Roberto Duran vs Mayweather

Really he partied too much, lacked motivation, and didn't carry his weight well after hitting his plateau against Leonard. He still had moments above LW.

Obviously he was the only man to really beat Leonard, who was bigger, faster, and in all likelyhood better overall than Mayweather at WW. He also beat up Barkley and took Hagler to a close one. He was a bit more than a pressure figther, he could box.

 

But that's kind of the problem here.

You can't guarantee that Duran will show up in shape and motivated, nor can you gaurantee he won't get frustrated and quit.

Both scenarios are on his WW resume.

 

If Duran beat Leonard he could certainly beat Mayweather. Duran by decision.

 

Why do people use the second Leonard fight as evidence Mayweather would beat Duran!?! Leonard was a better figher than Mayweather for one thing. He had better footwork, more skill, more power, bigger etc. Anyway, Duran wasn't as prepared in the second Leonard fight. His camp say it, leonard and his camp admitted it, everybody knew it.. Duran spent weeks partying after Montreal. He was as fat as **** when the fight was announced and really struggled to make weight. Even Montreal Duran's past prime Duran. He was in his early 30's and stepping up a weight. Prime Duran is lightweight Duran. No way in hell does Mayweather beat Lightweight Duran. He is all round more skilled than Mayweather, much more dynamic. Mayweather has never been in the ring with a fighter as good as Duran, not even close. Duran faced them all and only ever got beat by great fighters who were bigger men, or when he was out of shape or shot to ****. The only version of Duran Floyd can beat are the out of shape/shot to **** versions.

 

Typical excuse by Duran apologist. Not properly trained, not motivated, shot, SRL ran you name it. No SRL fought in a style that was the best suited to see him win against Duran. Had he fought like that in the first fight he would have won.

 

The same "He fought the wrong fight"/mindgames crap from SRL apologists. Angelo Dundee admitted that he and Leonard wanted to be physical with Duran in the first fight as they felt he was smaller and didn't bring his power with him to WW.

Leonard is on record admitting he picked a quick fight to take advantage of Duran's weight gain, not once but multiple times.

 

Well Mayweather is a defensive master, a style Duran definitely never saw before. Benitez was a helluva defensive fighter, but I think as far as footwork goes and also the ability to make your opponent miss constantly inside the pocket, I'd say Mayweather was a better defensive fighter than Benitez was, who in my opinion was the best defensive fighter Duran ever fought (who coincidentally also beat Duran.)

I think Mayweather at 147 would beat Duran by a minimal UD (7-5 or 9-6 if they fought 15 rounds.) He wouldn't trade in the pocket with Roberto like most of his opponents did, he'd utilize every inch of the ring and decrease Roberto's punching volume.

Mayweather and Duran at 135 would be far more interesting, I'd say that would be a 50-50 fight.

 

I can post you video's of Ray and people in his team admitting they deliberately got Duran when he was out of shape. They offered him a ridiculous amount of money so he couldn't turn down the date. Ray is proud of the fact they done this and has bragged about it many times.
Even Durans manager and promotor admitted excepting such an early date because they feared Duran was going to eat and drink himself out of ten million dollars. Everybody knew Duran was going to have to kill himself to make weight. He was clearly slower and less motivated.

If Montreal Duran had fought the more motivated better game planned Leonard of the second fight it would have been very close. 50/50 fight. You have to take into consideration the fact a 31/32 year old Duran was stepping up in weight to fight a highly talented, bigger, younger, prime Leonard and Leonard's team used dirty tactics to make sure they beat Duran in the second fight and admitted it :deal Thats how good Duran was.

 

Like he outboxed Castillo in the 1st fight?????

Floyd would be a devastated man after that fight and Duran would only feed off of Mayweather's prefight antics!!!!!!!!

 

Duran was out of shape against Benitez.

 

Mayweather also struggled to beat a past it ODH. Imagine if it was Duran he fought than night :yep

Mayweather hasn't been in the ring with a fighter anywhere near Durans level of ability. People dont realise just how good Duran was. Especially prime Duran. No ****ing way Floyd beats him at his best.

 

If he's saying Mayweather has to drag Duran past 150 to stand a chance, might as well throw in the flag.

 

The proof is in the pudding. When SRL boxed Duran quit. SRL engaged Duran too much in the first fight. Duran has always had trouble with movement it's no secret. Had he stuck and moved he would have beaten Duran the first fight was close it wasn't like Duran put on a clinic. Also being in shape is very important in boxing it's not SRL's fault Duran lacked discipline and blew up between fights. If you're not going to come into the ring at 100% in shape then too bad. That's a flaw in Duran as a fighter then some guys like Hopkins and PBF stay in shape year round one of the keys to their success. Coming into a fight not in 100% shape is not an excuse it's a flaw in the fighter's make up.

 

Duran has already shown he can be easily frustrated and made to quit by fighting smart and boxing. Floyd can do this easily. I could see Duran "no massing" again. Floyd would never lose to a quitter.

 

Was he out of shape for DeJesus? Was he out of shape for Hearns? What about Hagler? This out of shape thing is a common excuse for Duran apologist and it's pathetic.