Does Roberto Duran from his best performances beat everyone from 135 to 147?

Most likely yes.

 

I feel the same way

 

Most likely no.

It’s debatable that he would beat the Leonard he fought in New Orleans in their rematch even if in the same shape as he was in Montreal so that’s one potential (as well as actual) loss. There are plenty who would be highly competive against him at 147 so I think he’d take more than one loss but also have some great wins. Gavilán, Napoles, Robinson, etc - those are super tough ATGs to beat above his natural frame and weight... and that’s before you consider Thomas Hearns.

At 154, Moore was a relative novice and stylistically it was a great matchup for Duran too. I think he’d have always lost to Hearns regardless of his condition, just maybe not as spectacularly as he did.

At 135, the argument for his going unbeaten is definitely stronger as he did that at championship level in reality. However, with the exception of Buchanan and DeJeaus, he didn’t face that many truly elite lightweights and some defenses were gimmes - which is fine when you consider length of title reign - and he’d have to beat the likes of Benny Leonard, Henry Armstrong, Ike Williams, Carlos Ortiz and Tony Canzoneri to name a few and in the deepest division in boxing history. I don’t see him (or anyone) going completely unbeaten in those circumstances.

None of this is intended as a knock on Duran but his status in hypothetical matchups has become almost mythical and sometimes stretches the reality of what we witnessed. The losses, the conditioning (or lack of it) at times and the fluctuating motivation are a part of his overall legacy too, even if we’re talking only narrowly about his prime years from 1972 to 1980 in this context (though the Moore win was mentioned as an example in the original post).

I don’t think any fighter could beat everyone at 135 and 147, including Duran, although he’d have as good a shot at it as any, but he wasn’t infallible and I think held be giving up physical disadvantages at 147 that makes a loss most likely there.

 

Top post. For me he's never going to beat the Wilfred Benitez that schooled him at 154. The same guy that flogged Moore would have lost clearly against that Benitez. It begs the question, how would the 147 pound Benitez fare? For me Benitez undoubtably hit his straps at 154, he looked well suited to the weight and a lot more robust. He was more fragile at 147 which makes a bout vs the best 147 Duran an open book.

There's a lot of icebergs too. Emile Griffith was fast, busty and durable and could take as much beating as the likes of Napoles and Gavilan. Pernell Whitaker is potentially quite competitive at 135 or just above. Luiz Rodriguez would be a live dog too, as would Armstrong at various weights.

There's just so much to beat, and s much variety. Super durable elite level slicksters are going to make him work.

 

As a big fan of Duran as many are, I think 154 is too high for him to be one of the very best. He was too old really.

I think Duran is underrated below lightweight, if he had got a very early title shot at feather or super feather he could have won one.

At lightweight I have him no.1. I think his lightweight opposition is underrated a bit. DeJesus and Buchanan could have reigned for a long time if not for Duran, Buchanan is a top ten lightweight and DeJesus not too far off. Ishimatsu became champ. Fernandez, lampkin, Viruet could all be champs in other eras.
At 140 if Duran had chosen to campaign there he’d have been perfect for it, I wouldn’t choose anyone at 140 over him.
At 147 a highly motivated Duran could beat anyone , but he would lose some in a series or struggle depending on styles, and age becomes a factor.

 

A conditioned Roberto is in the Top 3 at 135 - I would give him favor - At 147 a Montreal vs Leonard conditioned Duran is in the conversation.
Durans resume at 135 (which was his home) is impeccable - a few lapses in top form and conditioning. Esteban (DeJesus first fight).
His great conditioned win over a great 147 lb. SSR put Duran in the conversation at 147 but his overall resume -Barkley, Hagler, Moore and some of his losses show his skill, power and ring intelligence. Overall conditioning and outside life were less than spartan.

 

Aw, hellz yeah.

 

Hearns at any weight would always
be his kryptonite.
Ray Robinson also would be a tough
night for him.
Pryor, and Chavez Sr, would be AMAZING
fights, but neither beat Duran at his best.
But possibly, a couple of names that gets little
respect but at their best would be tactical
nightmares for Duran.
And that's "El Radar", and Sweet Pea".

 

No. I'd pick the Hearns who beat Cuevas over the best WW version of Duran.

 

No because Hearns exists and Duran would never beat Hearns in a million years at any weight.

That's a Foreman/Frazier type of bad stylistic match up for Duran.

I also don't see Duran beating Robinson at Welterweight either.

And I know Duran did defeat Leonard but Leonard fought Duran's fight and still had a very close fight vs the best version of Duran at Welterweight.

I think a more disciplined Leonard would defeat the Duran of Montreal.

There's alot of other pick em fights aswell Whitaker, Crawford, Benitez, Napoles, Arguello, Mayweather, etc.

But I do know for a fact that Duran would never beat Hearns.

 

Not many fighters would be favored over him. At 135 Ike Williams and Beau Jack give him a good run, as does Mosley, Morales and Manny. I think he beats Benny Leonard, Armstrong, Canzonneri. Carlos Ortiz gives him a 50/50 fight as does Manny from 135 - 147. He's not going to have an easy fight at 147 with Oscar, Tito, Crawford, Manny, Griffith, Luis Rodriguez, Napoles or Robinson.

 

I've always thought that Benitez at jr.middle was the best Benitez as well.

 

No and he’d probably even quit at least once.

 

I believe Thomas Hearns and Sugar Ray Robinson beat him convincingly and he has back and forth battles against Sugar Ray Leonard, Jose Napoles, Kid Gavilan, Luis Rodriguez, Bud Crawford, Pernell Whittaker. He'd have his work cut out even against the likes of Floyd Mayweather, JCC Sr, Pacman, Ike Williams, Henry Armstrong. How about against someone like Alexis Arguello or even Salvador Sanchez later down the line?