Why does nobody ever seem to mention duran's loss at lightweight?

There are so many missing fights, as well as fights that I haven't seen that do exist, that I know I'll be a boxing fan forever.

Among fights that are thought to not exist that I'd have loved to have seen are the first Greb/Tunney fight, the Robinson/Gavilan meetings, the first Locche/Cervantes fight, the Loi/Ortiz meetings, more of the Rodriguez/Griffith series, overall more footage of a younger Robinson and Pep, and the lost Hong/Zamora fight and ensuing riot. Many more as well.

 

Who do you see beating him from that list?

 

Knowing who he was up against, a LW Duran would most likely come in shape and motivated for all of those fighters, and if that's the case I can't see any of them beating him. Mosley would come closest.

 

At lightweight Duran was a monster and unbeatable, period.

 

Just what I was thinking. Mosley is the one who would let his hands go and would have the speed advantage. His size, speed, punches in combination and body work-- all put together with his willingness to go for broke down the stretch would make for a good fight. In reality though I see him a little busted up by the late rounds to make that kind of rally though.

 

Duran had balooned up to over 200 pounds in the 5 months between the first and second fight. A lot of his training went to losing weight, and he didn't come in the best of fighting shape for the fight, and definitely not as motivated as the first fight.

Still, both at their best and fighting to the best of their advantage, I'd favor Leonard over Duran.

 

Yeah, until he shares a ring with Whitaker. Then he'd be tamed. Ever heard a lion tamer?, well thats what Whitaker would do to Duran.

 

I wouldnt favor any of them to beat him. I do understand the mentality that for him to run through that list would bring some kind of suprise (if not a loss a close fight or two), but I couldn´t make an arguement in good faith that any one of them would beat him h2h.

Shane could run him close. Castillo would be beat at his own game. Corrales would not likely be able to take the inside work coming from Duran with his tendancy to stand straight up and trade. Mayweather.. we already discussed that. Johnson-- just no. Cassa is a tricky guy but I see Duran´s ability to pressure him and negate Cassa´s use of angles off the back foot with his own angles as being the tell tale factor.

 

In terms of excuses, Roberto Duran is one of the most popular.

If you disagree then fine, it isn't worth arguing over.

 

Agreed. Ike Williams has a shot against Duran as well I'd wager, though I wouldn't directly favor him.

 

could not agree more. he came along at the absolutely worst possible time in lw history. i truly believe that if not for duran, he would be mentioned among the greatest ever at the weight class.

 

shane does come closest to getting the job done, but his penchant for standing and trading at times turns out to be his undoing.

as seen in his title defenses at 135 duran was a long haul punisher. he literally beat his oponnents into submission late. the 15 round title fight , and the 10 round 135 duran are two totally different animals.