We all know Roberto Duran breathed fire back into his legend and really saved his career by defeating Pipino Cuevas in four rounds in 1983 after back-to-back losses to Wilfred Benitez and Kirkland Laing the prior year. It should also be noted that both were junior middleweights by this time so above Cuevas’ best weight in particular — he came in at 149, and really didn’t have a good record above welter. He had lost to Roger Stafford in his fight prior to Duran and after fighting Roberto lost 5 of his next 8 and had a few more bouts before hanging it up. But what if they had fought at welterweight, and specifically what if the Duran who showed up to fight the rematch with Leonard (where he No Mas’d the heck out in a quit job) faced the best welterweight Cuevas. Duran’s preparation and conditioning are often cited as an excuse for why he lost to (and quit vs.) Leonard … but was he that diminished really? Was that version of Roberto good enough to beat Pipino? And if so, doesn’t that make the excuse vs. Leonard kind of a silly notion if he was good enough to beat a dominant welterweight champ on that night? What say you?
Saintpat, good thread. But if you remember Roberto Duran from the New Orleans rematch against Sugar Ray Leonard quit, the infamous No Mas statement. Jose Pipino Cuevas though not no where near as flashy and quick like Leonard could hit, remember Duran was not a lightweight anymore, he was heavier, he did not take his punch from 135 lbs with him. He did suffer back to back losses to Kirkland Lang and to Wilfred Benitez because of this very same reason, those guys were physically bigger. I think a fight against Cuevas and Duran at that point in time would result in a victory by Cuevas by a late stoppage.
Wow.. unbelievable. I go with Duran a little, just because it is a fight Duran loved, but he has to take the punch of Cuevas.. Hard one to pick.. 7/5 in favor of Duran.
That version pip was shot . The 79 version would be much more dangerous. If Duran gets through its a very hard night. Excellent fight
Duran in New Orleans looked in peak condition. If he had faced Cuevas in that fight opposed to Leonard I'm sure he beats him. Duran knew from the first fight , Leonard probably was his toughest opponent. In New Orleans when Leonard used a different tactic Duran simply became frustrated and reacted before thinking it through and quit against his hated opponent. The problems Leonard gave Duran, Cuevas simply didn't have the physicality to do. Cuevas would be their for Duran to hit. Duran would stop Cuevas with in 10rds.
Nothing physically wrong with New Orleans Duran . He just quit because Leonard was mocking him an making him look like a fool. Cuevas with his style would be far more to Duran liking. No way he say no mas against Cuevas Duran wins an exciting shootout
