Hypothetical: Duran stays at welterweight after New Orleans

I think Hearns would move him on. Benitez would also be extremely tough stylistically. 147 was incredible at this point oif time.

 

If he stayed, he wins the championship again, R.Leonard retired because of the eye injury, Hearns and Benitez both went up to jr.middleweight. After those 3, who else defeats a prime and ready Duran at that weight? D.Curry, M.Starling, M.Breland,M.Mcory? I don't see a ready to fight Duran having much of a problem with any of them. Biggest threat probably is L.Honeyham. But I see Duran beating him too.

 

Good call. With the departure of Leonard,Hearns and Benitez from that division,Duran stays champ for a few years.

 

He regains a belt, gets on a roll and beats all in front of him till85 then loses to curry. In the rematch he comes back to stop him. He then loses in a upset to honeyghan.

 

If Duran had remained at welterweight the fighter he inevitably would have fought is Aaron Pryor. This
would have been a memorable fight. This would be prime Pryor.

 

This would have been brutal, Pryor a shorter smaller man is going to come to Roberto Duran? Duran by ko

 

Duran would own Pryor imo, just too skilled. Pryor was very wild in his attacks and Duran would be one of not many guys that could take advantage of that. He would counter that wild unothodox offense with ripping counters and body shots. Pryor would resort to boxing some and he's not a bad boxer at all but Duran would keep on him. Pryor could take a shot and he may well last 15 but it's not impossible Duran stops him late.

I rate Pryor a tad lower than many, tho i see him as an ATG of course. For me he'd a tad unproven vs fully fledged 140's with talent.

 

Duran trilogy with Dr Jesus belongs up there with the best boxing trilogy's. Duran was a terrific
tactician and by the 3rd fight with DJ he was cautious of DJ fast start. He would survive DJ
early onslaught using his underrated technical skills and then pressure DJ with his fierce body
attack. He would use same strategy against Pryor. Duran by decision.
Footnote. There was great animosity between these fighters at the time and their rivalry was
one of the fiercest in Latin boxing history. However when DJ had aids ( he had a drug addiction)
Duran showed his heart was as strong as his punch and visited and embraced his rival in 1989.
Both Duran and De Jesus were true boxing warriors.

 

I think curry takes him at welterweight .starling would be a very tough fight for Duran.also lang would be around at this time .very tough division.

 

Roberto may win a championship, but is not motivated and the trio of Curry/McCrory/Starling upset him and he leaves for the greener pastures of 154.

 

I think Duran still could have beat Honeyghan the day he lost to Starling and Curry the day he lost to Honeyghan.

 

Probably , especially Curry, but he loses to the Breland who drew with Starling.

 

Do you feel Duran could have beaten Davis the year he beat Breland though?