Could the 89 version of Duran pull off a shock win over 87 Hagler ?

Purely as devils advocate here id argue back with ,an even older duran handled the speed and movement of pazienza and camacho in their first fights but got robbed (but id be stretching the point on paz 1)....

His biggest performances in the 1980s came in his last chance saloon fights (cuevas,moore,barkley).......his worst just after his biggest paydays (no mas,hearns,srl3)....i think the hearns one is excuses from duran like u say....srl3 was a disgraceful performance......who knows with duran!? Youre probably right John.

 

All those wins came against straight forward fighters, all those losses against those with great speed. We can add Benitez in too. Benitez was actually a chance at redemption after the disgrace of No Mas so there's really not much excuse there.

 

Yes. I was surprised how good he was in the Barkley fight. in a fight vs a flatfooted and horribly depreciated Hagler, Duran lands the heavier, cleaner shots against Hagler's swiss cheese defense, earning a deserved decision

Roberto Duran is going to be partying tonight as he becomes the first man to win four world titles

 

Hagler had slowed significantly. But Barkley was never the quickest. And Duran fought a extremely close fight (which I thought he lost) with a limited but dangerous Barkley. Hagler by UD