Duran vs Mugabi @ 154

Yeah JT1. Mugabi's resume is looking thinner and thinner...Mugabi gave Hagler one helluva go, but Duran gets the nod (IMO) It wouldn't be easy considering Mugabi is the bigger man, but it would be similar to the Moore fight in my mind...beating Mugabi to the punch with a much more accomplished arsenal of punches, and the rolling defense that Duran was very adept at..It seemed Duran really tore up fighters that came to him. How would you see Duran against Briscoe or Valdez? Too much for Duran?...I'm not sure myself. Duran is so much better technically than either...It's the size and the power difference that could weigh on Duran eventually against those two. Stylistically though, they would be right there for Duran (to hit)
Cheers.

 

Mugabi by KO. The Beast showed good enough skills to handle a blown up lightweight like Duran.

 

Jeez, tough questions there. Duran's really up against it at Middleweight and i think a more positive Hagler would have shown him up a little. Briscoe is predictable for a fighter of Duran's class but he is also damn strong and powerful. Best case scenario for Duran is that he counters him enough and his guile takes him to a decision. I'm totally undecided between Duran's extra class and Briscoe's big weight and strength advantages. As for Valdez, i just think he has too many guns when allied to his size advantage. Can't see Duran beating him.

 

Thanks for the opinions JT...I agree that Duran may be able to squeak by Briscoe. I think that I'll go with that scenario with Duran barely being able to decision Bennie. Mainly due to Briscoe's predictability (as you stated) and even fighting as a middleweight, Duran had a clear speed advantage. Briscoe was a tank though...But Valdez would be too much, Valdez was definitely hittable, but for a devastating power puncher, he was very accurate with his punches. Don't think Valdez woudl stop him, as Duran could be very cute in there...But Roberto would have to go into survival mode to last the distance...

 

Duran would be far too slick for the Beast. Anybody should know this. Mugabi would be frustrated with Duran easily landing his shots, and even hurting Mugabi in the later rounds, maybe even decking him like he did Barkley, and winning a clear unanimous decision.

 

Great insight. He was not at optimum conditioning for Cuevas and did look soft around the middle as Ferdie observed. However, as you saw, he seemed to find his timing and rythym by about round 3 and then he began to "conclude matters."

Power alone is not a problem for Duran. Even if you have knock you dead power, it isn't enough against a well-conditioned and inspired Duran. If you compare the Hearns' right hook that capsized Duran with the Barkely left hook that had him cross-eyed and reeling (and that he did not see), I'd argue that both shots are comparable in terms of force. Hearns' was a bit faster, but Barkley's was heavier.

The difference that I see in Duran's contrasting reactions is Duran's being inspired and in great condition for Barkley. He was not against Hearns. That is not an excuse -it's a fact. Too many power dismiss the importance of conditioning in being able to take a shot.

Duran would probably beat Briscoe. Duran has proven that size and power simply isn't enough. But, Duran would not beat Valdez. Valdez had technical prowess behind that power and Duran's higher level of skill isn't quite high enough to get him a win there.

 

* As if Mugabi was even close to Hearns.

* As if Duran's win over Barkley (which happened 5 years after Hearns-Duran and only months after Barkley-Hearns) wasn't a sort of "revenge by proxy".

* As if you know what "proxy" means.

 

"Leonard by KO"
"Moore by KO"
"Barkley by KO"

History anyone?

 

Haha , GREAT post!!

 

None of the three hit as hard as Mugabi. And despite the myth that Mugabi was only about power and nothing else, he had pretty good skills, much better than Barkley, for sure.

 

:good totally agree. I'm not sure I like Duran's stylistic chances against Hearns at any weight, in fact I don't...But wouldn't it have great if Duran went into the ring in shape in June of '84? It was apparent that Duran had no fire...

 

By the time Barkley fought Van Horn, his skills had eroded very much, but he compensated with increased physical strength and power. That being said, Barkley's demonstrable skills against Duran far exceeded the skill Mugabi demonstrated during the length of his career, ever.

- Barkley was a serious MW puncher and had more developed skills and discipline than Mugabi.

- Moore was more skilled than Mugabi and hit hard himself.

- Leonard was Rembrandt to Mugabi's finger-painting.

Duran beat all of them. Your argument has fallen and it can't get up.

 

Duran was inconsistent later in his career. The Duran of 1983 who vaporized Cuevas, took apart Davey Moore and fought a nice tactical fight in a losing effort against Hagler would beat Mugabi without much of a problem. Whereas the Duran who came in unprepared against Hearns probably loses to him.

 

Barkley never showed boxing skills equal or better than Mugabi's. It wasn't eroding, it was never having them.

 

Whatever!