LW Tournament Decade's Best: DURAN 1978, CHAVEZ 1987, WHITAKER 1990, MAYWEATHER 2002

Duran
Whitaker
Chavez
Mayweather

Duran and Whitaker are pretty even H2H as far as I'm concerned, perhaps a slight advantage going to Duran. Mayweather loses to all three (Chavez would be close), but Duran beats him up the worst. Chavez beats Mayweather but loses clearly to Whitaker and Duran.

 

Duran edges Mayweather. Whitaker beats Duran but loses to Floyd. All beat Chavez.

 

It just seems that pbf's one fight at lightweight just sticks out the most and seems to cloud peoples judgement on how he performs at that weight against the greats of all time.

IMHO floyd beats both whitaker and chavez by razor-thin decisions and gets clearly UD'd by Duran.

Don't let one performance fool you, mayweather still had the skills to be VERY competitive with all three of the names mentioned in the thread.


In a trilogy between Duran and Mayweather i believe they split two, with Duran winning the third in razor thin fashion....just my opinion

 

could extend it back even further and include other greats in an 8 man tourney

60's - Carlos Ortiz
50's - **** the 50's
40's - Beau Jack
30's - Tony Canzoneri
20's - Benny Leonard

 

They often do and seeing as though Castillo fights similar to Chavez (As Pea mentioned former sparring partner) but is inferior in every way, the comparison is apt.

 

Duran
Whitaker
Chavez
Mayweather

Duran vs Whitaker is a pick' em fight. I agree with everything Sweet Pea said.

 

Duran beats Mayweather and gives him a beating over the last three rounds. I'm not at all sure that Floyd would go the distance.

Duran misses more than he ever has against Whitaker early on but upon realizing that Whitaker, unlike DeJesus or Leonard at WW, can't hurt him, Duran gets disdainful and does damage. Whitaker sees the final bell but his ribs are sticking out of his back.

Duran beats Chavez in the bout of the year. Why? Fire melts ice.

 

In Duran vs Chavez, if anyone touches the canvas it will be Duran.

 

Elaborate.

 

Well while I don't think it will end in a knock out I certainly see Chavez being able to knock Duran down. At LW Chavez had great balance and both were iron chinned. I just see Duran far more vulnerable to being knocked down due to balance than Chavez.

 

Them concentratin on that Castillo close UD gets really boring doesnt it. :tired Not like Floyd came into the fight injured or anything in his first jump in weight. :-( Not like he didnt dominate Castillo in the second encounter. But whatever.

 

Since so many people is this forum regard Duran as God at lightweight, I'm here to probe just a little.......

Defensive wizards? I'm talking bonafide defensive maestros like Whitaker, Mayweather, and Benitez........

I know Duran faced Benitez Benitez at 154 lbs and looked awful.
......but at lightweight, did Duran face anyone who was considered defensively masterful???

I've heard stories, one in particular by one of our respected posters on this board (John Garfield) that have stated that Duran had a terrible time in sparring fast moving defensive minded fighters......
The story that Garfield posted on was of Duran calling somebody out in the Gym, I forget the name....but it was a very good defensive fighter......Duran gets in the ring with this guy and could'nt lay a glove on him.....
I know some of the guys in this thread that frequent the classic forum have heard it by John Garfield.....maybe they can eloborate.......Sweet Pea?
Robbi??

In any regards, out of the four mentioned, JC Chavez imo dealt with a better variety of all different types of styles.....Tall and strong, bruisers, runners, cuties, you name them, Chavez has dealt with them.

In a tournament, I think the odds are better that Chavez rises to the top because of his versatility and ability to fight any kind of fighter......when you have these types of names in it however, you might as well flip a coin, because anyone of them could winout.

This is how I would rate them and there chances of emerging on top in a tournament type of scenario......

1. Chavez- Just the most proven fighter against all types of styles.

2. Mayweather- Extremely versatile.....the Hatton fight proved to me that this guy can adjust to the occasion and beat great fighters at their own game. In other words, this guy can win fighting the others fight.

If Mayweather makes a comeback and beats out the competition thats there now....Margarito, Williams, Cotto......he likely moves up this chain and surpasses Chavez as my #1.
Though I'd hate to see it happen!:twisted:

3. Duran-I've been an avid fan for 28 years, but I missed out on Duran's lightweight era. Which I would have seen his lightweight reign unfold.
No question he was great.....but as I said, I question whether he could have dealt with defensive masters like Whitaker and Mayweather.....I've already mentioned his showing vs Benitez, though Duran was'nt a great fighter at 154 lbs.

4. Whitaker- The man does just enough to lose to most true elites of the sport. Did'nt balance offense and defense as well as the other three.
I know I'm in the miniority here on Whitaker......but thats honestly how I see Whitaker against all-time elites of the sport.
In proffesional boxing, an offensive game is more important than a defensive game. So if you're a great at defense, you better learn to balance it. Whitaker imo never quite got the hang of it!






Jesus, I know Sweet Pea is going to jump on me for it, and I just dont have the passion to argue with a Pernell fanatic........Dont take it personal my friend......its just my opinion, and the way that I look at it.
Does'nt mean I'm right or wrong, but its my honest assesment and point of view on the fighters.

 

Final would be Pea vs. Duran.

hmmmm.....I think Duran would just edge a decision, through aggression.....though Pea was undoubtedly a fantastic in-fighter (and could probably keep Duran off him anyway) Hands of Stone at LW....

Actually I don't want to pick.

Actually I think Pea vs. Duran at LW would be a DRAW.

 

atschPea loses to most TRUE ELITES?!?!?! Possibly one of the craziest summations I've ever heard. He was a fantastic offensive boxer/in-fighter when he wanted to be, and often was. This is a famous criticism of Pea, which most Pea fans know, is completely unfounded.

 

I think he showed vs Chavez and DLH that he did'nt balance his great defensive wizardry, with a consistent sound offensive game.
My beef with Whitaker is that against his true peers, which are supremely top fighters, there was very little leverage on his punches.
He threw alot of arm punches that just were'nt very effective.

Under amatuer rules, Whitaker takes this mythical tournament imo.....but I'm assuming that the thread starter meant this to be a pro tournament.
Whitaker does'nt quite fare as well imo!