The more overall skilled fighter.... DURAN or WHITAKER ?

Good point.

Of course, Whitaker would then truly kick Duran's ass.

 

He'd obviously be at least as good but the whole mixing and matching various fighters attributes is mostly worthless other than something to be done for a laugh every so often.

Fighters fight the way they do 95% of the time because they work around what they do well.Start giving them compeltely new skills and it would change the fighter from the ground up.It's sometimes arguable enough to say "that guy would have been better with more power\better chin etc" but to start making a frankenstein usually takes things too far.

 

man, i post too slowly these days.

 

Whilst there's evidence to suggest that Duran struggled with good movement and boxing skill (Marcel, Viruet, Benitez, Leonard II), I'm of the school of thought that Duran, especially at lightweight, if he needed to, and felt that the competition required it, could do just fine with movement and didn't find it that much of an issue.

When he was on point, he obliterated Ken Buchanan and Vilomar Fernandez, and beat the crap out of Viruet in the rematch too.

Sure, he had his Bizarro performances, where he held back and let Lou make a traveling-circus-clown of himself, but when he felt the opposition was worthy fo his best, he would always bring it against the movers.

I don't put much weight on his performances at welterweight and above past the first Leonard fight. Was clearly a different fighter there and had lost much of the speed and tenacity and strength vs. opponent ratio that made him such a handful at lightweight.

Getting to Pea vs. Duran. I think Duran would get to him and over 15 will be a little too strong and dynamic for Whitaker.

Whitaker would undoubtedly do well, especially over the first 10 rounds, but I think Duran would overtake him in the last third of the fight.

One thing that can't be ruled out though, is that Duran might get mentally defeated if he falls behind a bit and start fighting emotionally rather than intelligently, and he may not find his way back into it. But I don't think Whitaker would have the ability to form such a gap that Duran will start doubting himself and his prospects in the fight.

 

Such a spoil sport. Very true though...

 

Such a close one as they were both so skilled and versatile it's mind boggling. You have Duran who is an offensive fighter with great defense and Whitaker who is a defensive fighter with great offense.
I'd pick Whitaker because he always finds a way to win against anyone. And as others have pointed out he was great against all kinds of styles. He was never beaten convincingly and the only times he lost a fight was when he was robbed or already past it. I think Duran beats him in a close fight though.
Great thread.

 

Voted Whitiker but felt like betrayed Duran :twisted:

 

As I usually do, a table of attributes (some of them not really skills, but anyway, it´s tough to separate IMO)

Jab- Whitaker
Hook- Duran
Cross- Duran
Uppercut- Duran
Defensive skills- Whitaker
Offensive skills- Duran
Footwork- Whitaker
Counter-Punches- Whitaker
Power- Duran
Speed- Whitaker
Ring Generalship- Whitaker
Combinations- Duran, very close! !!
Feints- Duran
Accuracy- Duran
Timing- Duran
Killer Instinct- Duran
Body Punches- Whitaker, close
Upper Body movement- even
Chin- even
Heart- Whitaker
Stamina- even
In-Fighting- Duran, very close, both are great
Range Fighting- Whitaker

 

This.

 

Would disagree with the picks in bold myself, although there's not much in a lot of those categories.

 

That Whitaker did clearly better against Trinidad than Duran did against Hearns is of some significance here IMO. Even when Whitaker was well past his prime he could still give it a good go against opponents that he wasn't stylistically well suited for. Less so Duran.

 

Trinidad was a terrific fighter. Whitaker hung in and showed alot of heart.

Hearns was a once in a lifetime offensive terror at `154lbs.

not quite apples to apples.

 

Pea sparked that Naziro or whatever his name was that fought Rosario.

Pea made up for lack of natural pop by being a truly spiteful puncher.

 

"A once in a lifetime offensive terror" who didn't come close to knocking out Benitez, the only other really noteworthy fighter he fought at the weight. Well, if you don't count Minchillo, who he didn't knock out either.

Thing is, I don't think Duran's defense in that fight looks that very good. He keeps his back very straight, chin up a bit and hands quite low. Very risky against someone with Hearns natural advantages. And when driven to the ropes his stands with his feet parallell. He was hurt by then, but still... I never saw Whitaker leave openings like that.

 

no insult on Duran. Pernell could be the best defensive fighter ever.