Smallest Fighter You'd Favor Against Iran Barkley?

I don't think I'd favor any other natural Lightweights to turn the trick, honestly.

 

Erik Morales would last the distance and make it close, with half his face hanging off and go southpaw in the last round

 

Duran I think was about the best of the lightweights at dealing with bigger, stronger brawlers who "abused" their physical advantages. He carried up to 154 pounds fairly well, better than a Pernell Whitaker I'd say. Whitaker did still win a decision over Vasquez, but Barkley would be a tougher task I think.

Iran Barkley was huge for the weight class and could have probably made a career at light heavyweight if not for the money being at middleweight at the time. He was also in your face all the time and it was difficult to just move away from him, more often than not he could make a war out of it, and in a war he usually had the advantages.

Watching Hearns-Barkley II it's crazy to think Duran fought them both, without much success against Hearns of course, both carried 175 pounds very well even if aged. Barkley threw about 1000 punches in that fight so his conditioning was still top notch.

 

How do you guys think of the Napoles who fought Monzon against Barkley would have gone? I like Napoles to win some rounds...but honestly can't see him winning. Duran beating Barkley was a fantastic accomplishment...

 

I think Barkley's career would look a bit better had he gone up to and stayed at 175 after the Nunn fight.He was really weight drained in all of his fights below 175 after that title challenge.

Fights with Williams, Hill, Andries, Harding, Czyz etc would have been entertaining and mostly fairly winnable.

 

Pbf.

 

Barkley vs Andries/Harding would have been wars.

 

Certainly.

 

Napoles?

 

I think I'd go with Armstrong...if I had to pick one.

 

i think once we go below welterweight robinson, it starts to get pretty hard to justify.

 

Agreed. I wouldn't even favor Armstrong over Barkley, but if I had to pick someone smaller than Duran to do the trick, he'd be the guy. Heck, I'm iffy as to whether I'd even favor Duran in a rematch.

 

yeah, duran barkley was a real 'last hurrah' kind of fight.

armstrong is an interesting one. i don't think he'd be able to pace himself and spend periods backing off barkley, countering at choice moments. i just think when there's such a size difference, coming forward continually is going to get you hurt. armstrong was durable, but i don't think he had the style for this opponent.