Happy birthday Roberto Duran, would Duran have been a four weight world champ if he was in his prime in the last decade and reaching his peak now?
You could try looking at the forum before posting something that’s already been up for hours: https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/happy-birthday-to-roberto-duran.650701/
no, just kicking myself for not remarking on it. Although, don't some consider him a 5-time champion? (not that I do)
Duran turned pro at bantamweight and could've been a junior lightweight champ (he weighed 130 for his first title fight against WBA Lightweight Champion Ken Buchanan). Duran also bypassed 140 and jumped up to welterweight to challenge Sugar Ray Leonard. Duran could've been the first 6 division champ and should have been the first 4 division champ at least (Thomas Hearns turned the trick 2 years before Duran did). Oh, I forgot to mention that as a young featherweight he knocked out future featherweight champ Ernesto Marcel. So what I'm really saying is Roberto Duran quite easily could've have won world titles from at least 126 - 160. SEVEN divisions where he was championship material. Incredible.
I see what he is saying. Duran was a 4 time champ by 1989, but would he be one in his prime years today earlier than he was before since it is easier to get 4 titles now. Yeah he would have. I don't see a problem with that. It was harder to do it when Duran and Hearns did it. I thought Ray cheated so I don't put him in that class like those guys. Ray won titles in one night. That is ridiculous. It was hard to get 3 titles in the 1980s, but once the 1990s came it became easier. More titles and watered down divisions and boxing. etc.
If they marketed him from the age of 18 or 19 the way they do now to trinket grab I’m sure they could have won him titles from 126-175 with 6 belts per division.