Pernell Whitaker vs Roberto Duran

At 135lbs Duran tko 12, his combination of speed, power, agression and toughness is rear to see. I don't see any lightweight beating Duran when he's at his best.
At 147lbs it would got to decision and be real tight I slightly favour Duran but wouldn't be surprised if Whitaker got the nod, although he didn't get much luck when it came to decision like the Ramirez fight.

 

Good post, Sweet_Science. I agree.

135lbs: Duran takes it on pts.
147lbs: Whitaker, by close decision (perhaps SD)


Ps: check out The "Top10" thread. I've finally replied to the post you left yesterday.

 

No one Ko'es Whitaker at any weight, not even Duran. He's defense was just too good.
Remember how Trinidad was unable to KO an old out of his prime cokehead Whitaker.

I think it would be a really close fight at both weights and I think Pernell could edge it at 147 as well as at 135.
Duran was good but he wasn't unbeatable. He had tendencies of being frustrated at times and who was better doing that than Pea.

Duran would get frustrated and start with foul tactics and Whitaker would answer with his own share of fouls and clowning, remember that Pernell was a very dirty fighter too. Duran would get more and more wild which would favour Whitaker and he would squeze out the decision.

 

By tko I didn't mean Duran lands so many unanswered shots but that he knockes Pernell down and when gets up he's all dazed and out of it so the ref calls it.

 

Whitaker would UD Duran. I really do not tihnk that even the 135lbs Duran would be able to contend with the constantly turning, ducking, and clowning Pernell.

Whitakers output was crazy, and out of that small moving target would be popping jabs everywhere.

Whitaker would do his side-winding thing, make Duran hit his hip enough times to get a point taken off, frustrate him and then pop his face. He has the stamina to make Sure Duran does not get on top, and the elusive ability to contend with his flexible arsenal.

 

Duran was by no means an undisiplined brawler. If he found Whitaker too elusive he would move in and punish the body, slow Whitaker & get him in the late rounds. Ala Esteban DeJesus. At Welterweight a slower Duran could be outpointed by a defensive fighter, who uses constant movement. like Wilfred Benitez.

 

Duran was too strong for just about anybody at 135 so reckon he'd win
at 147 he wasnt quite the same force so think he'd lose on points

 

At 135, Duran wins a unanimous decision. Whitaker's southpaw style, skill, speed and defense would give Duran problems, and Duran's pressure, strength, and skill would give Whitaker problems. Duran himself had a great defense too in his own right.

I don't think Duran would land enough clean, hard punches on Whitaker to force a stoppage. I suspect that the punchstat numbers would be pretty close but a wide advantage for the power punches in Durans favor.

At 147, it's a toss up.

 

At lightweight, I think Duran's strength and pressure would wear down Whitaker in an utter classic, with crazy punchstats. Duran would win a tight but fair decision, something like 8-7 or 7-5-2.

At welterweight, I'd pick Whitaker to narrowly beat Duran, against by tight decision.

The odd thing is, were I to design a boxer to beat Whitaker, I'd produce someone like Duran. Yet, even then, Sweet Pea would be able to make it a 50-50 fight. That's how great he was.

 

Good points, Kurgan.

I would assert that Duran was physically very strong for a LW. Whitaker was tough, but I think that Duran would manhandle him on the inside. Duran was in close with monsters like Hagler and Barkley and while outgunned, can anyone see Whitaker not getting tossed off his feet by both?

Let's not forget how elusive Duran himself was in his prime either. Duran's handspeed was damn good too. Leonard didn't look comparatively like lightening in Montreal. In any event, Brown and Arcel would see that Duran stays close and throw lots of hooks off of Whitakers arms, vary his shots, feint, and stay busy. I just can't see Whitaker handling that kind of pressure over 15 -over 12 maybe, but not over 15.

Duran UD. Whitaker would enrage Duran more than once, but in the end would pee blood for a year.

WW... I see no difference.

 

Oh man, look at your signature. Lovely ko.

 

Duran goes downstairs to take it on points. Whitaker wouldn't be able to predict where Duran was coming from. Pernell would fade a little over the championship rounds.

Duran UD 15 Whitaker. (If Sweet Pea and Manos de Piedra had performed a sumo exhibition at their IBHOF induction, I would've bet the mortgage on Duran.)