Tough fight to call. Williams is one of the few lightweights in history to match up well against Duran in a FIGHT. This one of my all time favorite fantasy matchups. That being said, I am not sure who takes it. I lean slightly towards Duran. But I have conversed with many people older than me who saw both fight live and picked Ike.
I got Duran I dont think Ike was better than Leonard and Duran beat him at a higher weight class and slightly past peak. Duran was a marvel to watch at LW and still for me the most impressive fighter I've seen on film. I'll take Duran by UD over 15 maybe even a late rd TKO. Not taking anything away from Ike who I believe is a top 5 LW. I'm not basing this soly on Leonard fight I'm just using it as 1 example.
Williams is one of only a handful of guys I would pick over Duran at LW. But I still wouldn’t wager or be confident of the outcome. I think it would mesh thier styles well and come down to imposing of the wills. Difficult to quantify and I don’t think much separates the two h2h. But I would pick Ike but to me it still falls into toss up category
I'm curious on your thoughts on how Ike would beat Duran... would in be in a firefight toe to toe style... Do you feel Ike has some stylistic advantage in this fight that you see working to his advantage. I think Ike is a ATG LW, and top 4 LW frankly, but I don't see any technical advantages in this fight for him to exploit. Duran is a better all-around offensive fighter (just more variety to his offensive skillset but this is reasonably close) and significantly better defensively. So when those two things are the case, the person behind in both categories better have otherworldly power and his foe a weakness to it.... or vastly smarter (ring general) to overcome the above. I'm just not seeing those things being the case.
I know highlights don’t prove anything but I like it lol! I think Ike matches him in skill, infighting, intelligent pressure and power I don’t see the same Duran advantages or superior ability in giving either one of them a major edge. For whatever it is worth I rate Duran 3 at LW and Ike at 5 This content is protected
I've only seen a few films of Ike Williams, but he looks to me like a flat-footed fighter along the lines of Joe Louis. I don't think he has the speed or style to hold Duran off. Roberto would be able to slip his way past Ike's long-range power, pressure him with body shots, back him up, not give him a chance to get set, and wear him down. I think Duran has more versatility, and he is a smart enough fighter to use all the tricks in his arsenal to find a way to win.
Whew!,,,again Duran around 1976 was a consummate beast, I like Williams and believe he'd give Duran probably his greatest challenge at 135. I'd make Duran the favorite and a clash here could be epic.
I might be missing something but I think prime Duran takes this in a close but clear win. From the limited amount of footage I've seen I think Williams looks great but not seeing what it is that makes him a tougher fight for Duran than other great lightweights. I can see other lightweights giving Duran a tougher time - B Leonard in particular. But Williams, great as he no doubt was... just don't think he would edge it. Great matchup though.
