Nigel Benn vs. Roberto Duran at MW

It would have been one of the greatest wars of all time if not for the useless 3 knockdown rule which totally ruined the bout. Barkley wasn't hurt at all at the time the fight was stopped, and he had been rabbit punched while he was on the canvas.

 

...This thread is annoying.

Benn would beat the Duran who showed up against Pat Lawlor. He would be systematically taken apart by the version who fought Iran Barkley.

Benn was a brawler. An inspired Duran had those guys for breakfast with a side of hash browns.

 

I think Benn would knock Duran out to be honest.
Barkley was a good puncher but Benn possibly hit even harder than Hearns.

Duran would have beaten the Benn of the Watson fight and before, but Benn got a bit wiser in his next few fights and I dont see how Duran beats him. Duran cannot slip every punch, he didn't slip everything Barkley threw, and Benn was quicker and more powerful, I believe.
Benn wasn't impervious to Duran's punches either, but on balance I'd favour Benn.

 

I love Duran, but, not at 160 pounds........ Duran was just too small for the most part........ Duran at 154 and below was MUCH better off upon being motivated....... Duran really only looked great for two fights at 160........ "Hagler and Barkley." All his other fights at 160 to 168 had Duran looking sometimes good to merely ordinary....... Cheers.......

MR.BILL

 

Duran was obviously a small Middleweight, but it didn't stop him beating the much bigger Iran Barkley in a really inspiring display of skill. I agree with Stonehands, that Duran would often make Benn look foolish en route to a late stoppage. Barkley fights one way, and so does Benn, the big difference between the two being Benn's often lacking punch resistance, and Duran showed he could hit hard enough at 160lbs to get the job done.

 

I didn't think Duran looked all that good in sparring with Benn, but that's just sparring........ Benn looked too spry and quick for the slowed Duran in that footage........ Duran still appeared tricky, but he was getting tagged too much for my liking........ I can't see Duran beating Benn at 160.....

Benny was green in 1989, but he still seemed capable of pulling off a win over an in-shape Duran at that point in time.......

MR.BILL:bbb

 

Benn would have had too much respect for Duran in 89. Duran (at the time) had forgotten more about the sport than Benn knew!

And as The Blade found out, for one more glorious time, The Hands of Stone were still there, and were controlled by a genius who still had a little bit of magic-dust left.

 

It could play out either way, Nigel catching Duran with a few powerful shots to stop him or how you have it above. My first thought, is how you have put it. So much of what Benn does is made to order for Duran.

 

Bull**** Barkley was ready to go anyway, the fight should have gone on but Barkley but there was only 1 winner

 

You got it right the second time, sparring means jack ****. The Duran that fought Barkley was a damn good fighter. Look at his movement, the way he'd effortlessly avoid Iran's jab, and then return with combination's. Wonderful performance from a fantastic fighter, and the dude was 37 years of age. It's incredible really.

Benn wasn't even a better fighter than Barkley in my estimation. His power is often overstated, the best fighter he stopped was Barkley, and it was only due to the bull**** three knockdown rule. Duran almost had Barkley out twice in their fight, and if he lands those same shots on Benn, don't expect the same resistance. Benn never displayed a great chin outside of his win against the G man. He fights one way, he has no plan B, and Duran is going to make him miss an awful lot, and I expect him to take Benn's best shot if called upon also. Benn is a handful for 3-4 rounds..after that, you an capitalize.

 

37.

 

Same thing :good

 

Benny knocked the **** outta "Barkman" in 1990 in ONE round................ Weight drained or not, Benn slaughtered The Barker.......

I too like Iran Barkley, but aside from being a big 160 pounder with a big hook, Barkley was also seriously flawed in his skills.......... Duran struggled hard to overcome Barkley's natural size and strength advantages in 1989......... Duran did edge Barkley, but I had it only by a **** hair........

Albert Bernstein actually had Barkley by a **** hair or two after 12 classic rds...... The fight was close............. Duran NEEDED that big 11th round to win.........

Benn in 1989 was still better than Barkley, IMO!!

MR.BILL

 

Ready to go? The bell had sounded and Barkley wasn't exactly reeling around the ring. He was stopped only because of the three knockdown rule.

Under the same ruleset Juan Manuel Marquez would have lost to Pacquiao, and Archie Moore would have lost to Yvon Durelle.

Benn was a puncher but he didn't exactly display a great amount of skill in that fight. It was bombs away with both men hurting each other and Benn got a victory due to the 3 knockdown rule. At the same time he could have very well been DQ'd for hitting Barkley not once but twice while he was on the canvas.

 

WTF am I missing?????? Barker was only dropped ONCE by Duran in round 11.........

MR.BILL