I think the obvious answer is Hearns. I don't believe adding two or three pounds would save Duran. That fight is a wipeout 10 out of 10 times.
Never thought of him to be honest. But yes, that's definitely a fighter that could seriously hurt Duran.
Think it is. At light Welter or super middle too, Duran would head, head first in to Tommy's best shots, then head face down! Nigel Benn at Middle. He was vulnerable true, but by God he could hit. What about Robinson? It's not impossible imo, that he could drop and stop him.
I think that the combination of Hearns' speed + power + skill is Duran's kryptonite. Duran had a great defence, and an excellent chin. You had to be fast to get to him and pack a punch to make him feel it. But Davey Moore had two of those and it still didn't help him because he just couldn't time / set up Duran right. Roberto had an amazing knack and reflexes to pull or roll with punches at the last microsecond, taking a lot of the heat off them. I believe that Duran could beat Hearns, but he'd be working uphill all the way.
For some reason I've always thought Duran would have used his skill and experience to go the distance with Monzon. Similar to his fight with Hagler. Don't know why. Would be an interesting fight tho for sure.
Oh McClellan, ****! I wouldn’t be surprised if he took out Duran very early...horrendous match for Duran
Walker Ketchel Zale. Papke maybe. Ryan. Fitz. Dempsey. Flowers. Abrams LaMotta Cerdan Robinson Fullmer Tiger Monzon 15 rds. 45 rds for Ketchel and below. Graziano at his best was a beast vs. Welters. I go with Rocky in a dirty brutal assualt both wsys. Maybe the greatest matchup in history. But I think the Palomino/Leonard welter Duran could beat many of these guys. The Hagler/Barkley Duran was a tired old man. Not a jaguar on the hunt of 147 Roberto.
Duran was a small framed middleweight who was fighting in a Division well above his best talent level. That is what made his victory over Barkley all the more inspiring, the huge size difference between the two. Duran does not beat a lot of the top MWs historically, but he would be apt for an upset now and then.
Carlos Monzon and Roberto Duran were friends, after their bouts, they would converse on the telephone.
