Sweet pea vs Duran

Duran at 135, 140, 147. All by close decisions -which is a testimony to Pernell's pride and toughness.

 

What I said was that the greatest chance for either man to score a knockout would come at 135. I brought up Whitaker's power at the weight because it is often over looked. I beleve that Whitaker would do better at 140 and 147 because I beleve he is smart enough not to get invovlved in a war with Duran and good enough not to let Duran make it a war.

 

Mabey I do but I still think Whitaker would win.

 

Why? Whitaker wasn't as effective at welterweight as he was at lightweight. If Whitaker could have moved against Chavez at 147lbs like he did against Nelson at 135lbs, then he would have, but he never. He had bulked up more and was less mobile. Whitaker's reflexes weren't the same for him at welterweight. If you look at Duran's performances against Palamino and the first Leonard fight then compare them to his lightweight days, then you'll notice he looked extremely close to his best days at lightweight. The punch output was the same, infact maybe higher, his speed hadn't diminished a great deal, and his overall work was as good as you'll see for a two weight jump.

Whitaker without question is a more hittable target for Duran at 147lbs.

 

Nope. The greatest chance for either man to score a knockout comes at 147lbs in favour of Duran. That aside, I think Whitaker lasts the distance. However, 147lbs is the best chance for Duran to score a knockout if a KO is happening at all.

 

Hard to decide...










....if this thread has been done a million ,or a billion times? I dont know.

 

Whitaker...but maybe the two greatest lightweights of the 20th century?

 

This question ultimately comes down to whether Whitaker's defense could nullify Duran's offense enough that Whitaker's sharp punching and jabbing could get him enough points to win. While I'm by no means an expert on Duran's early career, from what I've seen of him in his prime days at lightweight, there wasn't much that could discourage or disrupt Duran's offense when he was in his prime. Whitaker's defense would succeed in doing it at times, but could he do it enough and score enough to get a decision over 12 or 15 rounds?

I don't know. I think I might have to give Duran the edge in this fight.

 

co-sign

 

I think you have ask the question, could Duran ever beat the Leonard who he faced in the second fight, who used the 'running' tactic? If you think the answer is no, he'd have the same problem against Whitaker, if its 'yes he was drained', then he'd win.

 

I'm coming right down on the fence here.

Whitaker wins over 12, Duran over 15.