Roberto Duran vs Julian Jackson

Not at 160, Duran never beat a fighter as good as Graham at 160.

 

Jackson knocked Norris out in 2 and Norris was better than Duran at 154, he was awesome.

 

Be like the Benn fight except Jackson was less wild than Benn was v Barkley.

 

True, but that doesn't mean he couldn't. Duran proved that he was in no way limited by divisions, moving up through three true divisions, and capturing titles in all. Saying he couldn't beat a bigger middleweight, is not provable (if that's a word) either way, but since Duran did so well in multiple divisions, there's little reason to doubt he wouldn't have success here.

 

That's another argument.

 

I wouldn't usually pick against Duran, certainly not at Lightweight or Welter but he'd have his hands full against Jackson.
Duran was such a fine judge of distance and of course he was a fabulous inside Fighter but the younger version of Jackson, with two good eyes, had shattering power no matter what the range.
I just can't imagine Duran managing to stay away and close up quickly without taking a lot more than one big shot from JJ.
I'm picking Jackson around 9.

 

agreed

 

Barkley was better than Graham. He was a double world champion

 

Duran from say 81 to 85' I'd pick all day against Jackson , he was just a class or two level above Jackson, and would be capable of making a fighter as deadly as Jackson miss the vast majority of his power shots. Also Duran would know and have the ability to get in close, smother Jackson's tremendous advantage in power shots. If Duran was focused and in shape , he beats the hell out of any version of Jackson during this time period.

But Duran in 89-90? Duran had slipped tremendously by this time, seemed really uninterested most of the time in fights and was there just making a dollar off his legendary name.
Duran at this time period would get stopped by prime Jackson . Jackson during this time would be able to land his technically precise power shots much easier, Duran wouldn't have the foot speed to close the distance or retreat effectively, leaving him in Jackson's optimum power range of mid to long distance. A disastrous area to be in. It would end early for Duran, he would get blown out in 5-6 rds.

 

You realize Duran beat Barkley in 89 right?

He looked extremely motivated anf well trained.

Duran could turn it on and off.


Sure he looked mediocre pretty much in all his fights from 86-88 but once he got the title chance against Barkley he looked like a totally different fighter

 

Jackson by brutal KO in 5 rounds.

 

Yes of course I realize it. Duran got up for the fight, against a fighter in hindsight was tailor made for a fighter of Duran's ability. J.Jackson though not as physically tough as Barkley was much better in every area than Barkley.
Much better counters, faster hands, better foot movement more skilled.
Duran in those years would find it hard to counter J Jackson, he wouldn't have the foot speed necessary to close the distance or get out of range.
I'm one of Duran's biggest fans. But lets be real, Duran even motivated was no where near the fighter he was prior to 85'. And definitely wasn't close to the fighter he was at welterweight and lightweight. In 89-90 he was mainly fighting from memory and unmotivated.
Let's be real for a minute. J.Jackson was a fighter that was almost as perfectly suited to beat Duran in the time frame, as Duran was perfectly suited for Barkley.
J J.Jackson isn't even in the same area code as Duran in terms of ATG greatness. But let's stop making him more than human. He grew old and lost his abilities like every other great fighter. Like all of us.

 

I lean towards Jackson.
Although he's obviously the greater boxer, Duran would have been almost 40 then. Plus Jackson has the power to take out anyone.

 

I dont think a Barkley fight ends well for Terry Norris.

Norris was too tempramental and would be lured into fouling and opening up and getting knocked out. He beat 3 shot names srl,mugabi and curry...the rest of his championship career is overrated and he fought poor opposition.barkley was shot vs toney and norris is no toney.barkley 88-89 is a different beast.

 

Julian hurts everyone he hits, this cannot be doubted.