Who Could beat The Roberto Duran of 41 Years Ago Tonight?

Don't see either Basilio or Griffith able to beat Duran at any time during his
welterweight run. They wouldn't have the firepower to keep Duran honest.
Especially on that night in Montreal.

 

I strongly sympathize with this, but I wouldn't bet on a fight against SRR.

 

Well, certainly Lloyd Honeyghan and Donald Curry would tame him.











Just kidding. (LOL)

 

I can understand the tendency to favor Robinson and, if we were talking about any other night, I'd probably agree with you. It goes against the grain to pick against SRR, but Duran was something else that night, 41 years ago, in what could well be argued as the greatest win ever.

Just my opinion, of course.

 

He was just about the perfect fighter that night.

We have to plumb deep into the greatest Welterweights off all time - to beat the Lightweight Duran at his best.

Sugar Robinson, Emile Griffith and Mickey Walker - Hearns on the very top of his game would be a 50/50. Duran is just that good.

 

By the same logic, New Orleans Ray - the one that was put forward by @JackSilver - beat Duran. Duran, five months on from Montreal, was in the ring and lost against Leonard. I know you'll say that was a different Duran but that would be making excuses. The very thing you won't accept if people make them for Leonard.

 

Again, I strongly sympathize with this view. Leonard up to that point seemed to be the next Boxing Miracle after Cassius Clay. He was quite sensational to behold. But Duran was like Frazier in FOTC (perhaps the greatest ever heavyweight performance).

 

Duran doesn’t beat Hearns at 147 let alone Robinson. Too small and they are too talented to lose to someone of Duran’s size.

 

Nobody

 

I'd pick Shawn porter, Aaron Pryor and probably Floyd Mayweather to all have a chance to beat him at that weight on that night .
Pryor is a toss up because of the weight, I'm assuming for argument sake that he transitions to welter with no problem.
Excellent thread btw

 

Zulu---all great fighters but Duran had too much firepower. Pryor --Duran at 140 would be great to see. However , Duran still a master at boxing. We think of him as a assassin, but in reality he was a cold calculating boxer that outthought, out boxed, and outfight his opposition. He outslugged Leonard, boxed a strategic fight against a prime Hagler, and shredded a helpless but game Moore. Like SRR and a few I have not watched.... a almost perfect fighter. That night i would bet on him against anyone. OK maybe not SRR

 

Duran on that night was a tough out for anyone no doubt. Just think, 147 wasn't even his best weight. I wouldn't favor anyone over him at 135 period.

 

I would agree.

I would also happily back SRR. He hits quite a bit harder than Leonard and is much more aggressive on the whole and more importantly far more comfortable letting his hands in tough fights. He had the sort of power (and speed and skill to land it) that would give Duran's aggression pause and push him into a more cautious game that, like against Hagler, he is not going to win despite looking very good.

Lets not forget that Duran tired late in this one (yes he did tons of work prior) and Robinson would be coming on more dangerously than Leonard ever could at that stage if in fact the fight was still going.

I'd favor Hearns too. That freakish power could well pull the switch on Duran. I think he'd have to win by knockout tho.

Another guy i'd give one hell of a chance would be Charlie Burley.

Guys like Luis Rodriguez wouldn't be no walk in the park either.

Duran, as great as he fought that night was still at his absolute greatest at 135.