Who's Greater: Roberto Duran or Muhammad Ali?

Greb beat:

Mickey Walker
Tommy Loughran
Gene Tunney
Tommy Gibbons

Just to name a few with available footage. These fighters are absolute top of the top in terms of skills.

 

How many ranked fighters did Duran beat? Anyone knows?

 

I'll say Ali gets the edge here.
Kind of disappointed if I see either outside of anyone's top 10.

 

Duran for me. He was more dominant in his best years, and his weight-climbing more impressive than Ali's big wins as far as I'm concerned. He seems like the more skilful fighter to me on tape. Ali was definitely better at self-promotion, though. Ali was also better at keeping focused and in shape than Duran, who could, and did, slip between fights.

 

Tough one George, Duran had one of the greatest victories ever over a prime and angry Ray Leonard ( Perhaps to angry) but Ali had two wins against fighters the world feared for his safety in against Liston 1 and Foreman.
Are they comparable? Probably not, though the world thought Liston would kill him, in hindsight Ali had all the tools to beat Liston, tall, fastest heavy in history of hands and feet, he showed exceptional skills prior to fighting Liston. Liston not being active , his age. It was a recipe for Liston to lose against Ali.
Same with Foreman, Forman wasn't in a real fight prior to Ali, practically steam rolling everyone he faced. Meanwhile Ali was in many heated battles prior to facing Foreman and was battle hardened. Plus, Foreman's mental state and fighting in the middle of Kinshasa, in hindsight it was a recipe for Ali to win.
No one saw Duran beating Leonard in Montreal.
And its still hard to believe till this day, and a testament to how special he was. The great big man is supposed to beat the great little man. Leonard wasn't Davey Moore, a good fighter but wasn't seen as anything special. Leonard was seen as the next Robinson. A once in a quarter century talent (he was)
In my opinion what Duran accomplished in Montreal is still the best single victory in the history of the sport. Both Ali and Duran had exceptional victories over other great fighters . But Duran's victories over good fighters way above his best fighting weight, out shine anything Ali accomplished.
Durans victories over Moore, and Barkley were improbable. Him Giving prime Hagler a better fight than all his other title defenses before he faced him, against natural Middleweights was a victory in itself though he lost. ( Also size kings a good lesson about perceived size differences advantages) is amazing considering how great Hagler was.
Ali is the greatest heavyweight that ever lived. Some of his competitors he faced are considered top ten in the history of the heavyweight division, and he faced at least 3 of them in their primes. (Maybe not Liston) and won.
But Duran would be slightly ahead of Ali on the top ten fighters in history at any weight class.
I no the "No Mas" and the Hearns massacre should be held against him, and I do, its the reason he isn't # 1. But overall , he is slightly greater than Ali.

 

I think this a good way to dissect it and seeing it in this light I kind of lean toward Ali.

I think Duran's prime was his time at LW and WW, and I think Ali's prime was until he was stripped in 1967. If not for No Mas, I'd say that Duran's prime was more impressive, but No Mas edges it in Ali's favour.

Post prime, it's quite clearly Ali imo.

 

Duran

 

Ali knocks Duran out: end of thread.

 

If not for No Mas, Duran would be the greatest fighter to ever do this. He should've saw the fight out while still trying his hardest to win.

 

Ali was a reflex fighter with heart drive chin and will second to none and who was also happened to get some questionable decisions later in his career.
Duran was a weight jumper and multi time champion AFTER his prime at LW. who's skills are on par with SRR if not higher from a technical standpoint.
Take away Ali's popularity and this wouldnt even be a question.
Duran and pretty easily at that IMO

 

1. Langford
2. Burley
3. Armstrong
4. Robinson
5. Duran
6. Leonard (Benny)
7. Gans
8. Louis
9. Charles
10. Pep

 

I toyed with leaving him out completely just to see your reaction

 

I picked Ali. Both great fighters and a case could be made for either but after LW Duran's record is just too spotty for me to pick him.