Roberto Duran vs Pernell Whitaker (Lightweight)

Duran something like 20 first round knockouts. He stopped a couple of challengers in the first round, annhilated Huertas to get his shot, and dropped Buchanan worth the first hard shot he landed. He could punch, probably harder than anyone Pea fought. Andee of course he didn't have the one punch power of Hearns or Tyson (who went pretty deep into several title fights himself).

 

Duran stood his ground against Hagler taking some serious shots in the process, so I don't think Whitaker can slow him down. Tough fight though. Duran could be frustrated as a LW, but he always gotten to his man in the end. On the other hand Whitaker was more elusive than anyone Duran had ever faced including Leonard and Benitez. I think Duran edges by aggression.

 

Yeah against club fighters with horrendous records. Have a look at the record of some of those fighters. Just have a look. When in championship level at lightweight, most of Duran's fights went late.

He did not have serious one punch power.

 

He was better than an accumulation puncher though.IN that area in between the true one-punch monsters and the pure accumulation men with Olivares, Zarate, Tito, Gomez etc

Not many his stoppages were the result of fighters slowly succumbing to sustained beatings and being pulled out by the ref or corner never really concussed or floored.ie Chavez-esque.

 

The exact same thing could be said of most of Tysons victims. What happened when someone got on their bike and went into survival mode against Tyson like say James Tillis or Tony Tucker? He had to chase then down and couldn't get set to throw a haymaker. Look at Pinklon Thomas. That took what six rounds. I completely disagree about Durans power. He is not Edwin Rosario or something. But I think he had real one punch power.

 

I could agree with that.

 

I'm a Duran fan, but I'll try and keep this objective. At LW Duran wins, not just because it's his prime, but because of style. During those years he was more of an all around boxer rather than the machine that just keeps coming forward from the mid 80's(which is how most people remember him) Though he was still incredibly aggressive he has all the tools of a great boxer, he was strong, fast, could take a punch and keep coming, and had great defense. At welter I can see Pea winning it, but LW is Duran. Not that it wouldn't be close, but I think Duran edges it.

 

I think I've got to weigh in on Robbi's side on the Duran power issue.

Although heavy handed, he wasn't a one shot guy, not against world class guys in any case.

The overwhelming evidence at world class level is that he needed to break guys down to take them out.

He did that due more to his manic ferocity, overwhelming strength and elite skills more than any one shot power imo - and it's for those reasons that he'd beat Whitaker too, close but clear.

 

Duran would beat Whitaker, I don`t see Whitaker having enough power to be able to discourage Duran & the pace that Duran would set is something Pea wouldn`t be able to change & that suits Duran, who IMO would be landing the more damaging punches throughout, his two handed power would be very troublesome for Pea, especially in a 15 rounder.

He wouldn`t dominate Whitaker & he would definitely be in a real tough fight, he`d lose rounds but I think he`d win more rounds than he`d lose... Whitaker could hang with Duran inside technically but as said above would be taking the more damaging punches.... I also feel Duran could hang with Whitaker from the outside, one of the few that could, he`d lose on points tho if he never got inside enough but I`m pretty sure he would get inside enough & make it his type of fight.

Duran W15 Whitaker :good

 

If a prime Leonard couldn`t hurt, never mind beat Duran up at 147 lbs then its unlikely the smaller, less powerful Whitaker is going to be able to outpoint Duran at his best either.

Even if you think Whitaker was a better boxer than Leonard you have to admit its very minimal & the size & power factor in Leonard`s favour make him a much harder fight than Whitaker.

As I`ve already said... the best versions of Duran at 135 & 147 beat any versions of Whitaker at those weights.

 

You think Whitaker could beat the best 147 lb versions of Duran ?... namely the Duran that beat Palomino & Leonard ?... I`d be suprised, personally, I`d make those versions of Duran a decent favourite, I give Pea a better shot at 135 lbs but still pick the best of Duran (likely the Dejesus 2 & 3 versions) over the best of Pea at the weight.

 

This issue that Whitaker needs power to discourage Duran is baffling. Whitaker doesn't need power to be effective against Duran. He's got the boxing ability, defense and ring intelligence to make Duran, hesitant, and make him think more.

Mostly, every, fighter who steps in the ring is simply concerned about being hit. Duran could steam forward and take risks during every second, if he was in with a flat-footed fighter with no power. But he'd be in there with a rubix cube.

PS: The Duran who fought Buchanan and De Jesus in the rematch would have no chance against Whitaker. That Duran was quite simply too crude and untidy. He was very wasteful with his punches at times.

"I also feel Duran could hang with Whitaker from the outside" Nah, never.

 

Huh? Just because Whitaker is smaller and less powerful, he can't outpoint Duran?

You mention in your first paragraph that Leonard couldn't even hurt Duran. Yet in the second paragraph, you mention that Leonard's size and power make him a much harder fight than Whitaker. Is power an issue? On one hand you're saying it's not, next you're saying it is.

 

Its not that Whitaker needs power to discourage his opponents, his style & ability served him well throughout his career with the power he had... but Duran at his best is the real thing & every little advantage helps in fights between two genuinely great fighters, Whitaker with better power has a better shot than Whitaker with lesser power, Duran can afford to take more chances offensively & score points if he knows he can take the shots that are coming his way.

:good

 

Power just like speed will always be an issue, everything counts in the ring as you know, I was saying that if a fighter like Leonard who hits far harder & is a lot bigger than Whitaker couldn`t discourage Duran from doing his thing, then its unlikely (IMO) that the smaller, less powerful Whitaker could keep Duran off him & build enough points through 12 or 15 rounds. Duran is simply going to be landing the more effective punches throught the majority of the fight, I don`t see Whitaker having enough offensively to stop Duran from outpointing him.

:good