Vintage 147 Montreal Duran vs. PBF. Who and how?

He would, and you don't like Floyd. Tell me you aren't one of those guys who gets ridiculous saying Hearns or Robinson wouldn't lay Duran the **** out anywhere from 147-160 within three rounds, or that the Tyrannosaurus Duran could take Monzon and wouldn't get absolutely, systematically destroyed. Monzon bores holes through that macho schtick in the ring. :deal

Damn fine post, PP. Although bringing up the Benitez fight you are sure to get dismissed, even though Duran had an immense training camp and was already at 154 a week before the fight.

 

Only thrice has anyone had measurable success (looking better over the course of a few rounds) and that's oscar, jlc and cotto. All had their success when they pushed floyd back. Duran is better skilled than all 3 and shares their size advantage imo. Floyd adjusted to beat all 3 clearly imo but duran is a level above.

I see it like you except I think duran finishes strong due to pressure and body work paying off.

I think floyd is majestic tho and i'd never bet against him from sfw-lmw (apart from hearns or robinson).

 

:happy

To think, this all started in the H2H of Original 8 thread no?

 

Super Zab

???

McCallum, Jackson, Norris?

 

Sounds blasphemous to say, but I think the 150lb version of Mayweather might well defeat the Jr. Middleweight version of Duran. But the Montreal version of Duran was a much better boxer and puncher and probably wins a decision that's a lot closer than people would expect.

 

Yeah modern guys are definitely getting due credit more and more on this forum now.

Just because a guy is still fighting this century shouldn't make him generally worse, if anything he'd be generally better.

I wouldn't put floyd h2h king in any weight class aside from maybe lww or sfw at a push but talent wise, he can't really be denied. He's as complete a fighter as this modern era has seen and if he finishes his career strong enough he'll be seen as one of the best to ever lace them up imo.

 

I have to say that Floyd has been growing on me lately, but a prime, in shape Duran at 147 would have been a little too much for him. Duran has this nasty over the top overhand right that I think would have given Floyd a lot of trouble on the ropes and I just don't think that Floyd has fought anybody remotely close to Duran in terms of skill and intensity. Also Floyd's lack of power would hurt him in this fight, I think Duran by close UD.

 

Thanks HOI, do you have a source for the bolded? Or can you tell me where you heard it? Duran fans do claim he was drained for the fight

I see your argument and I do back and forth over this match up. A trilogy would certainly be interesting

 

His biography. I don't have it handy as I'm not at home, but I'll be glad to point out later tonight. The idea that Leonard chose Duran over Cuevas because they viewed him as a lesser threat is also inaccurate at best.

 

French-Canadian Duran UD 12 PBF

 

Zab's success wasn't measurable.

I'm not saying i'd favour floyd over them, i'm saying I wouldn't be against him.

Out of them 3, only mike would I consider floyd losing to.

 

Well, I don't know that I'd say better from a technical skillwise standpoint per se, although it's evident that general athleticism has advanced. That's all agility, reflexes, quickness of foot. Things that are advantageous in pitting old-timers against recent fighters but can be solved through skill and technique. I dont see guys like Pep, Robinson, Burley, Charles, et al. having any problems making adjustments and likely dominating as they were. I've honestly felt that in addition to Robinson's speed and power, ability to circle the ring and box from a distance, possess balance and timing, etc. is that he was just simply decades ahead of his time from a general athletic standpoint Even as a 35-37 year old with over 130 bouts under his belt, and these were some of the best fighters of the era.

 

I mean better from a top to bottom point of view.

Every era has standnuts but I think the overall level of fighter is better now. Not by much, last big improvement was the 20's since then the improvement is evident, but slight.

 

A realistic trilogy spread over a few years, I think floyd takes it 2-1

 

Ah. I'll co-sign that.

The only issue I have with recent times is that there are so many divisions and trinkets to compete in and go after. Labeling someone a " World Champion " can be nauseating at times and it's much easier to even be a "top 10 contender" with divisions separated by so little. I thought everything was still perfectly managable up until around 1983. There had always been two sanctioning bodies, but up until the 60s, they very rarely split. To introduce a third mucked things up.