Who is the greatest living boxer?

Benitez won the title at 140 when he was 17 years old. At 18 he left the division forever.

At 17 Duran was fighting at 119 pounds. He was still making 130 at 19.

Your bias and agenda is getting in the way of cold hard simple facts. Benitez was at his strongest at 154. Duran was at his strongest at 135.

You've been here for years and not learnt a thing.

 

I'd have both in my 10.

 

The thread title is best living, not ever ffs. You are a Duran troll.

I can accept a poster like bojak feeling Duran is a bit overrated as he explains his views with solid points and complete transparency. His opinion has much thought and logic behind it. You have next to no substance at all tho. You however, Duran has his feet too far apart etc etc etc.

If only Arcel and Brown knew where they were going wrong

 

That's part of the greatness of the guy. Realistically a guy that was for all intents and purposes a career lightweight (dozens and dozens of fights there and an ATG at the weight) is not going to go as well at 147. SRR looked great at times at 160 too but just like Duran he was stronger at his career best weight, 147 in this case.

SRL looked fantastic against Hagler at 160 but again he was better at 147.
Hopkins looked fantastic at 175 at times but he was best at 160.

Regardless of a couple of brilliant efforts at 147 Duran was absolutely stronger as a 135 pounder. As he gained weight his performances became less consistent (he was getting older too) and he became more prone to stylistic dilemmas.

 

You and i have vastly differing opinions of weight gain and size as seen prior. Irregardless of how Duran performed at 147 or wherever i see him as a natural lightweight. He fought at 135 for many years as a full adult with incredible effect. SRR did the same at 147. That for me is their natural weight. Fighters do tend to add a little weight later but by that time a lot are past peak.

Hearns was great at 147 and for me was probably peak weight and size wise at 154. As fortune would have it he moved up to 175 and won that title before moving back down to 160 and winning that. Now Hearns looked great physique wise at 175 but nobody can tell me this wasn't a manufactured weight gain and that he was natural there. He could still comfortably make 160 and maybe even 154 who knows.

Manufactured weight gain doesn't make that weight natural or overly suited. The greatness of the likes of SRR and Duran means they can at times perform "great" even well above their most effective weight. I remember you said Duran looked no smaller than Hagler or something similar but the fact is he was at a big disadvantage there. He was still making 154 easily (he barely weighed above this vs Hagler) and i reckon he could have even made 147 effectively still if the stakes were high enough.

Just because someone doesn't look like Tony Galento at a certain weight doesn't mean they aren't unsuited or at a severe disadvantage there. James Toney was never remotely a heavyweight for all intents and pruposes.

That's my long winded bourbon fuelled take anyways.

Manny Pac has certainly had a striking career.