Roberto Duran vs these slick fighters

Camacho would run like a thief. Duran would beat him like he stole something.

 

60-40 in Robinsons favour. 50-50 with Gavilan at welter. He beats everyone else.

 

KOs right down the line. Most before 10.

 

Except Robinson and Gavilan. Robinson wins.

 

Whitaker is the only man I'd give good odds of outright beating a prime, 135 Duran. Unlike Floyd, he loved pressure fighters and could handle them very well. His jab, defence, movement and own stellar inside game give him a top chance. Although I'd pick Duran to beat him by the slimmest of margins.

Floyd is obviously as great as they come at 135, but I can't help seeing Castillo out-work him and really trouble him with his pressure. I also consider Duran a better all-round fighter. I think he wins a clear, but 100% competitive decision. 9-6 or so.

Duran destroys Gamboa. Likewise for Broner and Khan. He'd make them wish they were back fighting Maidana.

Crawford not only is way too unproven to pick, from what we have seen, he simply isn't good enough. Duran closes the ring off and beats him up late. Stoppage over 15, perhaps.

Duran destroys Loma's body. The bullishness and ring generalship breaks Loma down.

Robinson beats him IMO. I won't go into a big post, because I have a lot to say on it. Ill just say that both can win, but only one of them has to be at their absolute best to do so.

Gavilan is my favourite fight here, and the closest outside or Whitaker IMO. I pick Duran, narrowly. Gavilan was an absolute beast, and one of my favourites of that era, but I can't make someone who had so many issues with the counter-right and upperbody movements of Basilio favourite over Montreal Duran. Another match up I would happily write essays on, just like Floyd, Pernell, Robinson and Benitez.

Benitez from the Palomino fight gets stopped late by Montreal Duran IMO. He's just too aggressive and accurate, and he had much, much better legs at 147. I think Leonard also showed the difference between Benitez and Leonard as tacticians in their fight. Interestingly, they were scheduled to fight in the late 70s. Duran pulled out with the flu, and curry filled and had Benitez down 3 times. I have no doubt that the Duran from the Fernandez fight stops had that one come off.

Taylor would be a great fight, but in reality, Taylor was just a less skilled, featherfisted Ray Leonard. Duran likely stops him.

Judah gets slept. Too chinny, not good enough even if he wasn't.

Malinaggi, Bradley & D Garcia? these aren't slick.

 

A couple wouldn't get in the ring with prime Duran. Crawford and Mayweather Jr. If they did he'd ko the totally unproven and cherry picking Crawford early, beats Mayweather convincingly, possibly late ko .
Most on this list would be completely over matched and destroyed. It would be akin to J.Louis's "bum of the month club" because Durans physical ability and skill level is totally superior to them, hell I'd say a Duran victim DeJesus beats most of that 2nd tier group.

This leaves the only real competitive group of Robinson, Gavilan, Camacho, Whitaker, and Benitez.
If Duran fought Benitez at welterweight, he probably beats him, he certainly wouldn't lose as convincingly as he did at jr. Middleweight. But he'd need to be focused and ready, because Benitez would know what he's dealing with across the ring and wouldn't be unfocused as he was against Curry.
Camacho would be difficult at lightweight early on , But Duran would end up beating him more convincingly that Chavez did, probably stops him late.
Whitaker could maneuver around Duran enough to frustrate him, but the physicality of Duran stops him convincingly in a 15rd fight. In a 12 rd? Could be close real close.
Gavilan was very tricky, real smooth, not real powerful though. Duran beat a better fighter in Leonard than Gavilan was, Leonard hit much harder than Gavilan, and was just as skilled, if Duran is focused and in shape, he wouldn't lose to Gavilan.
Robinson is the only fighter on this list that should be favored over a prime Duran. But we know Lomatta gave Robinson fits because of his in close pressuring style. Duran could get a win against him, because of his superior skill level with that similar style . Lomatta carried his weight better than Duran, and was a Middleweight fighting at welterweight. Robinson should win convincingly over Duran prime vs prime. But I wouldn't bet my bank account on it .

 

How do you define a "slick" fighter?

 

Robinson beats him, Gavvy and Benitez more than likely do too,...but he tars and feathers all the rest.

 

D Garcia must be Dudley Garcia or Donny Garcia because Danny Garcia doesnt have a slick bone in his body

 

I'm assuming the first 8 fighters are meeting Duran at 135? They are all in big trouble. Whitaker does best and takes Duran the distance but Duran would win a UD.

Robinson, Gavilan and Benitez are the three most interesting matchups as they are all at Welterweight. I can't pick against Robinson at 147, even if Duran gives him a great fight at his best - a competitive UD for Robinson over 15. Gavilan definitely had enough to beat Duran at welter but it would be close, very close - maybe a SD for Gavilan but a Duran win wouldn't surprise me. I think Duran does better against Benitez at 147 than he did at 154 and edges him in a very competitive UD.

The remaining names on the list all get waxed by Duran at 135.

 

Robinson and Gavilan beat Duran at 147 IMO.

Whitaker's got the best chance of beating him of any lightweight, but I'd side with Duran.

Benitez still might beat Duran at 140, but I'd say El Radar was still too green at the weight to handle a young Duran.

Floyd's got a chance, but it's a lesser chance than Whitaker. I favor Duran clearly over Floyd.

No one else on that list has any case for winning.

LMAO @ Gamboa, Khan, Broner, and Paulie even making the list. WTF???

 

Loma would need two surgeries when Duran's done with him - one to fix his shoulder, and the other to relieve the swelling in his brain.

 

The only fight on that list where Duran would be an underdog is to Sugar Ray Robinson,,and that fight takes place above Duran"s natural weight.. That speaks volumes about how great Duran was.