Roberto Duran vs. Pernell Whitaker at 135

Duran at 135 for reasons that have mostly been stated. I think Duran would be able to cut off Pea in the latter rounds and would, over the course of the fight, land more punches. I just don't see Pea's upperbody movement being quite enough to diminish Duran's attack... and Duran had some pretty quick feet and elusiveness on the way in.

That said, I see a close and perhaps not entirely satisfying fight.

 

Duran is my favorite fighter of all time.. Pea is second.. but Duran was not slicker than Pea.. No way no how. Pernell was one of, if not, the slickest boxers ever. A past his prime Pea.. was trading with a Prime Oscar at a good to great weight for him.. and had no issues. Hoya could crack.. So good Felix at his prime weight.. and neither could even hurt him really. Not so against Tito but I thought he came out on top in many exchanges inside with Hoya.

 

I think Duran was slicker all round and more fluid.. Everything Duran did was slick. Pea was as slick as they come defensively, so was Duran but in a more dynamic way. Duran was slick inside and outside, offence or defence. Durans all round skill level was just insane. On top of that No one faints as good as Duran... NO ONE!

 

As an afterthought to my earlier Duran pick, and from watching both, another tipping factor, at least for me, is that in probably all of Pernell's Win's and worthy lose's be it Hoya Trinidad etc he was fighting conventional cerebral fighters, those who probably operated to pre-plans stratagems and Tactics this did on most occasions afford Pernell "antidote" time be it fractions of a second in recognizing an opponents Chessboard intent whilst it remains a "Battle of Wits"..Pernell will at best, do well and at worst ..Frustrate to High Heaven...But Duran...Duran at his best..was not a Plotter of or schemer ...he did not waste time on the composition of ruses But was an Instinctual fighting Animal ..He Just Did...with extreme predudice... And he could and would Maintain it...He Kicks Pernells ChessBoard and Pieces off the Table.

 

Watch Duran versus Palomino. he was feinting, rolling, slipping, all the while being the aggressor.

 

I have and he's not slicker than Pea.. that is just kinda silly to say. Duran was slick.. but not slicker than Pea.

 

I haven't seen in metioned much.. but a big reason I think Pea has a shot and could win was his jab.. He had one of the best jabs ever and a better jab than anybody Duran has ever faced. I see Pea jumping out to the early lead... Duran taking the middle rounds.. Pea coming on again late.. Duran coming on later.. It's hard for me to pick here.. At their best for best Duran might take it.. problem is.. that is a duran at a 100%.. Many times he wasn't there.. He could still win at 95% against most guys.. but not Pea.. Even then.. I can see Pea winning a controversial decision over a 100% Duran. he would frustrate duran.. the question is.. HOW frustrated would he get.. if he gets thrown off his game even a little... Pea would win.

 

Duran wasn't black enough to be slicker than Pea

You probably think its only the ability to avoid shots that equals 'slick'. Slickness is seen in multiple things in boxing. The way Duran moves was slick. His offence was slick, his defence was slick, he countered slick. The way Duran transitioned from offence to defence and vice versa was slick. The way he fainted was varied and slick. Nearly everything Duran did was smart and slick and all integrated together seamlessly. Nothing is as slick as being able to do that.

Peas back foot ability to avoid shots was slicker than Durans, other than that Durans all round the slicker fighter. He just was.

 

Not that I would say Duran is slicker than Pea (who the hell really wa?) but there is a difference between offensive and defensive slickness. Whitaker was primarily a defensive fighter. Duran very slick on offense, on finding unique angles and getting off his shots without getting hit. He also was one of the best I've ever seen at moving between offense and defense. At his best he was just seamless.

All that said, there is no wrong pick in this fight.

 

I think Duran gets the decision. Aggression and skill and power gets my vote. I dont think P.W. gets caught but if anyone could do it Duran can but I think Duran takes the lead and keeps it. There will be ugly moments and Pea can make Duran miss a few but the body shots and ability to adjust and the aggression make me think Duran gets a close UD

 

If made to pick.. I go for Pea.. based on frustrating Duran... Ring IQ.. Jab.. and defense. Pea just makes everybody look like an inferior fighter to him.. That is just what he does. Even the greats he's faced all comes across like they are a notch below him. Duran I think would be in a similar boat. Very close fight.. but Pea's jab and defense and movement controls the fight for a split decision

 

Links to the greatest defensive artists of all time compilation on youtube (2 parts), 1st featuring Pea, 2nd featuring Duran.

Pea clips at 8.01

http://youtu.be/_Ct2jCu7y9Y

Duran clips at 7.14

http://youtu.be/F5Pw2elzBik

 

Glad you posted this and it's kinda the point... Whitaker wasn't any place on that video besides the HL of him. Duran was on there showing his slickness but also on there being out slicked... Which is kinda my point...

 

This a damn good fight and one hard pick... I always want to lean towards Duran,but Pea was so damn slick AND a southpaw too boot...He fought so thin, nice thin angle to his stance so he was never really squared up to hit, even to the body...Damn, I gotta think about this one !

 

Ok, thought about it,I have to go with Duran... Power, indomitable fighting spirit and enough `cuteness` inside to give Pea some trouble. `78` version Duran, truly was the whole package. I just can`t pick against prime time Duran...