Roberto Duran at 135lbs

I think that is the very first time in my life I have seen someone arguing about the winner in the SRL-Duran I.

If Duran is overrated how in the world can he be in almost everybody top 5 ?

 

I don't see anyone out slugging Roberto Duran at 135lbs, so I don't see Julio Cesar Chavez even the version who beat Edwin Rosario beating Duran.
Duran at 135 was as complete of a fighter as one can be in boxing, but this dose not make him unbeatable. At 135 it would take someone who could and would use boxing skills as oposed to mix it up with Duran.
I can see Pernell Whitaker and Benny Leonard beating Duran. They would have to work every second of every round to do so but both of them had the skills and mindset to win a boxing match against Duran.

 

Duran was simply unstoppable at lightweight. However, I also think Whitaker is the one with the best chance against him.

 

Just seen this thread now, this one has been coming up between me and Sweet Pea quite a bit lately. Like Pea will tell you, this really can go on and on, for me, Whitaker and Duran are the only 2 135pounders that i would consider beating one another, in a h2h sense, they stand alone in that division's history, jusy my opinion, one i do feel quite strongly on though. That actually sounds disrespectful to the other elite and ATG fighters of 135, but its not, i just dont quite favour them over these 2.

Then again though, at 135, Carlos Ortiz and Whitaker would be very interesting imo, think i'd still stick 2 my guns on it though.

Anyway, i have my reasons on Whitaker-Duran, i pick Duran!!

 

The Sugar Robinson that fought his first 20 or so fights at 135 is a good shout although SRR may be too green for a prime .

Whitaker and Floyd Mayweather Jr are close matches that could go either way because of the styles and abilities of those men

Armstrong/Chavez aren't going to beat Duran at his own game

 

Whitaker is a tough style matchup for everyone. But who's a tough style matchup for Whitaker? I say it's Duran. Whitaker never saw anybody close to Duran at Lightweight. Mayweather, Pendleton, Ramirez, Nelson (blownup featherweight). Duran was the guy with the footspeed to cut off the ring. Duran had the defense, the chin, and the ferocity to press Whitaker with impunity. Duran would burtalize Whitaker when he got inside. I hold Whitaker in very high regard, but no I don't see him beating Duran.

 

I think Ike Williams has the best stylistic chance.

Especially if he backs Duran up.

 

Some people on here see Duran almost putting Mayweather in a coma. I don't see it that way at all. He'd give Duran problems, no question. Not to sure he has the 'magic dust' that Whitaker has to do a similar job.

 

Are you saying Mayweather beats Duran if Mayweather's on coke?

 

I think Mayweather gives Duran a decent fight. An extremely competitive one. However, I'd take Duran via decison.

And anytime I match Mayweather against someone like Duran who went 15 rounds, I will always make a prediction based on it being a 12 round affair. It's common sense IMO. Fighters like Mayweather and Whitaker never went 15 rounds and it's not their fault. Duran went 15 rounds, thus obviously he went 12. So asking Mayweather to go 15 is simply unknown territory. Unfair.

 

There's not too many that I'd pick. At lightweight Duran was a quick, crafty defensive wiz and had really brutal power in each hand. (And the mean, ruthless and hungry attitude too).

Sadly for someone who has been posting mostly in this section I haven't seen enough footage of Armstrong to feel comfortable in making an analysis, although that's a dream match like few others.

With Arguello, I think Duran would turn up the pressure and try to overwhelm him similar to how Pryor did. Having greater punching power than Pryor and better defense, I think Duran eventually stops him.

Chavez would be a hell of a fight. What I wouldn't give to see it. But as much as I love Julio I think Duran would prevail in a decision, as long as it wasn't one of those fights where he was taking off and was ballooning wildly in weight in between bouts.

Whitaker would be the best chance. The main concern I'd have here is whether Sweet Pea could keep Duran off. Because I do believe Duran is quick enough to pressure Sweet Pea, and he'd walk through anything Whitaker had to dish out. If Whitaker was ready to work every minute of every round he could do it, otherwise Duran might rough him up on the inside and slowly wear him down over the course of the bout.

Mayweather would be a good contrast of styles to watch, but I'd certainly pick Duran. My big thing here is how Mayweather all too often falls into doing one or two punches at a time, and basically conceeding the edge in aggression to the other fighter while he plays defense. One of the ways he sets this up by using his speed and counterpunching in the early rounds to make fighters tentative. Well, nothing in the world I've seen would make Duran tentative, and one or two punches at a time just isn't going to get the job done. Mayweather has the right physical tools to stop Duran, but from what I've seen of it, maybe not the right style, unless he was going to do his busier early style. Duran by late KO or decision.

 

The thing is, Whitaker would know not to stay on the inside for long, he'd mix it up only when neccessary. And his defense compiled with his own very crafty, smooth skills on the inside(his skills rival Duran's in there, Duran just has the power and ferocity) would allow him to hold his own. He was very hard to hit clean to the body as well given the way he blocked his mid-section with his elbows.

 

I place Duran at the very top as lightweight champion. There were guys like Ortiz, Whitaker, and I believe Buchanan in a rematch, just to name a very few that wouls have been decisioned, and not blown away or disgraced, but many, many of the great lightweight champs of the past wouldn't have seen the final bell against Roberto, IMO.

 

New poster mate huh. Decent stuff. Keep popping in regularly.

 

Thanks Robbi.

Yeah, I've been a boxing fan for awhile, and stumbled onto this forum a few months back, but I only just started posting recently. It's been fun, and I like the different, but informed points of view here on the classic forum.