Duran Vs Oscar At Welter

Oscar seems to bring out dislike with many, and i wonder sometimes if it clouds their judgment. Oscar is no stroll in the park for anyone. At 147 he's a better fighter than many think or admit IMO. I don't like him much above the weight however.

 

I've alway's thought Oscar at Lightweight was one of the more impressive fighters I've seen in my time as a fight fan and would've been a good match-up with Duran even at 135.His power was HUGE here and along with his size,handspeed and skill makes him a very formidable opponent.

That said after recently watching a lot of Duran fights I can't see Oscar beating him either here or at Welter,but I don't see Duran stopping him either.Oscar's got a very good chin,was a determined fighter when he gritted his teeth plus was sound defensively.No one walks over Oscar at 135-147 imo.

 

I've followed De La Hoya's career more than any other boxer over the last 12 years or so. I know him very well indeed. And still consider him one of my favourites of all-time. I knew a few facts about him that would surprise many on here or the general for that matter.

He performed well when he made the jump to 154lbs. Castillejo, Vargas, Campas, and Mayorga were all fights won at the weight. Mosley II was seen a controversial, and the Mayweather fight was seen as close. I never seen any glaring weaknesses after moving up from welterweight. He's got previous for stamina issues at that weight as well with Trinidad and Mosley I.

I do seen him as a better welterweight than jr middleweight, although not by much. He was certainly in or around his prime at welterweight.

 

I totally agree with everything Griffo, with the possible exception of Hearns.

 

De La Hoya's style has always been a confusing picture all the way through his career. Defensive adjustments began halfway through his reign as lightweight champion. It was his close and unconvincing win over Molina which made him bring in Rivero to work alongside Alcazar.

Watch De La Hoya against Paez or Molina and you'll see a predictable fighter. Always within punching range, no movement from the waist upwards, and lacking lateral movement. His defense was evidently lacking against Molina when he couldn't get him out of there over 12. His defense was strictly a high guard in these showings. Paez was a blowout, but Molina marked him up.

Watch the Ruelas fight and you'll see slicker moves. Pulling his head back inches to avoid blows, bending from the waist, backing up effectively when needed, and becoming technically smoother and less rigid.

If you watch his fight with Hernandez, the improvements are remarkable. De La Hoya fights smaller than ever. He adjusts the height of himself and fights out of a 'bob and weave' crouch. His head never stops moving and almost resembles a fighter being on a swivel. Just watch his punch economy throughout that fight. He's not reckless and picks his burts of punches to the body and head like a demon. The uppercut was perhaps his most lethal weapon.

De La Hoya's problem has always been that he's never decided if he's a boxer or a puncher. His style has always been different in patches throughout his career. He certainly became a puncher under Steward.

 

A tad unfair to Oscar, he came on strong at the end against Quartey (after losing most the early rounds), put Vargas away late. He faded against Tito because he didnt want to risk getting taken out. He faded against the fast paced Mosley and he faded against Mayweather when he was 34.

All that being said Duran fights at a faster pace, is a better more natural boxer, better fighter, better defense, better punch technique. Duran wins 10-5 UD

 

De La Hoya's stamina was pretty much one of his strong points when he needed to go the distance prior to facing Trinidad.

IMO, he's had stamina issues in the follwing fights: Trinidad WW, Mosley WW, Mosley II LMW, Mayweather LMW. Some stamina issues were more serious than others. The case of the last three rounds of Trinidad fight can also be seen as tactical error, but he was blowing heavily over the last couple of rounds.

 

Disputable. I think that you are being a bit rigid here. These hypotheticals do not require that a recent fighter be surprised with an extra 3 rounds at the pre-fight instructions ("touch gloves and come out fighting. And by the way, the fight is for 15 rounds not 12, good luck and God bless").

Like you, I like to limit the speculation as much as we can. For example I won't participate in a thread where you have Hagler competing at LHW, or how Robinson would do against Ali had be been a natural HW. It's ludicrous speculation. This isn't. I disagree that adding 3 rounds to what is already speculative should be so discouraged. That being said, I've always believed that De La Hoya was a tense fighter... and that extra 3 rounds would hurt him. Hopkins and Pacquaio? They could adjust... easily.

 

When I consider Duran at 147 I think of "Montreal" Duran. In my opinion, only fighters in the Robinson, Leonard, Griffith, Gavilan type class last the distance that night with Duran. Although it was a pretty close fight, Duran gave Leonard a hell of a beating that night. I do think Oscar makes the cut as a great fighter but there are different levels of greatness. I don't think Oscar is in that upper level. He decided he didn't want any part of Trinidad in the last 3 or 4 rounds (of a 12 round fight) and gave away a fight he had won. He never fought anyone remotely close to Duran as far as having the ability to close the gap and rough him up on the inside. Lots of great welterweights have moved up to middleweight with varying success. But Oscar is the only one I recall getting stopped by a bodyshot. I feel that Oscar had the right gameplan against Mayweather but gassed and/or decided he wasn't willing to go out on his shield in an effort to win the fight. I think Oscar could last 12 against Duran, but I don't see it over 15.

 

If he ran like a little *****, like he did against Trinidad perhaps. That would be an interesting scenario, wouldnt it? I can see it now. At Welterweight. Oscar, post round 5, decides there is no way in Hell he is going toe to toe with Satan himself, so he gets on his little pink bicycle. And spins like Richard Simmons in a spinning class. Duran, at some point in the 7th, stops chasing, center ring and gestures Oscar to come forward. Oscar of course, doesnt oblige, and Duran makes a gesture to his groin area, with the cameras running.

Then Duran's motormouth would start, in rapid-fire Spanish, calling Oscar things such as "Mujer" and "Maricon" and "puta" during and after each round, as Duran follows Oscar to his corner and openly insults him more while his cornermen and the Ref try to keep him away. Duran would also start talking vile obscenities to whatever woman Oscar was with at ringside, to her disgust.... But the camera's mic would catch it all for the home audience.

That being said, Duran chases a frightened Oscar for 13 rounds, until he catches him in round 14. A barrage of head and bodyshots make Oscar take a knee, and his corner throws in the towel.

 

I definitely think Duran would hate Oscar very much the way he hated Leonard. And then win a UD.

 

Duran would put a clinic on Oscar.

it might start out fairly competitive, but would get worse and worse for Oscar until he's taking a one-sided beating by about the 7th or 8th and forced to either try and merely survive, or get stopped.

 

I personally think it doesn't go the distance, not because I don't respect Oscar, I think he's a great fighter. I just think Duran gets to him in the later rounds with his inside fighting skills and has De La Hoya backed up on the ropes. Big reason for the stoppage would be constant bodyshots throughout the fight that accumulates and eventually take there toll on Oscar.

 

Ive made my opinion clear plenty of times on this one. Mantequilla's post is basically the post here.

 

De la Hoya's problem has always been that he's not that great of a boxer and he's not that great of a puncher. A well rounded fighter to be sure though.


To answer the thread topic:

Montreal Duran KO's DLH in the 13th or 14th round.

New Orleans Duran takes a 9-6 type decision.