If Duran was around today....

Not sure I`d fancy Pavlik over Barkely tbh.

Ps. What about the Duran that fought Hagler ?... surely he beats todays MWs, especially Pavlik.

 

Terrorizes lightweight, welterweight IMO he was at his best and Montreal Duran absolutely overpowers Pacquiao into a corner and stops him. Against Floyd, Money would be forced to fight, but he'd have razor close rounds won with his jab and counter right, but Roberto wears him down, tires Floyd, then body work, Roberto's own jab, and finally his legendary right finally finds Floyd and he gets stopped late by Duran @147. 154 Much less active, much less defense, but jab and right are still there. Lara and Angulo put up a good fights, Mandingo gets tko'd, and Molina puts a valiant effort, stopped late too. 160, its 50/50 with Maravilla because Idk how great Maravilla might become since he's not finished yet, but he might be a future atg himself. Only Floyd or GGG can answer that by fighting him. But at 160 I think its 50/50.

 

He'd have won titles at 140 and 168 as well as the one's he did win.

Probably wouldn't have unified at Lightweight, since there are now 12433254323 titles in each division.

I really don't think there are any middleweights today that Duran couldn't have beaten in this 30's. He'd have plenty of losses at the higher weights for sure. It would still be a matter of his motivation level. So could I see Duran being distracted and losing to Kelly Pavlik (or insert generic Middleweight in his place)? Sure. But I think he'd still grab a major victory here and there and grab some titles, since they are more plentiful.

Hell, with the billion titles out there today, I don't rule out a Lt. Heavyweight title as well. LOL

 

Seriously guys haven't you learned by now that styles makes fight.

 

I would say 147 and below he cleans out the divisions.

Would love to see the current crop of 135s try to man up to Roberto. Would be ugly.

 

It would be awesome to see a young Duran putting on weight for a huge money fight at 160 or 168 even. The Duran with the insane workrate and inhuman conditioning fighting at the heavier weights, not the past-prime 37 y/o Duran that beat Barkley (even as great as he was).

 

I'd say he'd dominate up to 154, after that he could still win at 160 but some of the fights would go the distance and some would be close. The biggest problem he'd have is that as he increased in weight, he's speed would start decreasing. So fighters like Ward would beat him if they moved.

Still would be hard to beat him trading punches with him even at 160. Not so much because of his power, but rather because of his ability to stay in the pocket and make a fighter miss, and counter off that.

I still can't see Floyd or Pac beating Duran if he's at his peak and he's motivated. I think the one fighter who might be able to at least give him a fight would have been a prime SSM at 135. Don't think SSM would win, but I think it could be a very competitive fight, more so than against Pac.

 

Duran by murder against most of the current day. He would have more belts than a men's wear shop.

 

Duran would beat God himself if he dared step into the ring... Duran would embarrass any boxer alive and punish them like no other,that is of course any man alive would dare accept a challenge from this fearless warrior that would fight to the death "well except that one time" but you get my point!

 

Perhaps a slight exaggeration or two there. But I agree with most of it

 

Assuming Duran runs from LW-MW, the only person with confidence I would pick over Duran is Hopkins at MW.

 

You could get away with the half arsed performances and odd loss back in those times...not so much now, which he would have to be mindful of.

Because he would fight less and would quickly become a top earner I'd assume he would.

 

He made a ton of money back in the 80s and , contrary to reports, he wasn't all that complacent.

 

Duran and his missus were very good at spending money too.

 

Duran would rip apart every division from lightweight to Jr. middle at least.

Only Floyd or the best version of Pacquiao would even have a chance.