Giving the edge in the following categories. Jab - Whitaker Right/ Left hand- Duran Left/ Right hook- Duran Body punching- Duran..close 1 punch power- Duran Combinations - Duran, close Counter punching - Duran Ring generalship- Whitaker Footwork - Whitaker Defense - Whitaker Infighting - Duran....but Whitaker was great Hand speed- Whitaker Chin/ Durability- Duran, close Athletic ability- Whitaker Heart/ Mental strength - Whitaker Quality of opponents faced - Duran I wanna say Duran on a close decision win but I can't call it. Let's discuss. :bbb
Counter punching would go closely to Whitaker. Otherwise you're pretty much on the money. Heart would be even.
Interesting. I always thought Duran had Ok feet, more of a positioning guy working with angles above the waist. Do you hold Pea 's footwork accountable for his knockdowns. He did tend to cross them and do an occasional exaggerated Benitez spread.
I don't really go for the reductionist method of analyzing these match-ups. I prefer more to anticipate who will make who fight their fight, how their styles will develop and adjust over the rounds. This one has always been befuddling, as both are so great and have done well against different styles. Both (usually) had the heart of a champion, also.
Duran was always correct. When people on here repeat ad nausea that he "moves from defence to attack better than anyone i've seen" (El Buja up there was among the first though) what they are really talking about is his footwork. Whitaker's footwork was often incorrect. He cost himself balance, he crossed his feet occasionally. Duran clearly superior for me.
Well I can't see Duran being the better counter puncher than Whitaker.. no way. Also your right and left seem off... I'm assuming that means straight right or left.. Pea obviously had the better straight left and his right jab was better than Duran's left jab.. So I don't agree on that.. I think Pea's overall was slightly better.
Come on buddy play along and do the categories and then pick how you see the fight going and who wins
Hmmm. I have been accused of underrating Duran even if only in my head. I'll rewatch a lightweight fight or two watch him chase down Lampkin or somebody.
Like I said, I think the compartmentalize, reductionist method of analysis is hack. I see Whitaker winning the majority of the first 6 rounds or so and then Duran winning the majority of the final 9, as he increasingly controls the spacing and pace with his superior footwork and offensive boxing skills. Whitaker never gives up and many of the rounds are very close. A decent chance of a flash or balance KD by Duran. A good match that never quite erupts into a firefight.
I like Duran to win on points in a 15 round fight... I assume this fight is at lightweight, and it's really hard to see Duran losing in his prime at this weight.. Whitaker isn't going to outbox prime Duran:-(, evrn Marvin Hagler said Duran was the best boxer he EVER FACED, and Duran fought Hagler in 1983, when Duran was a little past his best at 32 or 33... Duran was arguably the best lightweight ever:deal Duran HAD A LOT MORE POWER THAN WHITAKER TOO!!
Not far off, but don't forget defence is many facets and half of boxing itself. Whitaker UD in a prime match up.
