Why is Roberto Duran top 10 all time P4P material?

I give him props for fighting much bigger men when he could have stayed in lower divisions, he was a true warrior.

 

He dominated his natural weight class for 12 years losing only one bout to a man whom he knocked out in their next two fights. The lightweight division isn't known for having a lot of knockouts, but Duran knocked numerous quality fighters cold with one punch.

As a lightweight, Duran was practically invincible for a LONG time. To me, that is p4p greatness alone. Everything he did after that in heavier divisions was just icing on the cake, only adding to his greatness.

Take away 'No Mas' and I think most people would have him in the top 3 all time p4p

If you want to talk physical attributes: I've never seen anyone more relaxed in the ring, nor have I seen anyone who was as much a 'natural fighter' as Duran was. All you have to do is watch him at his best to understand.

 

Because you touch yourself at night.

 

Duran was not a one punch KO artist at lightweight. Most of the knockouts while defending his title came after 10 rounds. I'm not saying he couldn't punch and most of his opponents were stopped on their feet or by cuts. But Duran wasn't the same type of puncher at lightweight as Hearns was at welterweight. His sickening KO's mainly happened when he wore his opponents down, then knocked them out brutally down the stretch.

Lets not forget about his style when rating his power. At the end of his lightweight reign he became more patient and measured, also more defensively aware. But throughout most of his career at lightweight he was extremely aggressive, and hit his opponents more often than not.

To sum it up fairly and accurately. Duran was a hell of a puncher at lightweight, but he never had chilling power like a Hearns or Tyson when both those guys punched at the peak of their powers.

 

I don't think we necessarily disagree here. I think against a faster fighter, you really need to wear down your opponents defense to catch him right.

A lot Duran's knockouts were in fact triggered by single punches and not combinations.

 

Leonard-Duran 2

 

How many other fighters in boxing history have reigned in their prime weight class for 7 years, yet went on to win titles in 3 more divisions?. Duran also missed out the light-welterweight division, jumping right up to welterweight.

Longevity. Duran stayed at the top for so long, and setbacks came as he moved away from his prime weight. The rematch with Leonard was the first serious blow, and he would later state at the post fight press conference he would retire from the sport. Some people back in Panama threw stones at his house windows and called him a homosexual. His promoter, Don King, threw him in the garbage trash after the "no mas" fiasco.

It wasn't until he signed with Bob Arum that his career gained momentum again. Arum showed trust and belief in him. Duran got the breakthrough win he needed when he beat Cuevas. This win set up the title shot against Moore at 154lbs, which was a fight that Duran was the underdog. And with the win over Moore, he further enhanched his credibility to everyone in the sport.

Duran was clearly not a natural middleweight, but Hagler was also with Arum, so it was a fight that made sense even though Duran was not given a prayer. Another superfight for Duran, and a first for Hagler. Marketable, with plenty of dollars on the table. Duran was the only person to take Hagler the distance in all his successful middleweight title defenses over a 7 year reign. Not bad going for a fighter operating 25lbs above his prime weight.

The Hagler defeat was expected, so it was hardly a career threatning loss, especially when you consider Duran defended himself well over the 15 rounds while losing a close decision, and he never took a serious beating which could have turned him into a shot fighter. Part of the reason he was able to compete at the very top for so long, ring generalship and defense.

Hearns was next, and that was the end of him. Knocked out cold by a thudding right hand, with many people over the years saying it was the most chilling knockout they had ever seen.

Duran came back 5 years later to floor and beat Barkley on points. Enough said.

 

Because he knocked out a horse, obviously.

 

Robbi, you summed it up perfectly. Whether it was the answer China_hand_Joe is looking for is another story

 

I think china joe is playing at will in this forum. He knows nothing at all about boxing and is deteriorating the qualities of this fourm.

 

Because he breathes lasers and pisses rainbows. Or is that just a myth...?

 

No, that is true. I saw it personally -fullstop-