This fight was rumoured to be happening both fighters would have been in their primes here with Arguello moving up. Arguello was quietly confident of his chances in this saying he would win but it would be tough and a 'Great fight' I have always just had a feeling Arguello could do it but it is Duran. What do you guys think
I'd pick Duran, but yes it must be said that his style is not outright bad for Arguello. Both men will be in a fight and Arguello has the chance to land very heavy blows as Duran closes the distance. What i think would happen more often though is Duran landing and rolling with/slipping a lot of heavy artillery being fired in his own direction.
If Arguello could time Duran's up and down bobbing, and start landing the right hand, he might score a late TKO, but if not, Duran beats him.
I think Arguello has a slight stylisic advantage here the only thing is strong pressure fighters gave Arguello more trouble at LW than at SFW. But then again Arguello had that legendary performance against Pryor that he could muster up from within so you cant discount him.
Yeah I read the fight was in the pipeline in Durans biography. Anyway I'll go with Duran by decision. Just can't pick against him at that time & that weight against anybody.
On the Pryor performance, he did amazing, no doubt, but you'd have to imagine him landing less against Duran than Pryor ultimately, wouldn't you? This would be an epic though, we really got denied.
Arguello was so up for it, he sleep walked though the Fernandez fight and blew it. Sure Alexis would of been in much better form against Duran, but in 1978 Duran did not make many mistakes, Arguello could switch off, and that IMO would of been the difference. Duran Wu15 (9-6)
Arguello screwed the pooch against Fernandez. That's what stopped Arguello/Duran. I have zero evidence, just an opinion, but I think Alexis actually looked past Fernandez and took him to lightly. That's just an opinion. The only thing that could be construed as evidence is the rematch where Alexis won damn near every round.
Everyone has done all the work for me. Everyone knows how I feel about Arguello, but Duran would stop him late. Arguellos power was as pronounced as Hearns at 130/135 but doesn't have the weight behind it Hearns had. More mobile and subtle at la then at 154 I can't see Arguello scoring a Kd, let alone a stoppage, and he's too static and slow footed to outbox Duran, especially at this stage.
This would be quite a war, both men giving and taking punishment. However, as against Pryor, I see Duran's superior defense ultimately ruling the night. Roberto either by UD or late TKO. Duran's constant pressure, coupled with making Arguello miss some key shots, makes certain that the Explosive Thin Man would tire a little bit quicker.
Duran's speed of hand and foot combined with his great defense and use of angles see him either beating Arguello to the punch or slipping and countering. Duran's greater volume and combination punching would also pay dividends. Arguello would have his moments but would land substancially less than he did against Pryor and Duran being the greater puncher would get him out of there faster, say around the 9th-10th rounds
The 1978 version of Alexis was 3 years and a few wars younger than the 1981 version that ultimately beat Jim watt. Now, let's factor that in, and we may be looking at the wrong Arguello.
th only argument for choosing a later Arguello is that he wont have grown into a Lightweight. He still had all the tools in 1978 and had his youth IMO. I just think if anyone can stop Duran coming forward its Arguello with his clever boxing and hard shots especially to the body because noone eve really targeted Durans body at LW