Could Montreal Duran beat Wilfred Benitez?

I think the Montreal version of Roberto Duran would have a good chance against anyone except Thomas Hearns. (The "Hit Man" would be a bad matchup for him no matter what--too much reach and power. I don't see any version of Duran beating Hearns.)

 

He would be good but the problem,was, it's a greatly trained Benitez in there, it's like,better than the one that appeared on the Leonard fight and the fight with Tommy,and you know how the worse version of Benitez made everyone look bad.

 

Yes IMO. He's all over Benitez befor he has a chance to get set. Possibly even a stoppage.

 

Montreal Duran would beat any 147 pound version of Wilfred Benitez for mine but put Montreal Duran in the ring with Las Vegas Benitez and i'm on Benitez. He only weighed 152 1/4 that night so it's not as if weight overly matters.

 

Other than Thomas Hearns, who was simply kryptonite to him.
Montreal Duran beat any welter in history. That includes
Ray Robinson in a one fight situation.
At welterweight that version would be able to track Benitez
down, stop him late.

 

Montreal Duran gives Benitez the fight of his life.

Duran would be all over Benitez putting relentless pressure. As skilled as Benitez was I have serious doubts he would manage to keep Duran away.

 

This , prime 147 Roberto stops Benitez

 

Interesting question.The basic premise is that by his insults before the fight and his constant aggression Leonard was goaded into a
mano y mano punch up with Duran,would Benitez fall into the same trap?
Duran was also going up another weight category, would he be quite as relentless?
I don't know but I'm guessing no.
Benitez was always pretty cool under fire,I don't think Duran's insults,and macho posturing would get under his skin to the same extent they did Ray's.At 147 ? It's a toss up,imo

 

Ray Robinson would enjoy many of the same leverage advantages over Roberto that Tommy did and IMO, hit just as hard with either hand, but was a more fluid, complete puncher than Tommy. Robbi likely represents more hazards for Roberto to negotiate than Tommy, simply for his ability to destroy from outside, mid-range and inside, off either hand.

Roberto wouldn't be able to bully Ray to the ropes like he did Leonard in round 2, without catching something nasty in retaliation when coming into the inside range and I certainly don't think that Duran outboxes Ray from the outside and mid-range - he has to negotiate to the inside and use his skillset. Robinson's inside work and combination power punching was superior to Leonard's.

Combined with Ray's ability to move and hit with concussive power on a tuppence of a pivot, I don't think Roberto does to Robinson what he was able to do to Leonard. In fact, whilst I acknowledge that Roberto was special that night, Robbi at his very best, long night for Duran - very long night.

 

Man, I hate the reputation & familiarity of these guys sometimes. Durán, Hagler & Leonard specifically. They become so inflated. Already we have not only Durán beating Benitez (who he literally lost to), but also Robinson (the result would never be in doubt).

Leonard proved Durán was his fight to lose, & he lost it fighting Durán’s fight. Benitez would not go down that road in a hundred years…but saying it’s the best Welter Durán vs a Benitez who didn’t even train (vs Leonard) is stacking the deck.

Benitez at his best would never lose to Durán.

 

The question is “could.” The answer is “yes.”

Switch the question to “would.” Maybe a different answer.

 

Funny, LaMotta bullied Robinson to the ropes many times... And also
dropped him a few times in their first couple fights. Yes I know
LaMotta was a natural middleweight, but his physicality/athleticism and
skill level was nowhere near the Duran that showed up
and showed out in Montreal.
Robinson was also dropped by Bell at welter, and by most of the audience in
attendance for the fight, was actually beaten by Marty Servo who was the
exact size of Duran ........ And not close to his skill level.
Robinson is the G.O.A.T . He earned that title, but that doesn't
mean some of the other ATG's in history couldn't beat him
on their best night.

 

True. I usually take, ‘Could’ to be inferred as ‘Would’ in these circumstances, mind.