Duran vs Whitaker, prime vs prime at LW

[Silkeyjoe]

Asmuch as I like Duran, I think Sweet P would have his number. He is too slick and has a good chin. I think he would win a comfortable decision.

[bradlee180]

Duran by KO. A prime Duran at Lightweight was inhuman...

[bradlee180]

Nowadays, people judge Duran by the high-profile 80s fights at welter, middle, super-middle even, but he was old and faded and fighting way out of his weight-class though he still was a top competitor.

For 12 years, from 1968 till 1980, the prime Duran was smashing the living $#!t out of everybody.
135 lb Champ in 1972, the Great run culminated in 1980 by going up 12 lbs to 147 and defeating a prime undefeated Sugar Ray Leonard in a 15 rd battle.
Duran was 71 wins and 1 loss (avenged), 55 KOs going into that 1st Ray Leonard fight.

[fan johnny]

Duran by KO. A prime Duran at Lightweight was inhuman...

Couldn't have said it better.

[jon09]

I think Sweet Pea would have solved the Duran puzzle early and pulled out the decision. Or maybe a No Mas part 2.

[greynotsoold]

Duran was a very smart fighter throughout his career. At LW he also had great stamina, punching power, and didn't believe he could lose. Whitaker couldn't punch with him and Duran was smarter than Whitaker was when he fought at 135 (and probably throughout Whitaker's career). When Whitaker tried his (illegal) showboating tricks like getting real low or grabbing Duran's legs, Duran would punch through it, he wouldn't stand for that nonsense.
Whitaker was almost dropped by Pendleton, McGirt, and I believe Mayweather did drop him. Duran rough-houses him, beats him up and knocks him out all in 7-9 rounds.

[Master]

Duran points in a close fight, both great fighters but Duran had power and with the intelligent aggression would have given him the decision.

[Beanflicker]

Sweet Pea fucked up Chavez!

[ICB]

Duran was a very smart fighter throughout his career. At LW he also had great stamina, punching power, and didn't believe he could lose. Whitaker couldn't punch with him and Duran was smarter than Whitaker was when he fought at 135 (and probably throughout Whitaker's career). When Whitaker tried his (illegal) showboating tricks like getting real low or grabbing Duran's legs, Duran would punch through it, he wouldn't stand for that nonsense.
Whitaker was almost dropped by Pendleton, McGirt, and I believe Mayweather did drop him. Duran rough-houses him, beats him up and knocks him out all in 7-9 rounds.

Whitaker almost dropped by Pendleton ? don't remember that at all. I remember him beating Pendleton quite comfortably 9-3 or 8-4, and he schooled McGirt in the rematch. No shame in being floored with Mayweather he had dynamite in the right hand, and i think Whitaker was more hurt by being hit while he was down.

Duran also got floored twice by De Jesus, this is all moot because there would be no stoppage. Whitaker is tougher than you think he took flush punches off one of the hardest hitting Welterweights of all time, and survived 12 rounds while being past his prime.

I think Whitaker beats Duran by decision, Duran was great as a Lightweight but i do feel he struggled with boxers somewhat. Although he did beat some solid boxers like Fernandez and ETC, he did get schooled by a defensive master like Benitez.

I don't think there would be any schooling here, but i think Whitaker would win a close decision if he doesn't get robbed.

[greynotsoold]

Duran was a very smart fighter throughout his career. At LW he also had great stamina, punching power, and didn't believe he could lose. Whitaker couldn't punch with him and Duran was smarter than Whitaker was when he fought at 135 (and probably throughout Whitaker's career). When Whitaker tried his (illegal) showboating tricks like getting real low or grabbing Duran's legs, Duran would punch through it, he wouldn't stand for that nonsense.
Whitaker was almost dropped by Pendleton, McGirt, and I believe Mayweather did drop him. Duran rough-houses him, beats him up and knocks him out all in 7-9 rounds.

Whitaker almost dropped by Pendleton ? don't remember that at all. I remember him beating Pendleton quite comfortably 9-3 or 8-4, and he schooled McGirt in the rematch. No shame in being floored with Mayweather he had dynamite in the right hand, and i think Whitaker was more hurt by being hit while he was down.

Duran also got floored twice by De Jesus, this is all moot because there would be no stoppage. Whitaker is tougher than you think he took flush punches off one of the hardest hitting Welterweights of all time, and survived 12 rounds while being past his prime.

I think Whitaker beats Duran by decision, Duran was great as a Lightweight but i do feel he struggled with boxers somewhat. Although he did beat some solid boxers like Fernandez and ETC, he did get schooled by a defensive master like Benitez.

I don't think there would be any schooling here, but i think Whitaker would win a close decision if he doesn't get robbed.

Yeah, 8th round, or later, Pendleton hit him with a right hand and Whitaker did a very deep knee bend. I watched it at a bar in Chino and subsequently did some very serious elbow bending, but I think I remember that.
In all this debate keep in mind that Whitaker became a better fighter as he moved up. At lightweight he tended to punch more and that wouldn't do him well with Duran, and in no world is he smart enough to 'frustrate' Duran. Quite the opposite. Duran would be on him, not buying into his feints and shiftiness and just punching over the top of it.
Benny Leonard was considered the best LW of all time by Ray Arcel, and he started training fighters way back, before 1920, and he trained Duran. Actually, worked as an advisor in his corner, but was very familiar with him. Benny leonard was known for incredible hand-speed, real good punching power, and, above all, his intelligence in the ring. Many boxing guys, of the older than me variety, considered him the best ever because he was so good without any physical advantage.
He'd beat Duran or Armstrong. Ike Williams is life or death with any of them. Mosley beats Whitaker at LW because he was just as fast, hit harder, and, when not intimidated by fighting a physical equal, thinks real sharp in the ring.

[bigstinkybug]

Duran by KO. A prime Duran at Lightweight was inhuman...

Couldn't have said it better.

*Duran was all action, never got tired,, this is not even a good question. U tell me how Pernell was gunna hit Duran without getting smashed? if Duran doesn't ko him, he beats him badly on the cards... Whitaker was all defence, little offence... c'mon... Duran beat Ray Leonard in his prime...

[Master]

Whitaker was more than just defence, his body work was exceptional and it did cause knockdowns late in fights.