Why Duran Is Ranked So High?

You need to slap yourself for comparing Judah to Duran...

Consider that Duran lost to other ATG's, and there's no shame in that. Take a look at other ATG's and you'll find they had plenty of losses too.

You're looking through modern, inexperienced lenses, where Mayweather is great because he has no losses... Where Judah is comparable to Duran because they both fought everybody... Where you extrapolate one surrender into a career and chronic quitter...

Do some homework on who Duran fought- when you fight the best guys available, you're bound to lose at some point.

 

I'm going to assume in good faith that you're not trolling...

Durans resume up to the no mas fight is what makes him an all time great. Going into that fight he was 72-1. And that was not a Yory Boy Campus type record; Duran had been a world champion for well over a decade and was arguably the fighter of the decade (him our Carlos Monzon). After building up his record Duran fought fellow Panamanian prospect Ernesto Marcel and won the fight fairly easily (the record books will say its a tko victory but don't believe it). Marcel rotor go on to have a solid reign as featherweight champion and establish himself as a borderline great.

Duran fought a few stay busy fights, beat former Jr lightweight champion Hiroshi kobayashi, before challenging Ken Buchanan. Buchanan had lost once controversially in a spaniards back yards and was essentially an undefeated champion. Had there been a pound for pound list Buchanan would have been on it. And Duran overwhelmed him. Dropped him with the first hard shot he landed, pinned him on the ropes and just beat him up. the ending is controversial but that is a theme throughout Durans career...

Duran reigned as lightweight champ for the next 6 years. He defended his title.12 tines beating both good young undefeated fighters and tough veterans, with every defence but one by knockout. He defeated Saoul Mamby, future Jr welter champion. He beat Vilomar Fernandez who would split a pair of bouts with the great Alexis Arguello. He beat the best fighters from Australia and Japan. If you look at his record you'll find most of his title fights went deep. That's not due to lack of power; most guys got on their bike and Duran patiently chased them down.

His only real competition was Esteban DeJesus, a Puerto Rican with Smith skills and a solid punch. Duran list the first fight, a non title affair in new York. He won the next two by knockout, the third fight unifying the lightweight title. In his prime Dejesus list to two guys both hall of famers. He was damned good.

Duran moved up but he was never rally Duran again even if he did win just about every round against former champ Carlos Palomino and took Ray Leonard to school. Everything after he left lightweight was just filler really. He had established his greatness long ago.

That will be 2 cents please.

 

I think he's rated so high because of his best performances.

He did lose some he should have won, or at least to guys who didn't accomplish as much, but you could make excuses or say that sometimes great fighters are suckers for particular styles.... It's as simple as that.

 

:verysad

I once read an interview of Pazienza where he said that even he doesn't count that Duran win as much because he was fighting an ancient Duran.

Duran came back from the "no mas" incident and gave performances like against Davey Moore, Barkley. Ortiz quit twice and I don't think you will be seeing any performance comparable to Duran vs Barkley from him.

And comparing Judah to Duran?

GTFO

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Duran up to November 1980 was about as good as it gets in boxing history.

After 1980 until his last fight in 2001 he had some amazing performances mixed in with half bored outings as well. I think that degrades him in the eyes of many who didn't see what he was in the 1970's.

I still think to this day one of the most amazing things I've seen in the ring was his performance in 1989 against Iran Barkley. No way on paper he should have even been competitive, much less win that fight.

 

Not even in your dreams.

 

I have it on good authority that a respected comedian views this thread as ****. **** thread. You're ****.

 

He taught Six Heads Lewis everything he knew...

 

I always thought six heads was a great nickname. i'm not sure what it meant but I liked it.

 

Who would you say his best 5 wins are in the 1970's?

 

I'll answer!

1. DeJesus III
2. Palomino
3. Buchanan
4. Marcel
5. DeJesus II

WHY NOT A TOP 10

6. Lampkin
7. Fernandez
8. Mamby
9. Kobayashi
10. Tie-Thompson/Ishimatsu

 

Duran is a bit of a mix bag for me. I think he's got lots of fans for due to his personality and because of that he is a tad over rated.

There is no doubt that Duran was a fantastic lightweight. In fact I would say he was a top 10 ATG at lightweight, but he was also a guy who quit without being hurt, fouled Buchanan to win the title ( though up on points, Duran never gave a re-match ) and was waxed early in 2 rounds by one big punch curiosity of Tommy Hearns.


The Benitez fights showed Duran had some issue with movement skills. Was the lightweight division really that good in the 1970's?

 

Duran is ranked so high because he is simply an ATG based upon skill, record, accomplishment and resume.

Now on the other side I find him to be rated higher (than I would rate him), by many/most. I don't rank him in my top 10 and find him to be in the 20 range, but he is increasingly found on reputable top 10 lists. I personally don't find his record, accomplishment, resume and even skill to be far ahead of JCC...I know most disagree and I am cool with that as well. I find JCC on par with him and also lean towards him in a H2H hypothetical as well.

Why is he ranked so high???? Simply because he was great....The only legitiamte discussion is the debating of how great!

 

From his start in 1968 thru 1978

That 10-Year Run,,,,,,,,,

One Word...........'INCREDIBLE'

 

And then there is the Ray Leonard, Moore and Barkley victories (as an underdog) and you have one **** of a resume.

Duran is one of the greats. Fact.