Roberto Duran’s resume

Definitely the top lightweight of the 70s and maybe top 5 lightweight of all time. Great win over Leonard in their first meeting. A good but not exceptional resume.

 

see I don't think so. the only real all time great in that list in Leonard, and he was outclassed by Ray in 2 fights after that, and when he beat Ray, Ray fought his fight and still Duran did not knock him out.. I can put Holyfield's resume next to this and it is much more complete. This really is wins which a top 5 ATG has?? The fact that Jorge Castro is on that list shows there is not the resume for top 5. How? Top 35 yes.

 

He certainly has a case,add to that his longevity ,and his going up the weights ,he was an incredible fighter.

 

I have Leonard,Gans,Williams ahead of him at lightweight, but no one else.

 

Absolutely...he's in my top 5 p4p of all time. Edit in greatest lightweight of all time

 

Resume good not great
Dominance at 135 .. incredible
h2h at 135 .. would be hard to beat
eye test .. Awesome!!
Going up and winning titles ... Adds to greatness
A lot of fights ... which matters and adds

In the top 15 p4p ... good spot for him

 

That is some company to be in. Nicely put!!

 

All that based on a resume that you admit is only good?

 

I always felt like he was and his wins don't tell the whole story the decision losses were impressive as well like the Hagler and Benitez losses where it was clear he was top tier skilled even with losses...he only had two humiliating losses the no mas fight and the 2 rd demolition by Hearns.....to really understand his greatness one would need to understand the quality of his opposition even if they are not ATG names...many fans being unfamiliar with his era prior to moving up will miss his greatness. Kind of like the 80's heavyweights being underrated the entire era was about as evenly matched in every way a heavyweight era could be with very few fighters being able to rise above the depth of talent it actually had....the drug issues of the 80's follows the drug issues of society with cocaine being the king of fighter problems and addictions.

 

Yeah but personally I find it impossible to gauge how good a fighter really is by looking at grainy old black and white film that is 100+years in some cases or even reading testimonies and books from people that were around at the time.

Resume aside, and relaying on what I’ve seen from more recent modern film and first hand observation of fighters that were fighting either at the same time or after Duran was a active fighter and up to the modern day,my lightweights rankings which is based mainly on h2h would be

1. Whitaker
2. Chavez
3. Arguello
4. Duran
5. Mosley

 

I remember a dynamic Roberto Duran black hair slicked back, fit & mean like a small Jack Dempsey but with the rythym of a Panamanian Jungle cat looking for Lunch, the 1st round KO of Benny Huetas....Greatness at 135, now could you imagine if he consistantly trained?

 

That is all people have? He beat a prime Ray who then easily made him quit in the rematch. I give Duran credit for making Ray mad, but Ray was not great when he fought Duran the first time. Greatness is something which is developed. A fighter is not great right off. Look at Pernell's first fight with Ramirez and Evander with Qawi.. Did they improve?

 

The man's a legend ,can't take anything away from him .From winning belts from light all the way up to middle ,over a period of 17 years !And in that time only Hearns ever shot him down.