Roberto Duran vs Pernell Whitaker @ 135lbs

You make a couple of excellent points Tiger...very often overlooked aspects of Whitaker's repertoire. A better ring general in his own unique way than just about anyone I've ever seen, Pete was a superb blend of timing and relflexes, footwork and defense. Everyone knows that, right? But he also seemed to enjoy mixing it up every now and then...and rarely came out on the short end of any single exchange...let alone a decision. He'd work his way in behind that piston jab and put in some good work upstairs and down (his serious commitment to body work is vastly underrated IMO). Then he'd get right back outta harm's way.

Then the way he finally buckled down, with a broken jaw no less, against a prime Tito at 147? That to me that proves he had world class mettle the whole time. He was just never forced to go life and death with anyone until then.

The other side of that is I get the feeling that we got to see the best version of Duran. His style and demeanor in the ring meant he was always giving it his all. His brilliance was on display regularly against Dejesus in the rematches, or agianst Lampkin, or even Ortiz (thanks for the heads up red cobra. I had never seen that gem before) etc.

All that being said...I cannot, for the life of me, see a scenario where Duran stops Whitaker. Maybe a SD or even a UD where Duran out works, out lands and out hustles Pea. He might even drop him in one of those famous swarms behind a perfectly timed feint. But i don't see Whitaker getting stopped.

On the contrary, I agree with the notion mentioned earlier that if anyone in boxing history could have ever handed a prime Roberto Duran a loss at lightweight...I believe it's Pernell Whitaker.

Man, I wish we could have seen this one. Maybe my all time dream fight. Great thread.

 

The fight was closer than what it should be but I would struggle to give it to Pete. He did make DLH miss A LOT. I never did like the way that DLH flurried to be fair.

I knew Pete was great when I saw him outfight Chavez on the inside. Counter-intuitive and made me view Pete in a different way.

Definitely an ATG.

 

I'd take Duran by close UD.

 

I agree.

 

Duran ko’s Whitaker rd 11

 

Whitaker would make it a drawish fight again but Duran should be the one to get the decision, Whitakers fans would say he got robbed.

 

I liked when Pea had established himself at Lightweight and he stopped moving. Georgie Benton told him that was wasted energy. He sat down on his punches and became an effective Bodypuncher. He just had subtle movement. He would be moving back at an angle drawing an illusion he is just retreating. He reality it was a tight circle and he always had them in his range.
He might have peaked @140. Rafael Pinada looked formidable. Columbians can punch hard. Pinada had just iced Roger Mayweather with one left hook. He was snoring. Whitaker went to him and put on a masterful exhibition.