Convince me about Duran......

Because he completely dominated the division for 10years, beating 2 of the best ever at the weight before jumping 2 weight divisions and beating arguably the best ever at Welterweight.

How many lightweights in history could beat Buchanan, Dejesus, LEonard, Palermo?

 

Lets step back and look at his reume in a historical context.

His reign as lineal lightweight champion would in itself have been one of the more impresive title reigns of any weight class in terms of longevity and opposition.

His win over Ray Leonard is awsome not just because it makes him a champion in two of the classical eight weight classes but also because he beat a man who many people regard as being one of the three best welterweights of all time to do it. The only historical parallel would be Joe Gans getting a draw against Barbados Joe Walcott.

It would also be necesary to consider that he beat some good fighters at middleweight and won a version of the title at that weight.

Among the lightweights his only real peers in terms of resume are Joe Gans and Benny Leonard, and a good case can be made for ranking him as the best of the three. Consider also that he lightweight division is considered to be the most talent rich division historicaly by many.

In pound for pound terms the closest comparisons would be fighters like Joe Gans Mickey Walker and Henry Armstrong.

 

The best Lightweight I've seen during my life as a boxing fan. He had it all. Power,aggression,tight defence,speed and stamina. At higher weights,his performance levels were erratic,but definitely one of the immortal lightweights.

 

also the 2 fastest koes in lighweight title history. only man to do so

 

- Won lightweight title in 1972, won middleweight title in 1989

- IMO, achieved one of the very best wins in history, if not THE best, by beating a peak Leonard at SRL's weight

- Was one of the most dominant and brilliant single-division champions in history

There is much more, but that's more than enough I think.

 

well for me as a big duran fan there is nothing much to add (well ofcourse there is, but it comes down to what the rest of you guys already wrote down).
for me roberto duran is nr. 6 at all time p4p. and will probably stay there for a long time.

 

Had Duran stuck to his style in the second fight, he would have won. As it was, it was a very close fight when he pulled the No Mas.

Coulda, shoulda, woulda...

 

Well, he's the most complete fighter in history, isn't he? If you were to rate his various attributes, they'd look like this:

Power 8/10
Speed 8/10
Defence 9/10
Combination punching 8/10
Stamina 10/10
Ring generalship 9/10
Counter punching 9/10
Durability 9/10

And so on. There aren't many fighters who can match that, perhaps two or three.

 

Only what he did at LW could conceivable give him a top 10 spot. Add wins over Palomino, Leonard, Cuevas and Barkley to that - as well as a very good losing effort to Hagler - and you have a fighter that have a very good shout for top 10, or perhaps even top 5, despite some less than glorius efforts.

 

mightyd, read this and you'll understand:

http://www.thesweetscience.com/boxing-article/6588/roberto-duran-fourth-crown/

 

May i add,

Intimidation capacity 10+/10:good

 

A few fighters have jumped up & became champions in 4 divisions before & they are recognized rightfully as greats of the sport (no bums have ever managed it, put it that way)....

A few fighters have been absolutely dominant in their natural weight class to become one of the best ever in that class & they are regarded as the A+ of boxing, the one off`s....

Duran did both....

Throw in Leonard, Dejesus, Buchanan, Palomino & Cuevas + the fact that his record was 71-1 before his prime came to an end & the fact that he was the only fighter to have fought in 5 separate decades - 1967-2002 (I think :think) & you have a definite top 10 fighter.

:good

 

:goodgreeeeat avatar and well said!!!!