This writer picked the Whitaker of the Nelson fight & made him lose a decision to the Duran of the Lampkin fight. Ive seen both fights & if both men fought the way they did in these fights then Whitaker would win a decision. Your talking the ultimate peak version (next to Ramirez II) of Pernell vs a Duran having a bad night & just wanting a streetfight. No way. Absolutes peaks would be this same Whitaker vs Roberto Duran of Dejesus III..... & that fight would go to Duran on pts. No LWT beats the Duran of the 3rd Dejesus fight, not even peak Whitaker. Duran 1978 = Fighting machine. :thumbsup
I've picked Whitaker over Duran on here before even though Duran is my No1 favourite but I've been rewatching some of these fights and I think a peak welterweight Duran; the Palomino fight may of outpointed welterweight Whitaker.
I pick Duran but as i always say, in h2h terms, these two lightweights sort of stand alone imo and are the only two i would consider picking over the other most likely. You can just keep going back and forth on why each man would win it
Dont get me wrong, it would take Duran at his very best to beat Whitaker at his peak but for me, the power makes the difference in this one. If the same Duran showed up that beat Dejesus in that 3rd fight then quite honestly, I dont care what Whitaker shows up, I think he loses to Duran, especially in a 15 rder. Everything about Duran was good that night, his power, speed, accuracy, long range boxing, inside boxing, defence & killer instinct. Duran would win IMO.
