Who could bang with Roberto Duran?

If I understand the question. None of the guys you listed stand a chance at all - many others however could beat Duran if we pull from any era.

 

Durán beats all. KOs Cotto and Diaz. Maidana and JMM were some tough SOBs so I’ll give them benefit of the doubt that they could last the distance, maybe not under 15 rounds though.

If I’m understanding the question properly and you’re asking who would stand toe to toe with Duran, there are plenty from those weight classes who would stand and trade, probably not a good idea against a Prime Duran though. Julio Cesar Chavez, Henry Armstrong amount the notable names, but I favor Duran at his best over both. More recently, Corrales and Castillo would probably both try to stay in the pocket with Duran and get smoked. I’ll try and add some more in a couple hours.

 

Maidana never fought an offensive beast like Duran. Duran is miles better in every department and i loved Chino.

Cotto puts up a good fight like he always did but gets stopped due to being kind of 1 handed and easier to hit and hurt especially early in his career.

Juan Diaz isnt strong enough to bull duran to the ropes, gets broken down on the way in or on the outside similar to the second JMM fight except duran probably hurts him worse.


JMM is an interesting fight, not sure i would back Duran to stop him, hes so tough. Stylistically Duran also favors JMM. Might be a rough one. Duran is the harder puncher, JMM the sharper combination puncher. Duran slicker, JMM better timing, duran stronger, Jmm more punch variety. Duran has faster feet but only going forward.

I think Duran wins a decision just on being the stronger man but im not sure, JMM never lost a fight that way.

 

I don't mean to be dismissive, but I almost spat out my coffee when I saw the list of names you put together.

None of these gentleman are going to fare well at all if they stand in front of Duran and attempt to trade with him.

As for names that could, I don't think Duran is going to budge JCC at 135 or 140.

 

None of those guys listed would be able to match Duran in those weights. With the exception of maybe Armstrong and Chavez only fighters from 147 and up are the ones that can muscle with Duran while trading but even then there’s very few who can slug with him.

Kid Gavilan is one of the very few fighters that I think can fight on even terms with Duran up close with mean intent.

 

Duran stops Juan Diaz. Beats the living hell out of Maidana. I think he could could potentially stop Cotto late as well.

JMM one of my all time favs I think makes it to the end after even stealing a few rounds of Duran. However I'm being a little bias.

 

While i would have liked to see a fight between duran and the names you listed only jmm could really hang with him

Other names that fought at lightweight and come to mind are:
Jimmy carter
Henry armstrong
Tony canzoneri
Alexis arguello
Aaron pryor
Julio cesar chavez
Billy betrolle
Barney ross
Jimmy mclarnin
Johnny dundee
Battling nelson
ad wolgast
Ray mancini
Rocky lockridge
Meldrick taylor

All of these would have a war with duran though i'm not sure how many would actually win such a fight

 

Duran batters and stops all four of them. Marquez does the best, but still gets broken down and stopped. Pacquiao had hands of lightning, but Duran had hands of stone.

 

Who? Probably his wife.

 

Ana De Armas

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1st, Duran was no savage, but a aggressive scientist , with a Phd in the
art of in-fighting in the sweet science. Especially after 1978 when his skills started matching
his physical gifts which very few mention or give him credit for. Most posters acknowledge
his tremendous power, but fail to mention how quick his feet were, that enabled him
to close distance at will , his extreme reflexes, that made him almost impossible to land
punches on even while he was attacking.
and his physical strength that made him so effective at close in fighting.
All the fighters you listed were good fighters. But the gulf between them and Duran
is literally a mile.
Not one would survive Duran at his best between Lightweight and Welterweight.
Not one would survive 10 rds with him in my opinion.
But there's been great fighters that would've given Duran a serious run for his
money, between lightweight and welter. But none of the ones you mentioned.

 

I don’t know exactly what ‘bang with’ means, but I think Pernell Whitaker would be able to stay in the pocket with Roberto the way he did with Chavez but give him angles and keep Duran off-balance at 135. Win? Not sure, but to me he’s probably an all-time nightmare matchup for the Panamanian.

If we’re venturing into 140-pound territory and up, the list gets bigger — start with Aaron Pryor at junior welter. I’d give prime Pipino a shot at 147 despite how it turned out when they actually fought (which was at junior middle and Cuevas was on the slide iirc).

An interesting name at 135/140 would be Sammy Angott. Again, someone needs to define ‘bang with’ but the spoiler Angott is going to be right there in front of Roberto and if Ray Robinson at welter couldn’t do anything with him (as far as stopping him) then Duran isn’t either. Would be an ugly, sloppy affair but an interesting one.

Let’s not even get started on Henry Armstrong or Ike Williams. Win or not, they surely don’t back down.

 

I interpreted 'bang with' to mean a fighter that could stay in front of Duran and exchange with him for the full duration without wilting.

Pernell wouldn't really satisfy this definition because he would be maneuvering in and out of range at all times, offering angles.

JCC is still my go-to guy here.

 

Cotto at 140 was weight drained with a suspect chin and was getting rocked and almost stopped by the likes of Corley, Torres. Cotto would be destroyed at 140 vs the best version of Duran.