Do not think Benn would stop him .Duran had a good chin ,against Hearns it was a question of different physigues Tommy was all wrong for Roberto
No I don't think Benn would stop him either, but Duran would have to fight tight for a few rounds. Benn s shots were full of venom when he first started out.
That's the thing, he beat him with a 'basic' high guard. Imagine Duran. I think he was a bit better than that!
You know something mate, after reading your post I went back and watched the whole fight again on YouTube. You’re right, Michael Watson showed very fine skills in there, he was much more than a high guard. After round 1 he countered Benn all night long and gave plenty back probably more. I think Nigel’s tank was emptied more by what he’s took from Michael as much as him punching himself out.
Different ends of the pendulum really......Hagler didn't do that well against Duran because he showedd too much respect. Benn would do even worse because he wouldn't show enough respect. He just wouldn't know or care to know how to escape some of the shortcomings in overcommitting and pacing that would be exploited against someone like Duran.
Duran would roll and counter Benn all night. Spinning him ..turning him..shifting gliding all night. Benn as much as I also like him doesnt have the skill and technique to go with his power to beat Duran.
Not sure what sparring session you were watching, but the one I saw they were both having fun. A young/raw Benn throwing fast hands, but clearly deliberately not throwing with any like his normal power, and Duran happy to practice trying to evade punches against the ropes. A good tune up for both men.
Duran was just a different caliber of fighter, and reached a level of skills Benn would never see. If Duran is ready to fight between 82 and 84 he destroys Benn. Even Duran of the Barkley fight I'd pick too beat Benn. Please don't use the Hearns fight as some indication of what Benn could accomplish.
I remember the Laing, Sims, Benitez fights. Duran was just too small for anything over 147 (really too small for that weight too). He fought his heart out against SRL in their first fight and though he performed at his best in that fight, it was a close fight that could have gone to the bigger, faster SRL. Duran was a skilled fighter, but his lifestyle out of the ring and his size limited him against the better big fighters. At 135 Duran was hard to beat and probably should not have moved past 140.
I disagree that the SRL fight was close enough to go either way...but I agree with the rest. I am not over impressed w/Duran above welter even though he was great enough to still turn in some good performances up there.
I do not think that an argument can be made for Leonard winning that fight. I had Duran up by 3 points. It was close and competitive but no doubt in my mind that Duran won it.
I think it is more styles. This thing about Duran being the variable has been overrated. If he was in range he could win, if the fighter was quick and could land before he could and be defensive he could lose. Benitez was a fight where Duran could not do anything because of speed. Hagler? he was in range and Hagler decided to fight a technical fight against a master on the inside. Hagler won but struggled a bit. Hearns fought an outside fight and dropped in bombs and Duran was knocked out. It was about how the other guy fought which determined whom Duran beat.
Don't agree, Duran carried welter weight very well, and show cased his physicality with his wins over prime Leonard and Palamino ,and when he went up to Jr. middle weight D.Moore , he also held his own in close against Hagler and the even bigger Barkley at Middle weight ..... The Sims,Laing, and Benitez losses is more about the way or style they fought t opposed to them being able to battle Duran in close and handle him physically. They boxed from long distance , used angles, and depended on their speed against Duran who didn't have the foot speed at that time of his career to keep up with them. But Benn didn't fight like those 3 fighters, Benn was a aggressive slugger who sometimes over committed to his punches and left himself venerable to counter punches . Which would be a major weakness that would be exploited viciously by a fighter of Duran's caliber. If Duran is in shape. Benn couldn't handle him.
