Best lightweight you pick Buchanan to beat?

Enquirer, he was a great ring general who could dominate the centre of the ring with footwork and punches in bunches, could set things up with his jab also if he had someone trying to play the jabbing game. But he wasn't exclusively what some call a 'runner', i think someone like James Toney who prides himself on using angles and not running would have respect for Ken.

(not that Toney had any footwork to use! haha)

 

Fighting a mover takes allot of chasing down (cutting the ring off) and workrate, both massively stamina intensive so as he aged or lost stamina it was a much harder task.

Duran just managed to swarm Buchanon from recollection, but the faster/stronger/rangier movers would have always given him more trouble. Ie beating him to the punch and keeping him at range.

 

So,i think the conclusion is that at 135 (and 147.) a mover who is not agressive is not going to do owt to duran,can we also say that an agressive mover would not do for duran either?
( slides into the realm of 'could new orleans leonard beat montreal duran'?Slides away....)

 

AGREED. Defensively Duran is amazing, Armtrong can't slip a punch and counter nearly as well as Duran. Duran's punching technique, compactness of the shot, timing, handspeed all better than Henry.

Armstrongs workrate may be tough going for Kenny though as Duran's also was

 

Enquirer, Duran beat Leonard, Leonard beat Duran, two great fighters got a win over one another and deserve credit. The stuff about Leonard losing the first fight and not Duran winning it is pure bull****. Duran gets the better of the long range exchanges early on and then imposes himself with the feinting and brawling. By the same token i give Leonard credit for the rematch, (i suppose!)

 

I'm not comparing a prime Duran with Armstrong, I'm comparing the young, green, swarming version of Duran with Armstrong. I completely disagree that that version of Duran was an overall better fighter than Armstrong. They're on the same plane, but technical skills don't really need be taken into account when comparing two fighters who used primarily swarming/overwhelming tactics.

 

You never no until 2 men are in a ring, but Leonard/Whitaker/Mayweather are better faster athletes than Buchanan for instance, so they can more easily beat duran to the punch and step out and contary to what some think being hit in the face by these men hurts. All close hard to judge match ups

 

I hear you Teeto,i just think in the second fight there were exceptional circumstances (not leonards fault,and definately robertos mistake.) ,
and im trying to think if duran could beat ray in 'hagler mode'?
I think he could,i also do credit leonard as one the greatest fighters of all time,just a bit below duran! :smoke

 

Haha, i like that last part Enquirer

 

But dont you think PP,that only leonard has the natural size,strenght and power to actually to attempt to keep roberto at bay? (rather than just the speed.)

 

Whitaker isn't the kind of mover equirer is talking about i don't think, nor the kind many have the opinion Duran didn't do well against.That's not to say his style of footwork would't pose a lot of issues for Duran, but i would't think he would fight like Loenard, Fernandez and others.I

mayweather often is but he isn't as good a mover as Buchanan imo.He doesn't switch directions as well and his feet are slower, as well as being a lot easier to get to the ropes(which he often does willingly anyway).It's the upperbody stuff he'd have the advantage in.

 

Yes mantequilla,im thinking more of the leonard v hagler type of movement,not the james toney,mayweather 'in the pocket' kind of moves.
I think roberto eats up these kinds of movers due to his inside work,feints,counters,sneak rights,overall pressure and head movement.

 

The list of fighters he would beat Buchanan head to head seems relatively short. I think I'd favor a prime Laguna (I'm talking the one he beat Ortiz) by a hair over prime Buchanan. Very close though. I haven't seen Laguna - Buchanan I, just the second fight (which I scored for Ken). Maybe someone who has seen both could comment on these two.