Henry armstrong at LW Tzsyu Pryor Chavez Whitaker Mosley Judah If you had to bet on one guy to pull off the upset who would you pick?
Whitaker at 135lbs is the one I think could possibly do it against a fired up Duran. Maybe Chavez, or Pryor. What do they have in common? Each had a fantastic chin. But they would have to fight the fight of their lives. Everyone else? He destroys regardless.....
Pryor would be a hell of a challenge. Chin carved out of granite, fast hands and feet, stamina of a race horse, and absolutely no fear. Watching him turn master boxer half way through Arguello 1, I'd make him and Duran 50/50.
Armstrong, Pryor, and Whitaker are 50/50 fights. Young Mosley and JCC could win once or twice out of 10 tries, maybe more against an unfocused Duran. Tszyu cannot beat Duran, but doesn’t embarrass himself either. Duran gives Judah a frightful beating that makes the Davey Moore victory look like a nail biter.
The best Lightweight Duran beat was Esteban DeJesus...though Ken Buchanan never got a deserved rematch. My pick is Whitaker. (Note: Most of Duran's key Lightweight Title fights were in Panama, except the 3rd DeJesus, which was in Las Vegas) http://www.bbc.com/sport/scotland/32474375 Boxer Ken Buchanan on Ali, Duran and his battle with alcohol "Hugh McIlvanney catalogued Buchanan's career better than anybody. In a piece from 1981, he wrote of the qualities that made him great: "It was conveyed most succinctly to this reporter in a conversation with Roberto Duran in Las Vegas long before the Panamanian had discredited himself against Sugar Ray Leonard. "Duran was reckoned then to be the fiercest man in the game and it was significant that when Duran was asked to name the opponent who had most impressed him, the answer came in an instant growl. "'Buchanan,' said with a conviction that was as close as Duran went to saluting an adversary."
I immediately eliminated Judah, then Mosley and then Tszyu. While I'm pretty sure Duran would beat Chavez, I'd love to see that fight. The ones left with a legit chance of beating him are Armstrong, Pryor and Whitaker. Armstrong had the strength and endurance to push Duran all the way. The Pryor that beat Arguello would have been a handful for any 135 pounder in history, including Duran and Armstrong. Duran struggled at lightweight in two fights with Edwin Viruet, who was a defensive specialist/spoiler with no punch. Whitaker hit harder, was slicker and all-round better than Viruet. I think he could trouble Duran a lot.
I think theTzyu fight is a tossup.. Pryor? I see him beating him since Pryor like to mix it up and you didn't mix it up with Duran. Chavez? I don't know. Draw. Whitaker wins a decision and a rather easy one. Mosley? I could see Mosley edge it, but then again Mosley is sometimes in the range of punches. And Duran knocks out Judah.
why do fighters always say the ones they beat were the toughest. Duran should say Hearns,, and Hearns said Roldan, when he should have said Leonard/Hagler or Barkley.
The "Buchanan" Lightweight comment was made by Duran, before the SRL fights occurred (1980+). The Hearns-Duran fight was in 1984.
I personally don't like Whitaker in this. I know he is defensive wizard but he didn't have much power.. I see the relentless Duran breaking him down in the later rounds
I don't see Pryor having much of a chance. I'm surprised to see some say that. Pryor doesn't do a single thing better than Duran, and is there to be hit. Alexis isn't as relentless with his pressure or combos as Duran. Chavez just isn't a good enough boxer to get a decision against Duran. The best chance really is Whitaker to get it done