Could Ken Buchanan have beaten Roberto Duran?

Duran was ahead 8-3-1, 8-3-1 and 9-2-1 in rounds after 13. He was somewhat raw, but with relentless vitality. Buchanan needed a knockout to win, and there's just no way that was going to happen. For a rematch, Roberto would have enjoyed the added experience of his title win over Ken. Beyond that, El Cholo would have been additionally fired up by his upset loss to DeJesus, which came just five months after Buchanan, before Duran had even defended the title. As tough as Ken was, he'd likely go the distance in a rematch, but enter retirement with another conclusive beating having been administered to him. Not rematching Duran extended Buchanan's career, resulting in a number of good wins over the following eight years, wins which helped him get to Canastota by 2000.

 

Hell to the MOF NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The still very young Duran only got better after this and he would have finished Buchanan earlier had they fought again.

 

maybe edge him in a ten rounder non-title fight like Dejesus did, as historically we all know Duran was rarely as up for rematches in fights he had handled the first time around.

certainly not over 15 though, even if Duran is likely to be far less intense second time around(imo he never fought at near Buichanan 1 pace again anyway)until he realises it's a fight.


That period of slowing down his style, technical development and seasoning in between winning the title and rematching Dejesus was when Duran was most vulnerable to close fights against other top fighters at lightweight though i think.

 

Duran would always poo on Ken's dick

 

i like this...duran is the only fighter i have a complete collection of and i can't wait to scope out this period

 

On Points - NO
On stoppage - NO
On Foul - Yes, but only with a fair and honest referee. (He did not have that the first time)

Woller

 

Too many giving Buchanan benefit of the doubt.. A guy who always thought was underrated,, but in my 2 years on ESB ive come to find hes overrated (at least here).

@ Lora and your theory on Duran in rematches is misleading... He beat Viruet similarly in their 2 fights (competetive but decisive) .. Around and after he fought Leonard he was blowing up in between fights unlike in his prime years at LW.. Also although Buchanan was great(borderline) he is not Sugar Ray who actually impoved and Duran slipped.... Total opposites with the other too as Duran Improved and Buchanan slipped.

As for Pazienza,Camacho(losses but one very close and one robbery). This doesnt count that was Durans middle aged father in there...

 

Duran was in 3rd gear for the majority of those Viruet fights.he always was for those kind of fighters, but that sort of mentality is what i'm getting at really.

having won comfortably once and at a stage in his career where his team were getting him to slow down a few notches and work on things technically, it's not tough for me to see more disinterested or slower paced less intense Duran like the one that fought Suzuki and others.Maybe wouldn't have happened, i'm just speculating here.

Anyway i wouldn't pick Buchanan over him outwith that potential scenario of the two fighting a relatively quick rematch over ten...and i might not pick him there either, just that it would be his best shot.

 

No No and No again

 

Could ? yes
Would ? Unlikely

 

Yes. He could have, but Duran would not be easy to beat. It would have been great fight, Duran's people avoided it, not Buchannans.

Buchanan expected easy bout in title defense, and got very bad surprise, yet still was competitive, although behind on points, when Duran landed very low blow--right in the balls, no Zab Judah bull**** there---and ref said he did not see it.

 

Not in this universe.

 

Very classy.

 

Never, sad to say, and nor was Duran in danger of losing either.

this Duran, Buchanan business is the same as Turpin, Robinson II... Ray was in no danger of losing, I've seen the fight countless times and at one point at about the 8th rnd, there is even mention of how few punches or inactive Turpin has been throughout!

it just wasn't going to happen, not in both those fights anyhow.

 

Good thread & first post.
Yes , I think Buchanan could , and I can add to your post that Duran knew that he could (and of course would have never admitted) , or otherwise he wouldn't have fouled the way he did . Plus we know Buchanan never lost by stoppage outside of this fight , which was not a legitimate stoppage , a DQ would have been more appropriate .