Whitaker vs Duran @ lightweight

[Right Handed Southpaw]

It wouldn't be an easy fight for either guy. Thats just plain silly. In all reality its most likely 50/50. However, I'd give just an ever so slight edge to Duran due to his power and relentlessness. With that said, Pernell is one of my favorite fighters of all time. I think Roberto looks silly early due to Peas speed, but the lack of power from Whitaker wouldn't be enough to keep Duran off of him in the later rounds.

[ICB]

Pernell Whitaker by UD he beat very good pressure fighters like. Azumah Nelson, Jose Luis Ramirez, Julio Cesar Chavez, Jorge Paez, ETC.

And for the person who said Pernell Whitaker would make it a track meet, have you seen Pernell Whitaker at Lightweight ? he could easily throw 100 punches a round and would often stand his ground making you miss and making you pay.

Roberto Duran did beat some underrated boxers at Lightweight like Vilomar Fernandez, but i don't think he ever really beat a great fighter at Lightweight. Esteban De Jesus was good but not great. Ken Buchanan is the only one but even that had some controversy.

Roberto Duran had very good defense for a pressure fighter, a steady body and head attack. Aswell as cutting off the ring good, but he could be outboxed.

And i think Pernell Whitaker with his great angles, footwork, speed, elusiveness, would be able to win a close UD.

And remember Pernell Whitaker had underrated toughness aswell, he got his jaw broke in the 2nd round while past his prime vs Felix Trinidad. And he still made it too the 12th round.

There's a reason Pernell Whitaker has never legitmately been stopped, and thats because aswell as a great defense. He had underrated toughness.

[Beanflicker]

Pernell by decision IMO. His slick style and reflexes would have given Duran fits IMO. It would be a tough fight though.

I think anyone who thinks Duran would win easily or run away with this fight is severely underrating Pernell's abilities. Pernell is easily one of the greatest boxing wizards of all time and he proved it consistently against dynamite opposition.

[JonnyFolds]

Well, I'll first let the people who do not know I am the #1 Duran fan on here read this and move on...

Duran had a way of muscling his opponents into a different kind of fight than they were ready for (at LW). It's like they watch the tapes, they heard about the game, but it made fighters break down their game plan in short time. Duran stalks, yes, but he also hit you in the arms, chest, neck, and if you were lucky enough he'd hit you on the chin. He kissed the canvas quite a few times in his career at lightweight, too.

Whittaker had lightning fast reflexes. My favorite was when he would squat almost to the canvas articulate his head like it's a bobble head and *BAM*. He didn't exactly have a punch, but he had an arsenal, and he was in the best shape humanly possible.

Duran takes the fight to Whittaker and takes control by the 3rd round. Whittaker would surely make a mid-fight surge, but Duran puts the pedal back to the floor to take the decision. It's one thing to back up and win a fight, but Whittaker wouldn't be able to keep Duran honest. Whittaker would SURELY have his moments, and maybe even a KD early.

115-112 Duran

or

144-141 Duran... for those who remembered this would be a 15-rd fight

[JonnyFolds]

Can you put a poll on this thread?

I am interested to see what sort of fan base we have here.

[ICB]

Well, I'll first let the people who do not know I am the #1 Duran fan on here read this and move on...

Duran had a way of muscling his opponents into a different kind of fight than they were ready for (at LW). It's like they watch the tapes, they heard about the game, but it made fighters break down their game plan in short time. Duran stalks, yes, but he also hit you in the arms, chest, neck, and if you were lucky enough he'd hit you on the chin. He kissed the canvas quite a few times in his career at lightweight, too.

Whittaker had lightning fast reflexes. My favorite was when he would squat almost to the canvas articulate his head like it's a bobble head and *BAM*. He didn't exactly have a punch, but he had an arsenal, and he was in the best shape humanly possible.

Duran takes the fight to Whittaker and takes control by the 3rd round. Whittaker would surely make a mid-fight surge, but Duran puts the pedal back to the floor to take the decision. It's one thing to back up and win a fight, but Whittaker wouldn't be able to keep Duran honest. Whittaker would SURELY have his moments, and maybe even a KD early.

115-112 Duran

or

144-141 Duran... for those who remembered this would be a 15-rd fight

Pernell Whitaker could actually punch, its just he often boxed on the backfoot. And you obviously can't get full power when your on the backfoot. Watch his KO of Disobelys Hurtado when he had to come forward, and tell me he can't punch.

