Can any fighter outfight a prime Duran?

From what I've seen of history's greats, I'd say no. Mid 70s-1980 Duran was THE perfect fighter of that style.

 

Hmm...Say, what do you think, Pachilles?

 

Up to 147 i doubt it. Duran even more than held his own toe to toe at middleweight.
I wonder if posters think that guys like fullmer,basilio,la motta etc could beat duran like this?
I think the problem with duran at 160 is that he got tired sometimes over the stretch, (eg hagler fight.) which didnt happen at the lower weights.
And the 'natural' middles like fullmer maybe wouldnt get as tired.

 

Kid Gavilan was my immediate thought

 

wait till MAG and Pachilles see this.

 

walker was the first name i thought of...i wouldn't feel confident in betting on it without more footage of walker but he seemed to have the physical strength and skills to wage pretty even war with hands of stone

that's at 147 though, at 135 i don't think anyone in history wins THAT kind of fight with duran

 

I will submit that in his fight with Pipino Cuevas, Duran did not seek to fight in a phonebooth. He stood at medium range and let his handspeed carry the day while avoiding prolonged infighting. IMO

This of course doesn't mean that Duran wouldn't have won in a shootout with Cuevas, just that he chose to favor his more advantageous attributes. Would Duran go completely toe-to-toe with opponents that specialize in that area? I doubt it. Against Barkley, too, he had an ingenious mix of in-and-out, right-hand counters, clinching and angles going for him.

Duran, I love him dearly, did not eschew using footwork against dangerous punchers and I won't judge opponents for using movement against him. I think it's pretty smart and prudent to do so, since he's a ravenous predator in the trenches that seems to grow stronger the more you show pain.

I think a prime Cuevas is a dangerous opponent for Duran, but I'd make El Cholo a favorite anyway.

 

The improved Hector thompson that fought Cervantes, going into in a rematch with Duran would have been interesting.

he was a freakishly strong tank of a fighter.Very underrated.

 

Very good analysis Shake. Lots of truth in that one,and something to think about.
However,i think this is because duran knew that pipino was a bone crunching puncher,so he used a few angles early one. But,if you notice after he has measured pipino and his power he starts to trade,takes pipinos shots and brutalises him.
With barkley he had to bea little careful because of the huge size difference,but he still traded,and barkley was generally the first to back off.
I think with iran duran was also wary of conserving his energy for the full 12.
Duran did not just fight in the pocket for the sake of it,he knew when to mix things up,and how to conserve his energy.

 

George Foreman.

 

I think Walker would opt to box Duran more, as he did in the Hudkins rematch. Barbados Joe Walcott might have a good chance, being nearly five inches shorter but with only an inch less of reach, if even that. In a situation like this one though, I'd expect El Cholo to employ his own countering and boxing skills, rather than attempt to outfight Joe.

 

Prime Duran...Ike Williams comes to mind for me.