Duran vs Whitaker, prime vs prime at LW

[Beanflicker]

Who wins and why?

[cambay411]

I think Duran puts on the pressure but Whitaker is quick enough to avoid a lot of big shots.

Duran wins with workout out put and pressure in a close decision.

[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!

[bradlee180]

Cocaine f*<ked up Sweet Pea!

[THE THIRD MAN]

Duran was the Lightweight king in the 70's, he fought 3 epic battles with Esteben De Jesus who in any other era would've been regarded as a great Lightweight Champion. By the time he fought Sugar Ray Leonard he was already 71-1 and that is a huge amount of boxing. It was an amazing performance and probably the last time we ever saw Duran at his peak. Don't judge him for his efforts in the 80's when he is over 30 and past his best. The previous 10 years were devastating.
As much as i like Sweet Pea i just don't think he could've held Duran off for 15 rounds and win a decision, i think Duran grinds him down and wins a late stoppage. Duran TKO 13

[DavilaJones]

Better question, round robin between Duran, Sweet Pea, Shane Mosley and Armstrong.

[greynotsoold]

Better question, round robin between Duran, Sweet Pea, Shane Mosley and Armstrong.

Whitaker loses every fight. Mosley only beats Whitaker. Duran and Armstrong go to war.

[Beanflicker]

Whitaker is the greatest lightweight of all time!