Can A Case Be Made To Place Duran At #1 P4P All Time?

You've come a long way!

 

No! Not while there is Robinson,Armstrong,and Greb to consider,imo.

 

By weight, I don't mean pounds, I mean emphasis. Redemptions require loss. Loss hurts status. If Duran went out like a man against Leonard II, then rose up in weight and faced down all of his challenges (particularly Moore, Hagler, and Hearns), he'd topple Robinson. He would be king of the world.

It is indeed a mark of character to come back from bad losses, but I don't think it enhances standing in ATG ratings. Nothing does that like winning.

 

It also meant that Ali avenged the Frazier loss twice. If Ali couldn't come out for the last round in Manila and Frazier won, would Frazier climb your ATG HW ratings? He would mine.

 

Totally agree. If Frazier beat Ali 3 times then Foreman then retires............

 

An immediate rubber? Duran was such a psychological mess after No Mas that he might have come in out of shape again. Who knows.

Let's say that he did get in great shape and was inspired at the end of 81. Duran would not have beaten Leonard again. The window where he ever would have been able to beat Leonard was 79-80. He slowed down a smidgen after that, and that would spell the difference.

However, best for best, I take Duran.

 

I disagree human nature does not always reward winning. Outside of boxing very often people have to lose, so redemption can make them greater; Gandhi became a greater man by losing his fight to keep the people of India together; Mandela was never greater than when he was prison; Churchill was driven to greatness by the demons of Gallipoli...

Duran became a better fighter for redeeming himself post New Orleans IMO.

 

I like the analogies and am guilty of indulging in the same myself. I think we would both do well to remember that boxing is, ultimately, a sport.

Here we go... Jesus's loss was mankind's gain and I'm a believer. But if Golgotha were a ring, then Jesus took a dive and boxrec would read like this:

Caesar KO 3 Jesus "the Nazarene"

 

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Who can mind of this, I certainly can't.


Maybe because I was only 3 years old.

 

Yes, I think a case can be made for Duran at number 1.

Personally I'd probably put Robinson, Greb, Armstrong, Pep, Charles, Moore, B.Leonard, Langford, Saddler, and perhaps Monzon ahead of him.

 

He dominated his division for about 7 or 8 years, beat a very good crop of challengers, most of them with utter ease. His opposition at MW may well have been better than Duran's at LW. Monzon would edge Duran as fighter of the decade for the 1970s in many people's minds.
I prefer Duran's style but Monzon is arguably greater.