Nigel Benn vs. Roberto Duran at MW

Benn's recklessness would play right into Durans hands but Of course Benn could stop Duran if he managed to hurt him. I doubt he would catch him though. Benn isn't Hearns, fights nothing like him so I'm not sure why his name was brought up. Duran would more than match Benn for will to win and show him moves he's never seen before. He won't be catching Duran with those thrown from the knee hooks that's for sure. Benn isn't the most durable middleweight either.

Im a huge fan of Benn but let's not overrate him here.

 

Something tells me Benn would be a whole lot harder for Duran to beat than Barkley.

 

I am surprised that around 58% of voters have voted for a Benn stoppage win.

If posters on here can anticipate that Benn would come out blasting I'm sure Duran would have anticipated this too and prepared accordingly.

I remember Benn going back to his NE London Divs days in the ABAs and his contests against the likes of Rod Douglas and Roy Andre in 1985-86; truth be told Benn didn't evolve much from then to the days of the Eubank & Watson fights of 89-90.

In view of the fact that Duran would know what was coming at him from Benn, I would not feel very confident that Nigel's simplistic, un-cultured bull-rush tactics would overcome the smarts, cunning and durability of Duran. Add to this that Duran's own street-fighting mentality would at least equal that of Benn but with the added canniness that Duran possessed, I se this as a win for Duran in a similar vein as his win over Davey Moore, although I don't feel that Benn possessed Moore's durability. Nigel was severely wobbled by single shots much more than Moore was (I am aware that Moore was a 154lber).

Duran made a career out of beating un-sophisticated punchers. I anticipate that Duran would tuck up and wait for Nigel to make mistakes (as he surely would), pick his counters and punish him.

I would not be surprised to see Duran break Benn's heart in the way that Watson did to Nigel.

I think those using the Hearns-Duran fight as a barometer for this match are mis-reading the situation somewhat. Hearns at 154 against Duran was longer, rangier than Benn and did not make the mistakes I anticipate that Nigel would make.

Duran by tko in about 7 rounds with the eventual outcome becoming clear after about 4-5 rounds.

 

Excellent breakdown in my opinion. :good

 

Another thumbs up from me. Great post.

 

you have great imagination .
you'd be a good candidate to work as a screenwriter on films drama. benn would absolutely overpower and destroys duran early.

 

Thanks for disagreeing with me, combatesdeboxeo. The fact that you disagree re-assures me that my assessment of the outcome of this match is likely correct.

 

sorry mate but your comment was a bunch of trash and you only need to see the one who agreed with you.
did you watch the sparring session of duran and benn? totally owned

 

Two questions (for everyone, really): (1) How did you score Duran's fight against Barkley; and (2) do you think that Nigel Benn is more or less dangerous and formidable an opponent than Barkley?

 

mrkoolkevin,
In answer;

1) It's a long time since I saw the fight but Ironically I scored the Barkley-Duran in favour of Barkley in a very close fight; I felt Duran got the benefit of the doubt by being Duran, in a similar way that Ali got the close decision in his way in a few bouts.

2) More or less dangerous/formidable? They were different...Benn more dangerous (particularly early in a contest), more explosive and gung-ho than Barkley, but I felt Benn's weaknesses would have played into Duran's hands more than Barkley's did.

 

That really shows that you never boxed before or have knowledge about the sport.Both were just playing around in that session, it was just show for the cameras.In addition Duran was grossly overweight and still made Benn look bad but it does not mean nothing.

 

i just have read 2 of your posts and seriously , you make these guys look einstein, saying re****ed is not enough for you

 

Holding back?

Re-watch it! Benn was trying to take Duran's head off, was flustered as can be, and was made to look like an amateur.

Benn is trying VERY HARD in that session, Roberto senses it and clowns him.

 

Duran totally clowned Benn in that session considering the age gap and condition of both fighters. To even think Benn owned Duran in that sparring session is hilarious to me.

 

Benn was clearly, visibly holding back during that session. I'd been reading all of the hyperbole about Duran's performance during the session for years and I was sorely disappointed when I finally got around to watching it. I'm not one to put much stock in sparring sessions anyway but I don't see how anyone could watch the session and come away thinking that Duran "clowned" Benn in it.