Roberto Duran V Mike McCallum - Lightmiddle?

Spot on Pat.

You had to live that era to remember just how McCallum was perceived early on. There's been an enormous amount of revisionist history, much of it based on his own claims.

Mike couldn't draw flies to **** around this time and for some time later. He was seen as boring and was considered a headcase in the industry and virtually impossible to work with. There was also a dogged rumor getting around that he was many, many years older than he claimed. I think this one would be put to bed by his excellent form late career. His cautious and sleep inducing win over Mannion would not have come at a worse time as he strained to make himself visible and viable in a red hot era.

It was a pity as he was obviously a talented fighter and went on to have a top career. In hindsight he could have been matched harder early on and in particular would have been well suited to fighting punchers and aggressive fighters who brought out the best in him. It would have raised his appeal and opened up other avenues earlier provided he kept on winning.

By the time a lot of people began realizing what a good fighter he was a lot of opportunities had passed him by.

 

To put it in perspective, McCallum’s only win of note at the time he beat Mannion to pick up a belt (no one would consider him ‘the champion’ at 154 at the time) was a retirement stoppage of shopworn Ayub Kalule, who was coming off a much more devastating beating at the hands of Davey Moore at the time.

Apart from that, you’re talking about longtime lightweight Jimmy Heair (listed at 5-8 but I met Jimmy and co-promoted a club show with him and I’d say that’s an inch or two over reality), club fighter Tony Suero and, if you want to look for one more, you probably settle on Bruce “The Mouse” Strauss.

Doesn’t mean he wouldn’t present difficulty for Duran with his style and length, but McCallum was nowhere near what we later came to know him as — it would be another two years before he would beat Julian Jackson to plant a flag, and a further year before he topped Milton McCrory and Donald Curry to show it wasn’t a fluke. (Then he lost to Sumbu Kalumbay and kind of had to reset before really making himself a commodity.)

 

All spot on. I think an on song Duran would have decisioned him at this point in an awkward bout.

 

And he didn’t exactly dominate the guys who were available to him

 

Yes exactly. You have to look at his career in real time to assess the early part of it and lack of opportunity.

 

Duran decision the younger man, McCallum?

NO WAY!

 

and they say Mike was unproven at this weight

All Duran had were wins over washed up Cuevas, and Moore, who he thumbed in the eye

Mike doesnt need to beat the likes of Curry, jackson, and Milt McCrory to "prove it wasn't a fluke" to whip a fat, old plodder like Duran

The Duran who decisioned Sugar Ray Leonard would be an entirely different story.

Even spotting Mike 6 - 7 pounds, Duran would mop the floor with him

 

Well he certainly didn't decision the younger man, and champion, Davey Moore did he.

So a Duran TKO for you, obviously.

 

I simply meant Duran was not at his prime weight, he was lean, hard and fast at 135-147, too short at 154 and slightly slower, his body didn`t looked toned.

 

Duran schooled Moore, but I feel McCallum would have had too much, Duran was just too small despite his guile, Hearns would not have sparked McCallum in two rounds in 1982, even Jackson couldn`t knock him out despite catching him flush, that shot would have sparke Duran the same as Hearns punches destroyed Duran.

 

Duran wasn`t a plodder, he offense wa layered and skilled and his head movement was good, no plodder could last the distance with Hagler in a 15 rounder.

 

Robbie Simms wasn't a draw but Duran fought him.
Laing wasn't a draw but Duran fought him.
True Mike wasn't a draw but it was a title fight which if Duran looked impressive could have led to bigger things.
Duran knew Mike would be a very difficult fight and passed it over.
Mike at Jr middle is too much for Duran. Mike isn't Davey Moore who just stood in front of Duran.

 

Duran didn't fight Sims and Laing instead of a multi million dollar bout vs Hearns. HUGE difference. Do you think he would have fought them instead of Hearns for big dollars?

As for impressively beating McCallum leading to bigger things...........he didn't need to as Hearns, the bigger thing, was already on offer. He'd just fought Hagler and came off extremely impressively. A win over Hearns would have led to a mega bucks rematch with Hagler. A McCallum win would have gained him nothing.

Duran barely would have known who McCallum was.

 

And looked what happened Tommy blew him out in two rounds.
The match up with Hearns was a nightmare however you break it down - 6'1 guy with a 78inch reach and one punch power.
He would have been better off fighting an easier guy gaining the title making a couple of defences then landing a big fight and it would have been MORE money in the long run.
Instead his management match him up with a nightmare and he gets blown out.

 

Duran still had the title. He gave it up to match Hearns.

Your scenario would not have meant more money in the long run as he likely would have lost at some point. A couple of dud defenses would not have made Hearn's worth bugger all more and Hearn's could well have fought Hagler by then anyway..

Far better he loses to Hearns for a couple of million than to a Laing for pennies. Make hay while the sun shines was certainly Duran's aim in that resurgence.

On the back of impressive showings against Cuevas, Moore and then Hagler Duran was a live underdog vs Hearns.

Duran always went where the money and challenges were. Fear wasn't part of his makeup. That was his greatness. He would have thought he could beat Hearn's and only Hearn's himself was predicting a blowout, predictably. Why fight little fights when you can fight big fights?

Everyone thought Hagler would slaughter poor Roberto but that certainly didn't happen. Imagine if he and his team steered clear Hagler because of fear of losing? Duran was twice as heavy an underdog as he was against Hearn's. Hindsight's a wonderful thing.