Is Roberto Duran the most overrated fighter in boxing history?

Losing to a great puncher like Hearns is no big deal, but Duran still never handled the faster elites. He couldn't afford to get hit by a guy as sharp as Tommy Hearns with Hearns speed.

 

against most guys Duran would do fine. He was a great fighter, but when he fought those high level guys like Mayweather or Whitaker, which in his time were Hearns,Benitez,Leonard, he lost easily. Put Duran who fought Hearns in against Canelo, and he win rather easily. And I think he knocks out Lara. But those guys are not great. Hearns and Leonard and Benitez were.

 

Hearns had a huge upperbody. it was no insult Duran lost to Hearns. If Hearns didn't beat the legends he fought, he rocked them big time. Wasn't Hagler the only great fighter Hearns didnt knock down. He knocked down . Cueves. Benitez,Leonard,Duran.

 

most guys with speed like Hearns or Leonard or Benitez beat Duran easily. Not just beat him, but outclassed him. That is the problem with him being rated too high on the all time list. When he did finally fight elite guys he lost easily. I think he is being overrated on a great aura and personality, but his ring accomplishments are great but no way near top 10 or 15. more like 25 to 30. he just doesn't have the wins against elite fighters. As many have said on this board not just me!!

 

I don't value his wins as much as many because he fought guys lesser quality than him at lightweight. Good wins, but Dejesus and Buchanan will never be elites no matter how many people say it. There were no real elites who had the skills to beat him at lightweight. That was not his fault. I would have loved to see him fight Alexis Arguello at 135 or Pryor at 140 and see if he would win-sure people say he would knock them out. Well he never fought them.. i think Alexis is a tough fight for him and the right hand of Arguello would be big trouble for Duran, but we will never know since they never fought. He beat Leonard but Leonard did not box him, so again it was a case of a fighter in front of him which is how he did well. Look at the elite guys who moved and had the skills to move thier legs. Hearns,Benitez,Leonard-they all beat him not just a little. but by a lot. I think he is overrated on his wins when he had to overcome a guy who boxed him and used speed and measuring to control him. I don't think he was that small in size and Barkley was huge and Duran handled him well since Barkley gave him that guy in front of him style Duran is great with, as did Moore. Even with Hagler, since Hagler did not move much, Duran could go 15. He fought well moving up, he just couldn't deal with speed and movement. He didn't lose because he moved up in weight he lost because the elites he fought could fight with speed and angles and many different ways. A great fighter? Yes. Very very good lightweight reign-but not great in relative terms as far as opposition. Good win? Leonard. Great long career and fighting elites named Hagler,Hearns,Benitez,Leonard,Barkley. But top 10? No way. There are probably 50 or 75 guys who beat more greats than Duran, and I place him mid 20s on the fact he was Duran and fought everyone. Not because he beat them.