Roberto Duran v Nigel Benn

Benn, via KO

 

Duran would've schooled a young Benn like he did in their sparring session.

Skill wise, Watson embarrassed Benn. Duran would do the same.

 

Yeah, tbh I've always fought Hagler gave Duran too much respect, although I can see Duran winning this one for sure.

 

This.

Duran made him look clueless! And that was Duran HELPING OUT whilst Nigel was genuinely trying to KO him!

 

Not a chance

 

This might be a very dangerous fight for Duran at middleweight

 

Duran was as crafty a Fighter as you could ever see. You don't spend all those years with Ray Arcel and Freddie Brown without learning to be very cute. Plus, he was blessed with natural cunning.
Nigel would hit fresh air and gloves, gas and get stopped anytime after the seventh.

 

Benn had a good chance early due to his speed and power if Duran could make it out of the early rnds then he could win on points or late stoppage .But fighting Benn and middleweight would be like defusing a bomb one mistake and it's over .

 

I am going with Duran on points as styles makes fights. I would not read too much into that fun sparring session though.

 

Benn, at middle was ferocious, deadly but so vulnerable at times. Now, there's a chance that Benn can stop him quickly, as Hearns did, but that was a very rare experience. I'm more inclined to to think that Duran survive the early, Benn blasting coming his way and starts to counter him then go in for the attack when he's tiring. We'd see Duran go for the kill around the Sixth round and finish him off.

 

Benn was different than Hearns. Benn was quick but he punched in range of Duran so if Duran could weather the storm he could do well eventually. With Hearns? Hearns was favored in the Duran fight and most people thought he would win a decision. although he said he would stop him in 2 rounds and did that. Explaining how he had more power than Leonard. Hearns fought from the outside with speed. Duran was not in range except a few times.and in the few times he could hit Hearns, Hearns could nail him with leverage on the outside. Nothing Duran could do. With Benn? The speed of Benn would be a problem but Duran had a very underrated right hand at any weight. Even middleweight or 154.. Which is why those fights he could do well against Moore and Barkley. If you cannot hurt someone at the weight you will not win.

 

The Duran who fought Hagler would have beaten any incarnation of the 160 Benn. I expect that Duran would win by stoppage in about 8-10 rounds.

 

Benn all day for me.