Would McCallum have stopped Duran at Middle?

Not a chance. McCallum didn't pack much punch at 160 and was never very quick. He relied more on great timing, old school moves and skill. Duran's own skill and class would prevent a counterpunching clinic. At this stage the much fresher McCallum should have the goods to cruise to a decision. Very tactical fight with an aged and heavy Dooran a quarter of a step behind i think.

 

Leonard didn't engage barely at all, McCallum doesn't have the speed and ability to do similar. He is a master counter puncher.

From memory SRL basically shut Duran out. McCallum isn't winning by that much. Duran would win some rounds for sure. It might even be reasonably competitive.

 

McCallum would be right in front of him, Duran simply couldn't catch a completely spoiling Ray. McCallum doesn't have the handspeed and sharpness of say a Benitez to dominate Duran the way Wilfred did imo.

 

Leonard shut Duran out but he was the one busted up after that fight. Cuts over both eyes and inside his mouth.

 

I don't think so.

Mike hit harder at 154 lbs.

I think he'd win a UD over Duran at 160 lbs.

 

Duran was old as **** at this stage so yes it's very possible.

I mean, McCallum stopped a skilled young bull like Watson around this time, meanwhile Duran was stopped by a punch to the shoulder by Pat Lawlor not long after.
But let's not let facts get in the way of the unstoppable Duran legend.

A points win, wide, for McCallum might be most likely. But stoppage is in no way out of the question.

Aside from Barkley (who was in no way as complete a middleweight as McCallum), Duran's fights around this time suggest he wasn't a good bet at all against a ranked fighter.
The man was just too old.

 

The Lawlor result was a pure freak occurrence and could have happened at any age really. It has no relevance at all to a Duran - McCallum fight.

 

The Lawlor fight was much later - Spring '91.

It was on the undercard of Tyson/Ruddock I.

 

Fair enough.
So, what does have relevance to a Duran (post Barkley) fight versus 1989-90 McCallum ?

There's absolutely nothing on Duran's record or in his performances after Barkley to suggest he had a world class middleweight performance left in him to the point where he's guaranteed to last the distance with the McCallum who dismantled Watson.