Before you guys say Duran was too small or this wasn't his natural weight, keep in mind that Lamotta wasn't a big middleweight at just 5'8. Secondly duran has been in with big middle weights before and have done very very well. He has a win over an extremely tough and powerful 6'1 Iran Barkley and demolition of a big 154lb Davey Moore and lets not forget his very competitive albeit loss against Marvin Hagler. Lets revisit the latter. Many people had Duran winning goin into the 12th round with Hagler until Hagler turned it up in the last few rounds. Hagler showed Duran a lot of respect in their fight and with good reason. All of this against arguably the best middle weight of all time, if not the best definitely Top 5. Now lets look at Lamotta 5'8, not considered a big middle weight, not a big puncher. I never really saw him as being anything other than a tough very determined strong middle weight with decent skills. He seems to be lauded for the fact that he beat a moving up Ray Robinson and gave him a good go in the other fights. I'm sure he was a lot better than what I know tho, so please inform me if you must and give me your opinions on the matter.
Actually Lamotta started his career at LHW and boiled down to 160. He was quite a thick guy and incredibly solid at the weight, eventually having to move up again in time. The height has no bearing on how fit he was for the weight class. Nobody in the ring with him ever thought of him as small.
Jake was a big middleweight. He was tree stump. Very strong, very rough, physical fighter. LaMotta was a beast. He would be applying pressure from the opening bell. Working the body. Trying to keep Duran pinned on the ropes. Duran at this stage fought more in spurts, he was cagey, good counterpuncher, had good pop. Over 15 I think LaMotta outworks Duran even though he comes out looking like the loser.
Jake takes this on points imo. he wasn't tall but he was naturally about 172lbs,fighting at170lbs when 19years old
I think you have it about right, LaMotta's work rate probably carries the day , but he's gonna get hit with a ton of counter punches from Duran. Duran can't hurt Jake and Jake's not gonna really hurt Duran so it goes to the cards. Duran would have to steal it with the more showy punches. And I think Jakes face would look like he lost also.
This is a fight Duran would well in. I think Lamotta edges it, but he is in range and he is going to get some trouble from Duran. I am not sold on Duran being this little guy who could not fight when he moved up. I wouldn't be shocked if Duran won by TKO in the late rounds.
Angelo Dundee said because Duran did not work on his abs he was vulnerable to body punishment.Jake would prove the veracity of that opinion in this fight.
It's not just the size that's a problem, it's that Jake is at least the same class as Duran at the weight, and I would say the higher class fighter here. Duran has his moments, due to the nature of the bout, but I'd expect a clear LaMotta decision.
LaMotta's constant aggression and pressure would allow him to impose the benefits of his natural size advantage and carry him to a comfortable decision for mine. Duran would not be able to dictate the pace.
I am going with Lamotta by close points win. Duran will land the better quality yet Lamotta would land more punches. Yes, Duran came close to beating prime Hagler (I had Hagler up by one point). And Hagler is better than Lamotta in my opinion. But unlike Hagler, I expect Lamotta to be busy from round 1 on. This would likely to carry him to a close and somewhat disputed points win.
Lamotta would punish him to the body and physically manhandle him around the ring. Duran wouldn't come out of this fight with praise as he did against Hagler. Despite Marvin been much higher up at middle, Jake would look better against Duran.
