Chavez vs. Duran peak/peak at 135.

That sums it up perfectly right there

:good Duran UD

 

He quit against Ray Leonard - is Chavez going to dance around the ring like Leonard did?

 

Two favorites.
Duran by UD. No doubt about it.

 

Watch Chavez against Edwin Rosario.

Then watch Duran against Carlos Palomino.

You will see a world of difference in versatility, variety and intelligence. Chavez was great, but Duran was a genius, and it's as simple as that. This matchup is akin to pitting Mickey Walker against Ray Robinson.

Not to mention, Duran likely matched Chavez (at least) for strength, durability, punching power and stamina.

 

Duran would have beaten Chavez. Better defense, better long range boxing ability, and maybe even better inside. Duran also got off much more freely with his punches, with Chavez being more measured and patient.

Chavez was a hell of a fighter, but not quite as good as Duran.

 

Maybe a better way to awnser the posters question more accurately. Watch Chavez v Rosario, and Duran v De Jesus III, as both were contested at lightweight. That was probably a better performance by Duran than his points with over Palamino at 147lbs. Duran's most complete showing as a lightweight, with a devastating KO to put the icing on the cake.

Duran during his late lightweight days became a brilliant defensive fighter. And his defense served him well as he moved through the weights.

 

Duran had better head and upperbody movement than Chavez. Surprised you don't think so. I think your just telling lies ain't you?. Duran's ability to slip punches, and take the sting out of partially landed blows was as good as any fighter in history, especially for being so aggressively minded.

 

Chavez was a magnificent fighter - just look at his record. Some of his performances are excellent.

Chavez had an excellent defence for a pressure fighter - watch him duck punches, slip them and block shots with a tight guard. He hit hard as well with short, crisp punches, and he'd be on you all night if he felt like it.

But he wasn't as good as Duran.

The difference was a thing some like to call 'genius' - it's both a mental and physical quality that is possessed by very few fighters and it only comes along once in a blue moon. Duran had it.

Watch Duran against Carlos Palomino, arguably his best performance. Watch it carefully; look at Duran's smooth, gliding movement. He flows brilliantly and dazzles Palomino with his handspeed and unorthodox, innovative but fundamentally brilliant moves. While Chavez would stalk Edwin Rosario, back him up against the ropes and trade with him, Duran would taunt Palomino with feinting hands and feet, make him duck and uppercut him in the ribs; then he might skip back, let Palomino think he's in the clear then whack him with a one-two.

Chavez didn't have those rapid fire reflexes like Duran. He couldn't pull off a move like the sixth round knockdown on Palomino, where Duran whipped in a right hand out of nowhere and was ready to react and counter. Chavez was a fighter who was content to read from the textbook, but in turn it made his moves too tidy and clean. Compare him to Duran on the inside, for example; Chavez is ducking, slipping, hooking hard and defending himself nicely. But it's all too conventional, too neat and trim - there was nothing confusing about it. Duran, on the other hand, would tie up his opponent but still somehow be hitting him with uppercuts. He'd be loose and flexible like a piece of elastic, his head moving with punches as though he had an in-built radar. Duran was untidy on the inside but devilishly effective, and I think he'd find Chavez predictable and time him to perfection - just like he did with Palomino.

I tell you what 'fight' may sum this one up... Achilles versus Hector in the film Troy. In terms of basic physicalities; strength, speed, stamina, they were probably equal. But Achilles possessed that extra attribute, that genius. He was a class above. You saw his snake-like movement and inventive maneuvers, he confused Hector and brought a whole new method to the table which the latter had never seen before. Though merely a fantasy fight, the factors within that battle reflect what can happen in real life.

 

Excellent post, Manassa.

 

Thank you. I can't understand why anyone would pick Chavez over Duran - are these the same people who choose Hamed over Pep or Walker over Robinson?

 

Read my other post, I explained more specifically there.

 

I respect your pick but I really can´t see JCC beating Duran by KO...


do you think the bodyshots would make Duran tired or how do you meant it?

 

And that's exactly what would lose him the fight. Compared to Duran, Chavez was a robot.

By the way, people picking Chavez by knockout have some major explaining to do. On what basis? This particular poster pointed out body shots; when did body shots ever bother Duran?

 

Chavez worked the body more, yes, but that doesn't mean he beats Duran, who took harder punches than Chavez'. Duran blocked body shots very well actually. You may be forgetting that Duran is probably the bigger man in this fight and the harder hitter - as well as the more skilled and intelligent.