Roberto Duran (1978) vs Pernnel Sweet Pea Whittaker (1988) at 135 lbs, 15 rounds.

Very good fight, I think Sweat Pea wins it though. Pea could handle his own on the inside, his punching power is underrated, and his defensive ability and unique use of angles will just be too great a puzzle for the great Manos de Piedra to solve I think.

 

So close, I won't rule out a draw, their so even balanced imo.

 

Sweet Pea looked great against Ramirez and was robbed. That said he was still improving and not at his peak yet. '78 Duran was pretty much at the peak of his powers. Where Ramirez was too slow of foot to close the gap, the equally strong Duran would consistently maul Whitaker and suffocate his offense. Duran by clear UD.

 

Pea does not run, I don’t know where you’re getting this idea from. He’s there in front of you, seemingly available to be hit. It’s a puzzle unlike anything Durán ever saw & I bet he comes up short on solving it - the southpaw stance is just the icing on a very vexing cake.

 

Probably Duran.
Sweet Pea wasn’t a runner, he maybe was more of a guy who stood in front of you and made you miss and then countered you with combos. And that’s probably to his own detriment. Sweet Pea doesn’t have enough firepower to hurt Duran. And Duran’s nightmarish ring-cutting abilities, power and overall pressure, would leave Pea on the defense and wouldn’t be able to rack up enough of a offense to win.
Pea had a great chin so Duran probably gets a UD.

 

Duran was the best at 135. But if anyone has a chance of upsetting him there it’s Whitaker

 

Has Duran ever lost a fantasy H2H at lightweight on this forum?

 

If he did it would have been off night uninspired Duran.

 

I'd lean towards Whitaker to edge a very tight one it they had a one-off fight. Perhaps with Duran coming back to win 2-1 if they made it a trilogy.

 

Many forums are like this with him. He’s the darling child of many peoples’ eye as Lightweights go.

 

He lost to Johnny B.

 

Come on! you can believe Whitaker can win, but going 15 rounds with a prime Roberto Duran and saying it would be fairly comfortable?
I personally don't believe Sweet Pea has the firepower to keep Duran at bay and he'd begin to be overwhelmed later in the fight.