Duran vs. DLH at 154

Tough call.

I would actually favor Roberto Duran. I think he would roll with De La Hoya's punches, land his combinations, and box his way to a clear cut decision.

 

Duran any day of the week, provided he didn't turn up in Kirkland Laing shape...but he wouldn't for a big name opponent.
we're talking about 2 different category of fighter altogether here, this is an easy pick.

 

I always assume that when we have these mythical "what if" fights that we're only considering the best, or peak example of any given fighter in the matchup. I mean, why bother considering Duran of his Kirkland Laing period against De La Hoya unless you make it the ODLH at HIS most mediocre period? Assuming it's both guys at their BEST in the same weight division, I'd pick Duran to win a very hard, difficult fight against Oscar, who would use his gifts and physical advantages very effectively, but Duran would "pull a rabbit out of his hat", so to speak, like he's done, improbably, at critical times of his career and win a close, hard fought decision.

 

This is a difficult fight to pick. I don't believe Duran was particularly strong at this weight, physically I mean. I think that when he went over welterweight, you were seeing how broad his skill set really was.

De la Hoya has a very distinct size advantage,would have the faster hands, and an edge in power here as well. I would pick Oscar to win a decision, but a couple of things bother me.

Oscar never really appeared to have the same legs here that he possessed against Trinidad at 147. I don't know if 7 pounds, or age, or just the people he was facing made the difference. The other thing that bothers me is the way he looked in his rematch with Chavez. Oscar looked like a man fighting a child in that fight. He had even more advantages over Chavez in that fight than he would have over Duran in this one. Chavez was much further faded at that point Duran was at 154. If Chavez looked that good against Oscar, at that age; imagine how Duran would have performed against a De la Hoya that chose to fight in that fashion.

If Oscar chooses to box and move, his size and hand speed should be enough to win a decision. If he stands flat footed as he did against Mayorga, I'd take Duran by decision.

 

DLH, and pretty easily. Duran wasn´t great at this weight, Oscar showed he was at LMW. I would say comfortable UD for DLH.

 

Oscar was significantly declined at this weight as well and not all that much bigger than Duran.

It would come down to skills and Duran has far more.

 

Duran TKO late-to-mid rounds.

 

DLH proved he was great at 154? How? By beating a shot Vargas, losing to Mosley and Mayweather and avoiding Wright? Duran dominated Moore and Cuevas, went close with Hagler 1 weight up but lost to Benitez and Hearns. However I don't see Delahoya beating Benitez and HEarns anyway.

Delahoyas movement may have caused problems for a slowing Duran but if Duran is in shape he closes him down slips Delahoyas jab and unleashes better shots at mid and close range more emphatically than Mosley did

Remember everytime Delahoya has faced a great fighter hes come up short

Duran UD 8-4

 

yeah I don't get it, DLH never looked great at 154 and it's arguable he looked great at any weight. The facts are his big wins were against washed up fighters to differing degrees, while came up short most of the rest of time he faced elite fighters.
I admit I consider DLH one of the most overrated sportsmen of a generation.
and we're supposed to believe he had a good chance against Roberto Duran?

 

:huh

 

He certainly looked great at 140lbs even though he was there for only three fights. So it's not arguable that he never looked great at any weight.

 

Anyone who thinks Duran would stop De La Hoya inside the distance at 154lbs needs to think very carefully. IMO they need to redo their opinion. It's not impossible, but it's unlikely when taking everything into consideration. De La Hoya's durability combined with Duran's fairly average power at the weight.

Duran wasn't even a lethal puncher at 135lbs. A very good one, but not among the elite punchers 'pound for pound'.

 

some good points but I reckon that he beat mosley by a mile. it can be argued whether fernando was shot or not. he looked good in the early rounds against oscar. i thought that he was going to blow oscar away

credit must be given to de la hoya for beating a man as good and big as vargas. sure his skills may have declined a bit since tito but he still had a lot there

he was on the floor against rivera but that can sometimes happen to boxers. oscar was down and hurt a few times early in his career. r u going to say he was shot then?

 

Duran was better fighter, if he showed up in shape the left hook to the body would make OSCAR CRUMBLE......DURAN WAS A fighter