He also stunned JCC a few times, and watch his single shot knockdown of Wilfredo Rivera. There's many other examples but i don't feel like going into all of them.

Im not saying he was a devastating puncher, but his KO record is misleading. Because as i said he often just wanted to box on the backfoot and cruise to an easy UD victory.

You also have to take into account the opposition, i mean its hard to stop fighters like.

Wilfredo Rivera
Felix Trinidad
ODLH
Julio Cesar Chavez
Azumah Nelson
Greg Haugen
Rafael Pineda
Jorge Paez
Jose Luis Ramirez
Buddy McGirt
Julio Cesar Vasquez

And most of these fighters were at there peak when Pernell Whitaker fought them, i mean atleast 6 fighters on that list had great chins. Whilst the others were also pretty tough customers, its hard to have a high KO record when you face opposition like that.

[Dark Lord Al]

Well, I'll first let the people who do not know I am the #1 Duran fan on here read this and move on...

Duran had a way of muscling his opponents into a different kind of fight than they were ready for (at LW). It's like they watch the tapes, they heard about the game, but it made fighters break down their game plan in short time. Duran stalks, yes, but he also hit you in the arms, chest, neck, and if you were lucky enough he'd hit you on the chin. He kissed the canvas quite a few times in his career at lightweight, too.

Whittaker had lightning fast reflexes. My favorite was when he would squat almost to the canvas articulate his head like it's a bobble head and *BAM*. He didn't exactly have a punch, but he had an arsenal, and he was in the best shape humanly possible.

Duran takes the fight to Whittaker and takes control by the 3rd round. Whittaker would surely make a mid-fight surge, but Duran puts the pedal back to the floor to take the decision. It's one thing to back up and win a fight, but Whittaker wouldn't be able to keep Duran honest. Whittaker would SURELY have his moments, and maybe even a KD early.

115-112 Duran

or

144-141 Duran... for those who remembered this would be a 15-rd fight

Pernell Whitaker could actually punch, its just he often boxed on the backfoot. And you obviously can't get full power when your on the backfoot. Watch his KO of Disobelys Hurtado when he had to come forward, and tell me he can't punch.

He also stunned JCC a few times, and watch his single shot knockdown of Wilfredo Rivera. There's many other examples but i don't feel like going into all of them.

Im not saying he was a devastating puncher, but his KO record is misleading. Because as i said he often just wanted to box on the backfoot and cruise to an easy UD victory.

You also have to take into account the opposition, i mean its hard to stop fighters like.

Wilfredo Rivera
Felix Trinidad
ODLH
Julio Cesar Chavez
Azumah Nelson
Greg Haugen
Rafael Pineda
Jorge Paez
Jose Luis Ramirez
Buddy McGirt
Julio Cesar Vasquez

And most of these fighters were at there peak when Pernell Whitaker fought them, i mean atleast 6 fighters on that list had great chins. Whilst the others were also pretty tough customers, its hard to have a high KO record when you face opposition like that.

You know i have to agree 100% , Whitaker was a master boxer , he could stand inside and make u miss , he wasnt a runner as such.
As for his power he had a sharp dig on him , he also fought some top guys , for me SWEATPEA wins on points for sure.

[johnsebastianmiran]

There is no question as to who would win that fight, Roberto Duran. I watched him hunt down Vilomar Fernandez for fourteen rounds while Fernandez used every trick in boxing to keep Duran from hitting him and suddenly Duran came out of nowhere and splat, down went Fernandez. People in boxing also forget that Duran was a bomber but he had superior boxing skills as Dejesus found out in bout number two with Duran. Ken Buchanan was a speedy fighter and Duran mugged him in the late rounds skill and power. I saw that one too. Pernell is a great boxer but Duran had all the skills and a punch to go with it at lightweight, Duran was also a Welterweight , Jr. middleweight and middleweight champ, no question as to who would win.

[rjj tszyu]

In a 15 round title bout I think Duran would eventually cut off the ring and pummel Sweet pea and take the KO. Good matchup here though and one I've never really considered before.

[Master]

Duran on points but very close fight. If Duran was losing he would punch him in the balls. He would not be denied.