LIGHTWEIGHT TORNAMENT FINAL- Roberto Duran vs Henry Armstrong

Wow.

Both guys from punch straight up or from angles and I see some serious leather being landed in this fight for obvious reasons.

Both fighters have underrated facets to their game and are perceived in some circles as 'brawlers' which couldn't be further from the truth for both guys as we know.

I think Duran tries to keep the fight at mid-range early whilst Armstrong would be sticking his head down and using his deceptively fast feet to close the range and hammer away at Duran at every oppurtunity.

Now, Armstrong proved his strength against some very strong men, often being outweighed. But Duran is also known for being one of the strongest fighters ever, and he carried this strength with him right through his 'real' career (things like Camacho of course are shameful and do not add nor detract from Duran's standing........obviously)

I think Armstrong WILL find it hard to swarm Duran as at his best Duran was much more a sharpshooter than an all-round swarmer for the first few rounds. I think it's his ability to mix it up at all three ranges effectively, his precision right will be landing on Armstrong more frequently in the later rounds as Duran starts to use Armstrong's gung-ho approach against him.

I think there will be a time in the mid-to-late rounds where Duran stops 'mixing it up' and completely engages Armstrong on the inside. Both guys have good head movement when they want to, and super strong beards to protect them should a flush shot land (which IMo they will be and FREQUENTLY)

It's Duran's added speed and precision that win it for me, and being as adept as Armstrong in every department and moreso on the backfoot (IN MY OPINION) which I don't see him doing at all in this fight. I think Duran would be attempting to keep Hank at mid-range and engage him on his own terms rather than trading every time Armstrong wades in, which would be often.

I think the constant attempts of both Warriors to turn each other and land shots all over the body, behind the ear, on the arms, in the mouth (both guys are brilliant at landing shots you don't see coming) would be absolutely riveting.

An absolute war which Duran takes 10-5.

My no.2 and no.3 P4P of all time (post-1930 of course) is a fitting end to the tournament from where I'm sitting.

And what a tourney it has been, fair play Teeto :good

 

Very good post Flea.

I'd say Duran something like 9-6. Armstrong's unrelenting stamina and workrate would allow him to steal most of the rounds where Duran was in more of a coasting mode, and he'd probably do better down the stretch with that in mind. Duran would make him look bad at times, though.

 

:good

 

I personally think the main difference would be Duran's defense. Duran by decison.

 

I think Armstrong was a better and more polished inside technician, and he was also tougher at this weight and harder to discourage. Plus I think he proved himself against a greater variety of quality opposition in and around this weight class than Duran did.

I'd take Armstrong by decision.

 

Honestly it could go either way but I would probably put my money on the more versatile Duran.

 

What a war this would be. Two fierce competitors hammering away at each other the whole night. However, while both are second to none in aggression, Duran has the edge in defensive abilites. Which is what wins him the fight by close UD...maybe even SD.

 

after 15 rounds of war duran is happy to walk away with a close decision win,duran`s extra defensive skill and slightly better mid-range skills just shade it for me.also armstrong is matched for strength by duran which at this weight would take away one of armstrongs usual pluses


fleaman good post

 

Duran, 9-6ish. Just a few more tools: foot and hand speed, great subtle defense.

 

:huh

 

Really?

I thought Duran had him in this regard...doesnt mean he was anymore effective then Hank who just through everything he had once he got in there but technically I would have said Roberto was certainly more polished.

 

Not at lightweight IMO.

Duran often tended to get wild and even a bit sloppy in a lot of his lightweight fights. It wasn't until after he moved up, around the time he beat Palomino and Leonard, that he was much more polished and disciplined with his defense IMO.

 

I do think to a degree that wildness was a part of his style that made him successful..It could be unconventional, awkward and often hard to time.

I think he was more polished when he moved up but he always to me showed a pretty high degree of technical ability throughout his lightweight career. His positioning and shot selection really seemed to just be something that came natural to him.

For this match though..Even if Armstrong is the better infighter(as I said I think he was just as if not more effective in this regard anyway)..I think Duran has the better ability from mid and long range..Better jab, speed and kit of punches.

I think that is where he will be able to win a lot of this fight.

Im going with Duran...for many of the reasons flea went over in his post.