Who was more skilled: Sugar Ray Robinson or Roberto Duran

Certainly is. Still, he wasn't quite like Robinson.

 

In-fighting - Duran.

 

Robinson had a good defense, Duran`s was better....
Duran had a great & varied offence, 1 of the best ever, Robinson`s was better, he has the best variety of any fighter caught on film IMO.

Long range... Robinson.
Mid range... Robinson.
Close range/infighting... Duran

Skills make fighters great more (or at least as much) than any other quality & Ray Robinson was the greatest, he was the best, so that answers the thread question.

Robinson > Duran

 

robinson and duran both had skill and both were instictive. robinson fought out of a pattern where as duran just seemd to flow. Both enjoyed it but one was more consious of putting on more of a show.

 

Both had great boxing skills. As another poster wrote above, Robinson was the better athlete.

Probably SRR had the better skills, but on that point it's very close.

 

SRR... he could out box the boxer...and out punch the puncher...

 

I'm awed by the the fight game know-how on this forum.Great thread fellas!!

I say SRR nicks this one..skill-for-skill they are just about even..but like someone else mentioned it before..SRR had that other edge..could dapt easier..whereas Roberto made you fight his fight..SRR punched harder P4P IMHO..and also had the faster hands at 147..

But both certainly up there.

 

Not sure I completely agree with that, Duran was stockier and hence more suited to in-fighting. Robinson being so tall shouldn't have been a good infighter but he got he leaned forward and got his right leg behind him to get great leverage inclose exchanges

 

Jab- Robinson
Hook- Robinson
Cross- Duran
Uppercut- Duran
Defensive skills- Duran
Offensive skills- Robinson (obviously this is close)
Footwork- Robinson
Counter-Punches- Duran
Power- Robinson
Speed- Robinson
Ring Generalship- Robinson
Combinations- Robinson (close of course)
Feints- Duran
Accuracy- Robinson (close)
Timing- even
Killer Instinct- even
Body Punches- Robinson (close)
Upper Body movement- Duran
Chin- Robinson
Heart- Robinson
Stamina- Robinson (close)
In-Fighting- Duran
Range Fighting- Robinson (Duran was very good at it too)

 

Duran.

 

I look at Robinson as being that near-perfect, complete fighter. He's a slick boxer-puncher, throws brilliant combinations, has excellent power and excellent form. Duran is the superior in-fighter and is also a gifted combination puncher obviously, but I just think of Robinson as matching or besting Duran in fundamental ways.

 

You can't use this logic though or it could go both ways. I could say Robinson is a better outside because he's taller.

 

Fine analysis. I agree with everything said in this post, even the 'close' descriptions.

If I was to disagree with anything, it would be giving the advantage to Duran on 'Cross.' Robinson leveled the hard-chinned Turpin in the rematch with a single cross while vision-impaired and tired (and bleeding heavily).

 

Based on the footage Duran