Pick A Featherweight to step up to Lighweight To Take Beat Duran

Why do you keep bringing up Whitaker? He wasn't a featherweight.

 

Whilst i would pick against him a very well deserved shout here is Arguello, who made a great lightweight. His biggest trouble vs Duran is that stylistically he's going to struggle. He has the power and skills however to be a very worthy challenger.

 

Can't forget Tony Canzoneri as a worthy mention. But I still don't think any of them could do it.

 

An eye opening post. Saddler had tremendous power like Hearns? Saddler is 30 pounds south of where Hearn's demolished Duran and his power compared to Hearn's without P4P consideration is utterly impotent. Even beside the fact is that Arguello is 2 inches taller than Saddler! I would also bet that Arguello would hit harder at 135 too, not like he didn't prove his power there. Also i would think Arguello fought more from the outside than Saddler. Alexis is a far far better shout than Saddler. Power alone isn't beating Duran. Tho rangy there's no guarantee Saddler would carry his power all the way to 135, we don't need to question that of Arguello.

 

Joan Guzman has a better chance than Saddler to be honest, Saddler doesn't really have an real advantaged at all over Duran

 

I'm with you on Canzoneri. Tremendously resourceful boxer, but Duran may have been the greatest LW of all time (and in my estimation, the P4P greatest since SRR). Tony peaked at a time when gloves were smaller, and thus, bodypunching much more effective. Canzoneri could have dealt with that from Duran, especially with his low guard. However, it's hard for me to envision any featherweight taking the measure of Cholo.

 

And Guzman does?

 

Guzman at least has speed, Saddler was weaker than Duran in just about every area -fullstop-

 

I agree Arguello would be the best bet, and wouldnt take the Pryor fights as much.
Still Duran beats him in the end, but Arguello has a good chance

 

Flash Elorde has a good chance, relatively speaking. I'd say he has a far better chance than Arguello or Armstrong or Sandler.

He was called the "Sugar Ray of Southpaws" in his day and probably had Sandy Saddler's number, beating him once and winning the rematch before being stopped by an inch and a fourth long cut. He could hit, was physically strong enough to rise in weight and maintain enough effectiveness to beat LWs like Ismael Laguna (a hero of baby Duran). The only man to really stop him was Ortiz and that was 15 years in, aside from a fluke 10th round KO in year one.

He could also deal with boxers and swarming bangers. Duran is both, but Elorde has a good resume. He kept Copeland off balance with superb movement and footwork and relied on a serious jab and serious uppercuts. When it came time to set down and punch he could, and down went Copeland in round 13.

Duran wasn't all that experienced with southpaws and Elorde is one of the best. He's got strength, power, good skills and mobility, but was also capable of herky-jerky stylistics.

 

Longshot choice: Freddie Miller.

Stopped once in 243 fights, indicating that he could take a pretty good shot. Regarded as one of the slickest, quickest southpaws of the thirties. And, he was a hell of a bodypuncher. I think if he stepped up, he could present a pretty interesting challenge to Manos De Pierdra.

 

Especially if he could induce Duran to do the "business"as he did Bat Battalino.

 

So is Guzman. Easily.

 

I can see Jason Litzau and Roberto Duran violently trading punches until finally Litzau emerges victorious.

 

Pep fought nothing like Whitaker, that's why.