Roberto Duran vs Floyd Mayweather Jr

He's proven against better opponents, yes. But I think Floyd at 130 definitely was the more technically complete fighter, while about the same in speed and not that far behind in power p4p. He could whack at that weight and let his hands go much more freely than he does now.

 

At 135 lbs, I believe Duran would win a unanimous decision maybe 10-5. He would pressure Floyd and trap him on ropes for stretches. He'd attack the body whenever possible, inclucing the stints where he has Floyd on the ropes. His greater strength and work rate would carry him through. I think if they fought at Welterweight, Floyd would win a decision. He would not stand in front of Duran ala Duran-Leonard I. Duran's punches would have less impact than at 135 lbs. I think he'd box around Duran for long stretches. I think Duran would have a hard time landing regularly. Floyd would win something like 9 rounds to 6.

 

Leonard is better on offense no doubt. He leads a lot better, and while worse defensively, still has good reflexes, counters well and can get on his bike when he wants to.

Leonard had a beaut of a left hook and a sneak of a right hand. He was also flat-out one of the best finishers I have seen in the sport ever, which makes fighting him like walking a tight-rope. He was also a stayer who won the last third of the fight against Benitez, Duran and Hearns, among others.

Floyd is a slightly better ring general and observes better, I've never seen him take his eyes off his opponents, and at 130 p4p he was more of a speed demon than Leonard ever was.

Leonard was more complete. Mayweather can't match him for punching power or offensive variety.

 

If it's the Floyd Maywether that master classed Diego Corrales, then he master classes Duran too.

 

Duran may just find himself...losing. At the lightweight limit this is very close. The Duran who reached the very pinnacle in the first Leonard fight would beat Floyd...But if I were to pick, I would go Mayweather...why? Consistency. Duran is the greater fighter at this point, because he fought the greater fighters, his win against Leonard trumps anything Floyd has done for me at this point in time...But Floyd is more consistent, and would take a series against Duran IMO...

 

For me the difference is in the transition from offense to defense and back again that Duran displays that would be the decider. Floyd in my mind at least, doesn't have anywhere near the offensive ****nal to keep Duran off of him. So if that's the case what are his options?

move and pot shot? Nope can't see that working.

counter punch Duran all night? I can see him doing that, but two problems with that. One is given Duran's workrate, that wouldn't be enough to win a fight, and two, if Duran gets in a couple of clean shots, it'll be the beginning of the end.

Here's what some of the experts have to say.

http://www.boxinginsider.com/columns/experts-contemplate-duran-vs-mayweather-at-lightweight/


These are Dundee's comments:

Angelo Dundee (Hall of Fame trainer of Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard, among many others): “Oh gosh, Duran’s a living legend. And one of the best fighters today is Floyd Mayweather. That would be some fight. I tell you – it would be Floyd Mayweather’s toughest encounter. Duran against a guy with quick hands like Mayweather – he could nullify that. Duran offset quick hands through feints, head feints, foot feints and foot movements. He was a complete fighter. He had all that stuff going for him. Then he nails you. Then he bulls you too. Mayweather would be facing something he never faced before. You’re saying the fight would be at lightweight? I like Duran. Duran was slick, smart, body puncher, made you fall short with punches. At lightweight I would like Duran. He could get under your skin too. He could con you. He had ways to bother you. He was like Muhammad Ali in that way, but he couldn’t speak English. Duran was a real psyche artist.
“It’s tough. Mayweather always rises to the occasion. He impresses the hell out of me. I knew Duran from the inception – he trained at the Fifth Street Gym (Miami). I watched him all the time. A guy I trained, Duran was working with him – Vinnie Curto. A lightweight hurting a middleweight. There was no smarter, cuter fighter than Vinnie Curto. The only thing that bothered Duran was a long, left jab. And Mayweather doesn’t have that. Certain guys give certain guys problems. We haven’t seen what gives Mayweather problems. Are we talking 15 rounds? I like Duran. I like Duran. You’re talking about Mayweather going 15 rounds. Duran was pressure, pressure. He was strong. He could punch. God, he was a great lightweight. He takes advantage of every little thing. And he did it smooth, with grace. Everything was slick and smart. I like Duran.”

 

Dundee is a biased old man.

 

Thanks for the link on the article...I enjoyed reading that.
I really can't disagree at all with your reasoning. One of the main things Duran brings into the fight ( at his best) is the ability to cut off the ring...His feet were very fast. I haven't watched this fight in a long time..But in that first fight with Leonard, Duran would toss a "throw away" jab at Leonard, then come over the top with a right hand...He caught Leonard with this more than a few times...It was the same set up Shane Mosely nailed Mayweather with...but other than those two big shots Shane landed, Mayweather adjusted, didn't fall for the bait...and oh how Mosely tried it...again and again.

Mayweather's movement and overall defense is great...I'll concede the very best of Duran '79-'80 would win...but Mayweather is the more consistent fighter...If Viruet gave Duran trouble...Floyd can too...in spades actually IMO.

 

Aren't we all.

But it seemed to me he made a technical reason as to why Duran would win. No long left jab. Non stop pressure and feints, power, it's the road map to beating Mayweather, unless that is you think he's unbeatable.

 

The non stop pressure and the feints that Duran threw while fighting Palomino would in my opinion give Mayweather fits.

And Viruet lost the fight in case you forgot. Running around the ring and giving Duran trouble is far different from actually beating the guy.

 

The problem with that line of thought is that Mayweather has an excellent jab. And I also assume he's a much better fighter than whoever that was that Dundee spoke of.

 

Duran eats Floyd up, Floyd would be lucky to make the full fight.

 

The Duran that beat Leonard in montreal would account for Mayweather more dominantly. The 135lb Duran would maul him. People lose site of the fact that Mayweather has looked good against good but not great opposition. His best opponents have been DLH Mosely and Marques. DLH and Mosely are very good but not great and both were well past their best when they fought Mayweather. His performance against Marques was unimpressive considering he dragged him up 2 weight divisions and cheated on the scales and still could not stop him. Guys like Corrales Castillo and Gatti were merely average champions who will be well down the p4p list in their weight divisions let alone all time lists. I think Mayweather is an elite fighter and can't do anything more than beat who is in front of him but seriously lacks wins over elite fighters in their prime at their best weight.

 

Let me know when Floyd goes 72-1 in just 12 years. Oh wait it's too late already, Duran was more consistent.

 

Dundee didn't speak about any specific fighter, he just compared the skillsets of Floyd and Duran and picked Duran. That's really all there is to it. As a trainer he would be in a unique position to judge the relative strengths and weaknesses of fighters, especially since he trainer perhaps two of the best ever in SRL and Ali.