This would be at 154 or 160. Not Duran's best weight, naturally smaller than the Beast. Nevertheless, John is hard to figure out. Made good showing against Hagler, albeit declined. Went out in one against Terrible Terry. What gives?
Mugabi would go nuts, go 3-3 with Duran and then Duran would pour it on. He'd break Mugabi down and have too much experience. He'd pace himself and place his shots. He'd be dirty too but ultimately down the stretch Mugabi would be in the same position Moore and Barkely were.
Visions of Sims-Duran keep coming to mind. I was more impressed with Duran but could see that he tires too easily. It would be a fight though. Mugabi with his youth and speed pulls it out.
At Middleweight Duran is there to be hit. Mugabi had crushing power in his right hand. Mugabi would probably catch him in the mid rounds. TKO 7.
As hard as Mugabi could hit, I can't see him knocking out the Duran that fought Hagler. Duran would fight a smart fight, be out of range or way up close, not in-between, and would counter periodically with his right hand. Duran UD.
I'll take Duran at 154 lbs. in 1983 over Mugabi fo sho....... 160 gets iffy...... But, all in all, Duran is the better fighter all around....... Mugabi was sloppy and wild, and Duran would counter Mugabi well...... However, Mugabi had a punchers chance... If Mugabi landed his home-run punch on Duran it would hurt........ :thumbsup MR.BILL
It depends on which Duran shows up... I believe he would be motivated for Mugabi because he would have know how dangerous he was... The Duran of the Barkley fight beats Mugabi (possibly even by knockout)... The Duran of the Robbie Sims fight vs Mugabi is a tossup IMO.
Duran basically fought a draw with Sims in '86, but Duran lost a point in round 8 for a low-blow to Sims...... Had Duran not been nailed for that infraction, Duran and Sims would've been scored even....... BUT! Duran was NOT really tight or toned in 1986 at 159 pounds for Sims........ Duran looked soft in the girth area....... Sims was in much better physical shape, but Duran was simply a great fighter and Sims was not........ I was pissed when Sims got the close shave nod........ :twisted: MR.BILL
That was the Triple Hitter card from Vegas back in June 1986... I went to see it with my father on closed circuit TV in one of the casinos in Atlantic City.... RD was embarking on another comeback which started in April in Panama with a knockout of someone named Manuel Zambrano I believe... I think Duran broke Zambrano's jaw from I've heard.... Duran beat a tough cookie in 1987 named Juan Carlos Gimenez by decision.... Did you see that one Bill? I heard Duran really got rocked early on but survived and really put on a clinic.... Then in early 88' he beat a journeyman named Rickey Stackhouse on the Pazienza-Haugen II undercard.... That's when Sports Illustrated had an article about how Duran should be forced to retired before he gets 'hurt' and how he had to 'huff and puff' before blowing the Stackhouse down... The same mag that several years earlier had said that Duran would never earn another dollar in the ring after the Benitez loss in 1982... It was kind of like them lauding the end of Duran's career.... Then in 83' after the Davey Moore fight: "He that was lost has now been found." Duran was on the SI cover after his sensational win vs the young and thought to be up and coming phenom Davey Moore... What a rollercoaster his career was!
Can't believe I posted this over two years ago. As to the outcome, I think the Beast batters Duran for a comfortable decision win. El Cholo has limited stamina at 154 and tires quicker.
Lax, Mugabi didn't prove a whole lot at 154 or 160 when you get down to it.... Mugabi ate up a LOT of pussies and washed up fighters, minus James Green and Curt Parker......... Mugabi was carefully managed going into the 'Hagler' fight on '86......... :yep:scaredas: MR.BILL