Lightweight battle. 15 rounds. How do you see this one going ? I expect the styles will make this a very good fight.
Hands of stone. thing to remember though about matching up great fighters is,,,nobody could beat everybody. There is always someone who'll have your number
Brown upsets Duran in first fight, but loses the 2 following rematches (see Duran vs DeJesus 3 fight series) Duran: 5'7", 66 inch reach. Brown: 5'7-1/2, 68-inch reach. Joe Brown (May 18, 1926 – December 4, 1997) was an accomplished boxer who won the Lightweight Championship of the World in 1956, making 11 successful defences before losing his crown in his old age to Carlos Ortiz in 1962. Brown was a classic boxer and a knockout puncher. Known as the 'Creole Clouter' and Joe 'Old Bones' Brown, he was managed by Lou Viscusi and named The Ring's 'Fighter of the Year' for 1961. Brown was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1996. Brown earned his chance for the Lightweight Championship of the World by out-pointing the reigning champion, Wallace 'Bud' Smith in a non-title bout held in Houston, Texas, in May 1956. Four months later, on August 24 and in front of his home crowd, Brown defeated Smith by way of a split decision over fifteen hard-fought rounds. Confirmation of Brown's superiority came early in the following year when, defending the Championship for the first time, he knocked Smith out in eleven rounds. In all, Brown made eleven successful defences of his title – a record until Roberto Durán's arrival in the division – and remained Champion for almost six years. After demolishing Smith, Brown beat Orlando Zulueta, Joey Lopes, Ralph Dupas, Kenny Lane, Johnny Busso, Paolo Rosi, Cisco Andrade, Bert Somodio and Dave Charnley (twice). Brown's re-match with Charnley, was named The Ring's Fight of the Year for 1961. Nemesis came in the form of the great Carlos Ortiz (5'7", 70' reach) from Puerto Rico. Ortiz – intelligent, agile and ten years Brown's junior – stepped down from the Junior Welterweight division where he had been king until out-pointed by Duilio Loi, to focus on the richer pickings to be had amongst the world's top Lightweights. He met Brown in Las Vegas on April 21, 1962, and took the ageing Champion's title after fifteen lackluster rounds to begin his own lengthy domination of the division.
I see it going the distance to a close decision too. Not sure if anyone should be favoured to win, this is a hard one to pick. Both were great fighters over the championship distance.
Joey knew every trick in the book then some ,but hands of sone pulls this one out again.REINHARDT you make a good point.Like Cosell used to say styles make fights
Brown was a great fighter and an underrated champion as has been said. His left hook counter off of a missed right from his opponent was a superb punch and one I think he'd have some success with here, but I struggle to see him beating Duran tbh. He had his hands full to the brim with Charnley and Rosi both of whom were skilled, crafty and physically strong mauler types. He seemed to be struggling against Rosi in particular before cuts bailed him out somewhat. I think Duran would decision him fairly handily or stop him late tbh.
