Hopkins or Duran, who was "pound for pound" better defensively?

Better watch out, you might recluse yourself.

 

I go with Duran.
He just had more defensive tools than Hopkins.

 

Well, I've had the house to myself for the past few days, so I figured I'd try to view a few of the fights I've missed (in the ever increasing backlog) that've been put up. It's been good catching up.:rasta

 

A student of the game.

 

While i like Hopkins as probably having the greatest defence of alltime at 160 Duran still pips him out. Many posters have already cut to the chase. Duran's aggression and style per how well he avoided punches is simply fantastic.

Roy Jones gets a raw deal on this forum defensively IMO. He was as hard to hit as just about anyone who ever laced on a glove yet still landed heaps of his own leather, with power. Having pristine technique isn't mandatory for being a GREAT defensive fighter, it simply boils back to how hard you are to hit while still fighting effectively. Jones was incredible.

 

:good

 

I would give Duran a slight edge. Hopkins is such a conservative fighter, defense is so central to his gameplan. I agree with a lot of the stylistic observations about Duran - he was so aggressive and the way he could fight inside, protect himself and duck punches was just unbelievable.

 

I agree with this, hence the reason I rate Ali's defense while in his prime during the 60's. Speed and athleticism or not, he was tough to hit, especially on a regular basis.

 

Duran

 

Duran was the probably the best defensive/offensive boxer in history...

On side note,i must say the fact that hearns trounced duran in two rounds (even given durans age and weight.) in 84 just illustrates to me how phenomenal tommy was that night. That blend of speed and power i dont think ive ever seen against such a great defensive opponent. (and im one of those that thinks duran could take tommy at 147,it not being just a 'style' thing.) I dont think there is any other guy in history (even at 160.) who could do that to duran...Fantastic performance by hearns.

 

The speed and power bothered Duran. I think Hearns's power at 154lbs was "pound for pound" actuallly more powerful than Hagler's at 160lbs.

 

I think hearns' power at 154 was much better overall than haglers,and when you add in the reach,speed,feints,body attack and the lightning jab,well it was simply awesome...

 

Interesting question Duran is a master of head movement, parrying and much better than Hopkins at these things. Hopkins is probably better at using lateral movement and simply being tactically defensive. Plus Hopkins was more disciplined at keeping his weight down so he could be tall at the weight. Doesn't he still have a 28inch waist?

Bottom line is though Duran ate allot more punches throughout his career than Hopkins and that isn't simply down to competition

 

Different styles of fighters but I like both. Was recently reminded of the subtle, smooth, nearly imperceptible defense of Duran when heehoo posted this clip of an older Duran sparring with Nigel Benn.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxFo...wthread.php?p=4022623&feature=player_embedded