Opinions of old-timers back in 1980 on Duran as a lightweight. Interesting indeed.

That's true about the technical skills part.The first half of Duran's lightweight career he was more of a jeff fenech\jung koo chang kind of fighter.Some pretty good technical skills, but more about physical ability and just massive natural fighting talent.

I don't think he did bully the light hitting mobile boxers like Viruet, Fernandez and Bizarro as much as he should have however.It seemed to me he woudl take huge chunks of those fights off, fight at a snails pace with a do just enough mentality and showed nothign but disdain for their lack of offense and tendency to flee.He could easily have switched back into Buchanan\ marcel\dejesus 2 mode and completely dominated those fights, most likely stopping all but the iron chinned viruet inside 6 or 7.

 

I kinda agree, there were some fights where I felt he didn't look totally spectacular, he just did enough to control the fight and eventually wear them down and stop them. The fact of the matter is that those guys just didn't have anything to test or threaten him with, and he basically could just do what he wanted with them - he could play around and take it easy, or he could be somewhat reckless or sloppy with his attack, and not be worried about it.

 

You are insane :yep:yep j/k i personally dont have Lewis in the top 3 but he is a solid top 5 for me

 

Duran of this era was rated as one of the all-time best, even then, just not with the real old-timers but they were the same for every fighter born after the war. Boxing historians who were a bit younger cited him as one of the best ever.

 

To be honest i think sometimes these old sages (LOL) build up fighters from their own era out of proportion primarily out of self importance. As well as obvious bias for ones own era of course. I seen it, you didn't, omg ya would have been amazed, i am soooo privileged yada yada.

 

That's exactly as I see it mate. "You seen the best from your era, but not the best ever, only I saw him, and every fight that ever happened was like the first round of Hagler-Hearns but 10 times better". The old "I taught you everything you know but not everything I know" from The Colour of Money...



...or was it The Baltimore Bullet with James Coburn? :yep

 

We are indeed on the same level, with you putting it that little better hahahahaha

 

It is annoying mate. I don't mind as much if they talk of the 'toughness' of fighters from pre-war but the way they act like no modern fighters have the same skill levels is always laughable. There's a fine article from Ring (around 1962) with Jim Jacobs and Fleisher debating the merits of eras- and Jim comes off as far more impartial and realistic.

 

I could well imagine. The good thing is they don't hold back at all, if they did they might cunningly seduce us and we really don't want that do we, well apart from one or two

 

That's the thing, you're laughed at for suggesting anyone from the last 25 years can compare. I'm sure in some downtown bar somewhere in the world right now this interaction has just taken place:

Young bloke: "Pernell Whitaker is one of the best defensive fighters i've ever seen".

Old bloke: "He couldn't hold Banana Sam's jockstrap"

 

:rofl:rofl:rofl:rofl:rofl

Jake LaMotta, these young guys think he was sort of plodder, but let me tell you Wilfred Benitez would never had avoided or parried the punches he did. He punched like Roy Jones and ducked em like Benitez!

 

Jim Jacobs is a man I respect so much here, very well-balanced opinion. Gives loads of credit to the right people (Leonard, Pep, etc), but not just anyone. I mean, Duran not in the same class as Jack and Montgomery? Ridiculous. :!:

 

Does Jacobs have the most extensive fight collection in the world, or what?

:hey

 

I rate Duran very high but I was impressed with the 70's...In retrospect Benny Leonard,Canzonari, Armstrong and the rest did fight much better opposition....I still got Duran in my top 5, he was an outstanding fighter of the 70's and 80's but I really got to double research my lightweights

 

If Jim Jacobs.. currently feeding the worms.. didn't have the greatest film library ever.. who has??..... or did?

:hey