If Duran had remained at welter

Tommy had another four inches in reach and three inches height for Duran to get through before he could do any damage. He was also a clearly more devastating puncher than Leonard. Leonard had good power, Hearns had great power.

My guess is that this would make the difference.

 

You think Duran had 6 months to prepare? Are you gonna count the months to me between June and November.

 

Duran was a strong Welter but he blew up too much in between fights and this was a problem at 135 and 147. I think if Duran would have stayed in better shape in between fights these 2 divisions would have been a good home for him. Duran was notorious for heavy partying between fights and this was the issue. I think when a fighter maintains his weight and condition between fights it is less tolling on his body then the quick loss of weight

 

July August September October November.

Sorry 5 months he had.

Obviously not enough time. I concede.

 

I would fear for him if he got into the ring with Jackson, or Mugabi, especially Jackson.

 

If Jackson didn't catch Duran with a lucky shot he gets taken apart in similar fashion to Moore.Duran was superior in every way bar one shot power .he still had enough power to deal with Jackson in short order.

 

I stand corrected. But he was still above the 135 pound limit where they would have fought if it were a title fight.

 

Yeah, they both were since they didn't have to make 135. But they were close, though. Don't know what the limit was.

 

True. But I looked at boxrec to remind me about Duran's weight. He had many non title bouts during his lightweight championship reign and in most of those fights, he was over the limit, sometimes by as much as 6 or 7 pounds. I believe in the Bizarro fight if im not mistaken, he weighed in about 133 1/2. Just a few months later, he weighed in at something like 140.

 

Those are the reasons that might make the difference, which imo are mitigated by the fact that Duran was coming at SRL just as he preferred. That wasn't as preferred a style for Hearns as it was for SRL. Comfort can be a very big thing in sports. So while I understand your point, and agree it might have made a difference, it also might not have for a different (better) version of Duran