Crawford’s Canelo win vs Duran’s Barkley win, which was more impressive?

Duran imo. Crawford's win is class but the weight jump is deceptive, given his history of weight cutting, in ring weights and the fact that Canelo is also a smaller SMW. Canelo and Crawford are around the same size. Meanwhile, Duran was a legitimate 25lbs heavier than his best weight division going against a big middleweight (for the time) in Barkley.

Stylistically, Duran was also able to beat Barkley in exchanges up close and inside which is insane to me. I will concede that Canelo is obviously better than Barkley as a boxer but the main hype for the win is the weight jump which to me is a bit smoke and mirrors imo.

 

Duran started at 119lb. Barkley was a monster.

 

crawford.

both of the bigger guys were limited. barkley more so.

big fan of iran but that's the truth.

 

I give the edge to Duran b/c he appeared to be on his last legs heading into the Barkley fight, whereas Crawford was still a candidate for p4p #1. Myself & others genuinely felt sorry for Duran before that fight.

 

I say the Barley win is more impressive, because Duran faced huge physcial disadvantages. Duran was 5ft.7 and Barkely 6ft1 (looked like a light heavyweight). Crawford had the height and reach advantage over Canelo. Also 37 on 1989 is not exactly 37 in 2025. Today fighters age better.

 

Barkley had just KOd ATG Thomas Hearns.. Canelo had just chased no name William Scull around for 12.. It's obviously Duran. Canelo is in poor form these days, he can't pull the trigger & hasn't stopped anyone since 2021. Also Barkley was legit much bigger than Duran.. 6'1 with a 74 inch reach. Canelo isn't bigger than Crawsnac.

 

Agreed. The idea of Duran winning felt like a flight of fancy and then his ability to call on all of his resources and set the scene of a competitive bout became quite palpable.

 

Crawford. Duran barely squeaked by Barkley and you can make a case that Barkley won. Crawford won decisively against a much more highly regarded champion.