happening right in front of you?

 

He was flat footed because it was his best chance to beat that Duran, it still wasn’t good enough.

He was outboxed at range, bullied in close by the smaller man, out jabbed by the smaller man, Leonard was comprehensively outboxed in every department

He only started clowning around in the rematch when he realised how weak Duran was and knew Duran couldn’t cut him off

 

You’re missing the point of Duran being past his prime and facing bigger men.
They weren’t smarter than him.

 

Leonard can barely touch him and when he does his lethal left hook does nothing, but Crawford can just go for the kill and take him out ?
Jesus

 

Past his prime, yet Duran was able to beat the bigger stronger, younger Barkley several years after these losses...? Did Barkley simply suck, or did Duran still have something left in the tank?

If Duran was so smart, why couldn't he make adjustments or think of a good fight plan to beat these guys when his athleticism declined...? Even a slugger like George improved while he was ancient in boxing years and became more technical and smarter.

All Duran fans can do is make excuses.

 

I mean he literally stopped trying to outbox him. That is evident on camera and Leonard's words himself. Duran won the psychological warfare and imposed his will winning a brilliant fight. I give him plenty of credit for that.

He lost both rematches quite clearly and couldn't adjust. Leonard did. The fact he has a losing record against his smartest opponents suggests he struggles with smart technicians and movers. And Crawford was both. Hell, Crawford is more technically sound and versatile than Leonard himself, he just isn't as gifted athletically/speed wise.

 

Alright, better technically? sure. More versatile? No I still think Leonard was better on the outside and the inside. But anyway regardless, I'm just saying that if the two ever fought, it wouldn't be surprising if one is able to outhink the other. Duran lost to those you listed sure, but he still showcased his high boxing IQ in other fights like the first Leonard fight, the Hagler fight, and etc.

 

Duran's ring IQ gave Hagler problems. Leonard and Hearns had natural size, height advantages (though he still managed to beat Leonard). It didnt come down to ring IQ. Duran is one of the smartest boxers of alltime.

Crawford started at 130 similar to Duran. At 5-8 he's not towering over Duran but he does have a good reach. Its almost a different sport now with the weigh in being at much different.

Bud has to overcome Duran's defense at the sametime try not to get caught with counterpunches on the way in. Looking at the best versions of both at Welterweight.

I would say Crawford could but Duran should based on his best wins at 147. Bud's record is impressive especially at 47 where he KOd everyone. I don't fault Crawford at all for not having more big names on his resume.

Faulting Crawford for not fighting certain guys would be like faulting Liston for not fighting Henry Cooper. They pissed their pants when his name got brought.

This one is a toss up for me. One guy was an alltime elite legend who fought elite comp, the other ultra talented but maybe untapped ability but he's damn good.

 

At 147? Duran.