is Duran overrated as a lightweight? quality of opposition?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Unforgiven, Aug 4, 2017.



  1. PernellSweetPea

    PernellSweetPea Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Barkley was still a limited guy who is known as a one punch wonder. He was an ESPN fighter before Hearns, and actually I think Kalambay beat him on ESPN. I swear to you I picked Duran to beat Barkley. Duran would not have beaten Olajide or Tate or anyone like that. Guys like Roldan and Barkley he could beat..
     
  2. PernellSweetPea

    PernellSweetPea Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    isn't that what the thread is about?
     
  3. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Good for you.

    He also outboxed the nr 1 p4p.
     
  4. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    He was facing a guy his size, and it's not like he was overpowered. He was outboxed.
     
  5. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    Good point.
     
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  6. Clinton

    Clinton Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    No doubt. Actually Whitaker looked the stronger if the 2. I always believed Pernell had underrated physical strength. But 147 was out of Chavez's comfort zone and he was past it. Just 2 or 3 fights and a few months later, he was beaten by Frankie Randall at 140, a good fighter but one that no one would put on Chavez's level pound for pound.
     
  7. Clinton

    Clinton Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Benn didnt knock him out. It was the 3 knockdown rule. Barkley could have continued. Do you think Whitaker would have beaten Barkley?
     
  8. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member Full Member

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    Oh i doubt even Unforgiven considers him a non ATG. It's not about if he was an ATG (any numbskull with any idea whatsoever about boxing would know he is), it's about whether he is automatically top 2 or 3.
     
  9. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member Full Member

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    I recently read your ATG articles at each weight. Great articles btw. I reckon you would have heavily scrutinized resumes before coming up with Duran at #3?
     
  10. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member Full Member

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    One doesn't have to make Barkley into an ATG to give Duran credit for a fantastic achievement. He was a long term 135 pound world champion ffs. This 135 pound champ won the Middleweight title 17 years after winning the lightweight title at the age of 37. Whitaker was 6 years retired at this 17 year mark. Duran was winning Middleweight titles over people that had stopped Tommy Hearns. Go figure.

    If you want to try to heavily downplay this achievement then good luck achieving credability.
     
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  11. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Perhaps his confidence took a knock, perhaps he underrated Randall, I don't know. But he was undefeated and nr 1 p4p going into the fight against Pea, and it was a big fight against the best he'd faced.
     
  12. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member Full Member

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    Could have been simply declining too.
     
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  13. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    He's definitely an ATG and one of the greatest lightweights.
    Yes, I question those who INSIST Duran has to be top 2 or 3 at lightweight.
    mcvey ranks him #4, I think he said.
    I suspect anywhere in the top 6 or 7 could be argued, since lightweight is such a strong division.
    His resume is a little weak, some of his performances don't quite live up to the mythical image, but his reign and dominant position cannot be doubted ... And when he was on fire he certainly was a fighter for the ages.
     
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  14. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    For sure, but I locked at ranked guys and significants - that's much more quantifiable. You want something where every win is taken into account. So that means everyone's journeymen, bums, etc., have to be compared as much as it's possible. Hard stuff.
     
  15. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    It's unquestionably the case, yeah. If you just did "who did he beat?", a list like that, for example, he gets no credit for this awesome title run, no credit for his awesome appearance on film and all that there. I reckon you could probably organise him outside the top ten depending on how you see - or chose to see - certain details. But that's a guess.