It's a shame Oscar never stuck around longer at lightweight or junior welterweight. I think he was at his most effective at these weights. I don't consider this a ridiculous matchup at all but I think it's hard to compare a guy who spent 5 1/2 active years as the world's lightweight champion against a guy who held a belt for less than 18 months whilst seriously competing there. Still, Oscar was fast, had a good jab and seemed to have good power at the weight too. But Duran was just a more natural fighter than Oscar so even if DLH started well I can see Duran making the necessary adjustments early enough to take DLH out of his stride and either stopping him or taking a clear (but competitive) points win over 15 rounds. Even at 12 rounds Duran would still be the clear winner even though that distance benefits Oscar more.
De La Hoya was also doing some major weight cuts for 130 and 135 (not that Duran didn't cut). This would definitely affect his strength and stamina against Duran, or De Jesus.
I doubt Oscar could beat DeJesus. He barely survived a past it John John Molina and was running like hell from Miguel Angel Gonzalez albeit at 140.
I dont pick one single LW in history to beat prime Duran so Oscar isnt even getting close. Duran wears him down and stops him
Your last comment nails it for me,,,,just two different class of fighters. Oscar never hears the last bell, Duran gets past his jab and brutalizes him.
Tommy Hearns was a lot taller, longer, quicker and hit a lot harder than Oscar could dream of. Plus, he is also on another level than Oscar. And was far more dynamic than Oscar was as well, not utilizing that straight up stiff style that Oscar did. And Duran solved the height issue against other very good fighters that were taller than he was (err, Leonard for example?). If some would say that Duran couldn't solve the height issue against Tommy as some kind of reason that Duran couldn't solve the inferior to Tommy and shorter, slower less dynamic than Tommy DeLaHoya either, I probably wouldn't want to discuss boxing with them anymore.
Talk to someone from the 40's, they'll say Ike Williams. Talk to someone from the 70's, they say Duran. Someone from the 80's to early 90s, they'll say Pernell Whitaker, lol!
My comment was based off your assumption Deloyhoya would simply "Over power" DEJESUS (Your words) And I was responding to that assumption, having seen Dejesus fight many times and also Dehloyhoya. if they fought on the day of the actual weigh in and not some 24hrs or so earlier for Deloyhoya to re hydrate that fight would be competitive. If the weigh in is 24 hrs or earlier Delehoya would be coming into the fight at welter/lt.middle so sure he would have a significant weight advantage over Dejesus but it wouldn't be the skill level Delehoya would win for, it would be because of the size advantage.... That was my point. Also my point in a hypothetical fight with Duran. (Though honestly if Duran is motivated, those few extra pds would only prolong the beating Duran would give Delohoya) Duran in or close to prime still would win.
