Roberto Duran v Kelly Pavlik

We'd have to assume it's a Duran in good spirits and condition ala Hagler and Barkley. Hard one to call. We have Pavlik's very obvious size and weight advantages vs Duran's just as obvious superior skillset. Hagler is a better fighter than Pavlik but Pavlik has that size especially when taking into consideration the comments he is pretty much a light heavy by fight time. Duran tired a bit at various times vs Hagler even tho Hagler never really went full on at him. I have to say i am leaning toward a Pavlik decision over 12 rounds. Pavlik is very predictable at this point IMO but he's a quite good fighter with all that size. Duran will outbox him a fair bit of the time but i think Pav wears him down via decision, yes.

 

Duran is clever than Taylor yes, he also is also 5 inches shorter with a shorter reach and naturally smaller. You say that as if Duran is a natural middleweight. He comes foward while he is slipping punches so Pavlik would definitely land. The main thing with Pavlik is that he keeps throwing volume's of punches and never takes a step back. Volume punchers are a boxers nightmare and Duran is not a boxer and mover. He comes foward which would play into the bigger/much stronger fighter. Duran would be nullified and pushed back on the ropes, the way Hearns was able to do. He would not get within the reach of Hearns and was kept at bay while eating flush shots from the outside.

In order for Duran's 'workrate'' to come into play, he would have to be hitting Pavlik a lot and if you really think that he would be able to stand in front Pavlik throwing punches, then i am speechless as you and me both know that he would be knocked out.

I wasn't comparing Pavlik to Hearns at all. Duran finally fought a naturally bigger guy that wouldn't trade with him and stuck to his game. Pavlik is naturally bigger than Hearns, longer reach and a harder puncher(not pound for pound).

Also, Duran was known for blowing up in between fights. This fight was no different from his previous.

Again, Barkely does fight tall and is just a durable brawler/puncher. Pavlik actually uses his size and height to out box and bully his opponents. He is also a harder puncher, more durable and busier fighter. and again, Hagler gave up his advantages and let his ego get the best of him. He simply made the fight harder than it had to be by refusing to box. With all due respect to Duran, it was more of what Hagler didn't do rather than what Duran did.

Nothing that Duran could take advantage of. He gets on the insie of Pavlik, then he is asking for even more trouble. Pavlik would walk through his punches and wear Duran down. Again, he would be making Pavlik's chances even better by fighting him on the inside. I'lll put it like this, Duran can fight Pavlik on the inside the way Willie Pep could come up to welterweight and out fight Ray Robinson on the inside. Its not happening.

 

I know a lot about Duran and have anaylized most of his fights. I am done here, i can't be bothered with any more of these posts. You take a 5'7 naturally smaller pressure/boxer and take him to out fight and stand in front of a 6'2 volume knockout puncher with knockout power in both fist and concrete chin? Let alone the techincal ability and stamina. I have heard some out landish things on this forum but this is just on another level. If Duarm beats Pavlik, then Marciano beats Foreman, Pep beats Robinson at welter, Billy Peacock beats Napoles and Meldrick Taylor beats Julian Jackson. All mismatches.

 

1. Again height and reach isnt everything, Duran is a master slipper, so if Pavlik throws slow predictable shots as he does, Duran will slip, Duran would be also faster.

2. Workrate works in different ways, Duran could simply slip and counter all night, Duran can fight in the pocket and counter all night. You see to think boxing is a simple matter of the bigger stronger man wins, its not, the boxer with the better defense (duran), better timing (Duran) can push bigger men

3. Its not about who the harder puncher is, if Pavlik can't land his biggest shots it doesnt matter how hard he punches. Duran hardly got hit flush. Duran took Haglers biggest shots and didnt get Ko'd why can Pavlik do what Hagler could not?

4. Duran fought at middleweight prior to the Hearns loss. This would be his last fight at 154, it was clear he couldnt make 154 anymore so this fight is different he may have been badly drained

5. Duran has a way to make opponents fight his fight. he has a way to get inside and pressure on the inside without taking punches in return

6. NO NO NO, duran didnt take punches coming into the inside. If durans inside then Pavlik is at the disadvantage because it favours Durans entre of gravity.

Again I see this as a close encounter

 

Pavlik is also largely unproven, hes fought a slugger and a lazy athletic boxer who telegraphs his shots. Put him in with someone with P4P skills and see how well he does. Put him in with Calazage or Mayweather (the latter won't happen) or even put him in with someone a little slick like Spinks or someone tricky like Winky (whos probably done)

Spinks also beat Taylor before Pavlik but got jobbed

 

More Pavlik hype from the archives.

Yeah, Kelly's a big mean dude, but so was Iran Barkley (who I personally think was somewhat better than Pavlik).
I think Duran at his best middleweight form would pick him apart.

 

very good comparison with kaylor i also pick the duran you mentioned to beat pavlik

youre barkley/pavlik pick is for me accurate also

 

Duran would have beaten Pavlik just like he did Barkley, minus the knockdown..and like Hopkins, was just too savvy for the boy.

 

If he was having a good day, he's got the type of skills that gave Kelly fits...

But on his bad days, ala Sims, I can't see him winning.

Depends on the Roberto that steps in the ring. He can win, but he needs to be inspired and having a good day. Otherwise, I'll take the massive, volume punching boxer-puncher with a great chin.

 

Wow...

In fairness to KP, he probably has his moments against Duran, but his I could see the Duran of the Barkley fight exploiting every single one of his defensive flaws and busting him up like Martinez did to secure either a clear UD, or late round stoppage.

 

Tbh I don't see much Pavlik hype in this thread, most of the opinions were fairly grounded and even handed to both men.

 

Well, it was remembering the Pavlik hype (reminded by the current hyping of his successor Martinez) that made me drag up this thread.

But, yes, the actual highlights are the posts that were quality by those you mention.

I never understood the hyping or the high rating but Pavlik's still young enough to make an impact and fullfill his potential, no ?