Vito's cooked if he faced the Barkley that fought Duran,unless he somehow founds a way to counter those brutal big arsenals of Iran he'll never win, especially with that defense or skin.
Vito had good infighting and heart,but if you look at Barkley's performance with Duran,it seems hard to vote for the mosquito. But again, there's still some very small hopes of Vito somehow surviving all those rampage and ripping Barkley do and beat him to the punch,like what he did to Hagler and Minter the first time(although Barkley's punches would pack more gunpowder in it)
Barkley was a 2 1/2 to 1 favorite and lost tho. I thought he fought well and Duran was inspired but he still lost. He had so much size and age on Duran. It's one of my favorite fights ever tho mind you. If cuts didn't get Vito it may well be interesting. It would be a rough fight.
Cuts win for the Barkley seems the logical conclusion but Vito was one tough hombre. Took Eugene "Cycloe" Hart´s famed left hooks and destroyed him in the fifth, rallied from early pasting to beat a still decent Briscoe (coming off 3rd title tilt and still before facing Hagler) and outworked difficult to beat Hugo Corro for the World crown over 15. Also solid wins over Emile Griffith, Eckhard Dagge, Vinnie Curto, Denny Moyer and undefeated 22-0 John L. Sullivan in 1st big win. Barkley was hugely entertaining fighter but he lost 2 mini-klassics coming up to Robbie Sims and Eddie Hall and struggled badly with Mike Tinley, James Kinchen, journeyman Sanderline Williams+Jorge Amparo (where he was badly marked up) and talented Michael Olajide who scored a knockdown before succumbing in another classic. He was losing to Hearns in the 1st fight(and badly cut up) before landing a terrific shot and was hurt and then floored by a lightweight Duran who won another classic encounter. Barkley had a good jab, tremendous power in both hands but was so easy to hit. If Vito´s paper thin skin could survive I could see him wearing down Barkley and maybe even stop him or win on points in another Iran classic battle.
Yeah,but from what I see from the Duran bout, Duran had the skills to stick and move,dodge those uppercuts and hooks on the inside for the later rounds, he's also master at adjusting,unlike Vito who's whole strategy is to pressure his opponent to death. But considering Vito's pressure caught up to past prime Bennie Briscoe, Rodrigo Valdez conqueror Hugo Corro,Eugene Hart and green Hagler,it might be possible for him to wear down Iran before he gets cut too much and gets stopped.
