Between Duran and Whitaker who do you give the edge in the following categories: Jab Right/ Left hand Left/ Right hook Body punching 1 punch power Combinations Counter punching Ring generalship Footwork Defence Infighting Hand speed Chin/ Durability Athletic ability Heart/ Mental strength Quality of opponents faced
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 Defence - 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
Jab- Whitaker Right/ Left hand- Duran Left/ Right hook- Duran Body punching- Duran (narrowly) 1 punch power- Duran Combinations- Even Counter punching- Whitaker Ring generalship- Whitaker Footwork- Whitaker (narrowly, different strengths and weaknesses) Defence- Whitaker (narrowly) Infighting- Duran (I'm even tempted to say "narrowly" here, but Duran takes it, no doubt) Hand speed- Whitaker Chin/ Durability- Duran (narrowly) Athletic ability- Even (different strengths) Heart/ Mental strength- Even Quality of opponents faced- Duran 7-6-3 for Duran, being as objective as possible. This is why a matchup between these two at Lightweight is such a pick 'em.
Really now? Don't get me wrong, Duran was great at countering in close or with the right hand at mid-range, but I'd consider Whitaker one of the premier counter-punchers in the history of the game.
No problem EB..... I was in doubt about this.... but it was a quickly done post, and as you said, Duran was great countering in close....and with the right hand at mid-range like this (0:21) [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a93R-Gh7sIU[/ame] Duran´s counter-punching skills just came to my mind first......In my opinion Whitaker was one of the best counter-punchers ever, I agree with you here...but I think Duran was one the best as well......
Jab Whitaker Right/ Left hand Duran Left/ Right hook Durn Body punching Duran 1 punch power Duran Combinations Duran Counter punching Whitaker Ring generalship Whitaker Footwork Whitaker Defence Whitaker Infighting Duran Hand speed Whitaker Chin/ Durability Whitaker Athletic ability Whitaker Heart/ Mental strength Whitaker Quality of opponents faced Duran (The question was faced not beat. Had it been opponents beat Whitaker would get the nod.)
