Mayweather 130-147 beats out Duran anywhere

I keep going back and forth as to how Duran would fare against FLoyd.

Just for argument's sake, I would make the fight at 140 lbs in a hypothetical matchup between the 2. Neither of them are big WW's and they had the majority of their fights at the lower weight classes.

A prime Duran can beat almost anybody in a single fight from 135-147. I will say though that he had a hard time against pure boxers with fast hands, great footwork and elite defense.

i could see a match between him and FLoyd ending up similarly to how Duran fought Benitez, a close decision in Benitez' favor. That being said, i could also see Duran keep the pressure on FLoyd all 15 rounds and beat him in a decision as well.

I don't think Duran would knock out Mayweather as some people think he could have. FLoyd has a very sturdy chin and his defense in my opinion, is only rivaled by Whitaker, Pep and Benny leonard.

 

The Floyd who lost to Castillo?

The Floyd who admitted chop chop 40-28 Corley almost kod him?

The Floyd who ducked pacquiao, Williams, Martinez, margarito?

The Floyd who says his health come first?

The Floyd who has legendary feather fists bcos he has weak bones in his hands that require illegal shots?

That Floyd mayweather?...

 

The difference between Floyd and Benitez is night and day

Benitez was a much better evader of punches than Floyd

Floyd gets hit often and quite easily against anyone with a good jab

Wilfred had hearns ( arguably the best jabber in the history of the weight class ) pot shooting air all night, and being forced into body shots and using his height to win

 

It would go the distance. I just don't know how it would play out. Personally, I got this one as a "pick 'em" affair. Especially when you consider you can really move the weight classes around. Both are p4p ATGs.

You talking about 130? 135? 140? 147? or 154? A lot of options here and different variants of both fighters as they had to adjust styles for the move up in weight. i.e This matchup doesn't necessarily play out the same way at 135 pounds and 147 pounds.

 

I have to disagree about the bolded part. Inside the pocket when it comes to exchanges, Benitez might have the slight advantage over Mayweather (which is saying a lot.) Benitez was very dangerous inside the pocket and had a rare talent to evade punches coming at him from very close ranges.

Floyd from a distance though was superior to Benitez defensively. He's naturally the faster guy inside the ring, and can utilize his footwork and lateral movement in a manner I haven't seen from a fighter since probably Whitaker, and you can go all the way back to Pep as another incredible defensive fighter whose best defense came with his footwork ability

The statistics confirm this: FLoyd has the highest ratio when it comes to hitting boxers and not getting hit. His compubox stats defensively are unheard of, as is his offensive accuracy.

While Benitez was a very good offensive fighter in his own right, FLoyd is superior to him offensively, especially a 140 lb version of FLoyd. These days, he's the most accurate fighter in the sport in his late 30's. The only knock on him offensively is he doesn't put together the combinations like he did back in 1998-2004, where he was considered an offensive virtuoso. But if we're talking prime for prime, I'd say FLoyd's was in his around the Gatti fight.

I'm not saying that Floyd would beat Duran, but he is a pure boxer who in his prime was very fast with his hands and feet, has one of the most elite defenses and counterpunching ability in the history of the sport, and a pretty solid chin. Just as I can see Duran cruise to a decision, I can also see Duran getting frustrated by Floyd running circles around the ring and only engaging for brief portions of the fight and trying to "steal" close rounds away.

On a side note, i'd pick Floyd to beat Benitez in a close unanimous decision (2-3 points at most.)

 

Out of all those great fighters in the 80's, Benitez, Pryor and Chavez Sr are the only ones I'd favor a prime Mayweather over.

I think Duran is a 50-50 fight. I'd favor SRL around 65-35 and Tommy probably around 70-30/75-25. Hearns and leonard are just way too big for FLoyd, these are guys that fought and were successful all the way up to SMW-LHW ( I think Hearns actually fought at CW as well.)

 

I've thought about this fight many times. I honestly don't know what would be considered the best weight for this matchup to be made. Floyd didn't look his best at LW and Duran was obviously an animal in that division for almost a decade. I'd say 140 lbs would be ideal for both men, I think around the Gatti fight is when FLoyd was peaking.

I'd also give the slight edge at 154 to FLoyd and 147 would be a 50-50 for me. I'd def give Duran the clear edge at 135 lbs though.

 

:rofl ROFLMAO You'd have more luck getting Dan Rafael down to 140 pounds than you would have getting punk ,cowardly Mayweather in the ring with Hands of Stone. His Daddy would say "I'm not letting Little Floyd get in ring with anyone dangerous, his health is too important"
What a pathetic excuse for a champion Floyd is. RETIRE you coward boxing doesnt need you:good

 

The Duran who got KTFO by Hearns in only the 2nd round?

The Duran who got beat by ALL the great fighters of his era?

The Duran who cowardly quit when he was not even hurt?

The Duran who is best known for beating Panamanian Taxi drivers?

Duran the hands of stone????

 

Duran was the best lightweight champion in boxing history..................

 

your talking to a duran dead head anything less than duran winning requires an excuse.

 

Agreed. Duran would fare better, but Hearns was all wrong for Duran.

 

Wow you really DKSAB!
atsch

 

Post where those experts picked Floyd over Duran... you can't just say they did PROVE they did. Second, Duran at LW or really most anywhere would destroy Floyd and it wouldn't even be close really. Third, Floyd would never EVER take a fight with a prime duran.. he would wait till duran was nearing 40 to even think of fighting him. That is exactly what Floyd has done his entire career.

 

I gotta disagree on this one. Duran at 154 before he got ktfo by Tommy actually did have some success once he got inside and he wasn't the bobbing and weaving fighter that went after Leonard cutting the ring off. I think Duran would of eaten alot of jabs and acouple clean right hands, but with all the movement he had he would not get caught with type of devastating power like he did at 154. Tommy would get an early lead, but I think Durans intelligent pressure and own power break Tommy down late in the fight. 154 was Hearns best weight, but I'd pick Duran at that 147 over Hearns and not even think twice about it. 154 of course its a different story.