If Roberto Duran stopped at Jr. Welterweight instead of Jumping all the way to Welterweight. And Challenged Jr. Welter kingpin Benitez. Would the outcome have been vastly different than they're Jr. Middleweight match up?
I posted this on the other thread: Who was nearest to prime and prime weight out of the 2????????? Was Benitez the wrong style? Was Benitez nearer prime? Did Duran have 1 of his off nights? Or did Benitez just have the style or Durans number?
Benitez was still more or less at his peak and was the bigger man. Duran imo trained well for the fight, he just wasn't as good a junior middleweight.His legs had gone to a large extent. The moore fight would have been more competitive as well, had Duran not fouled the hell out of him very early on.
They were about at the same stage past thier prime's when they fought. Benitez had a slightly larger build, to more comfortably carry 154. he still had his speed. Duran was a little slower at that weight. Benitez easily avoided Duran's punches & countered beautifully. Benitez did seem to have the style that was perfect for Duran. But at the lower weight (140)? Duran was much faster and could work himself into a frenzy to be very aggressive & try to bully Benitez around the ring. But Benitez would take everything instride & was not easily intimidated. Tough to pick a winner in this one.
Benitez was still very much in his prime IMO. he only started to drop off after the Hearns fight. Duran by comparison had no legs at all compared to six or seven years ago.he had become Toney-esque.
By 1982 when they fought. Duran still had his boxing skills. Although Benitez was closer to his prime. Duran could still bring up superb performances as with Davey Moore,Pipino Cuevas, Marvin Hagler & Iran Barkley.
Duran would win. His speed was not the same at 154 compared to 147 and 135. In these weights 135 140 and 147 he was near unbeatable. When he jumped to 154 he became more human and was beatable.
