Duran vs Whitaker, prime vs prime at LW

[Beanflicker]

Duran beat a bunch of slobs and second rate fighters at LW... and you know this!

[DavilaJones]

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.

Wow that's harsh, how'd you come up to this conclusion? Sweet Pete's lack of KO record or something else?

[Spicoli]

I've always thought Duran at light and still do. Workrate and undeterred mentality aside he was full of sharp instinct. Fine tuned whirlwind. Both had killer balance. I don't think for a minute he was superior in ring smarts to Whitaker, and Whitaker would come in on point with minimal gimmicks, but as slick as he was Whitaker could be a tad flat footed and squared when hard pressed. He rarely loaded up and that would suit him with Durans likewise speed but in a battle to gain respect and ring real estate...Duran would gain it with sharp punches before Whitaker with his. The ring generalship by both in there would be fit for West Point, but Duran over close dec.

[Spicoli]

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.

Can't see Mosley topping Whitaker at light, no way no how. Mosley never had the challenge to be frustrated and bottled up at light as he could be later and I'm sure Whitaker would supply it.

[fightscorecollector]

ive often thought about this fight as both are fav fighters of mine.

if you go with both at their very best its so hard to split them, but i lean slightly with Duran, his pressure when he won the title was immense, it would be very close but Duran on points.

I would not be surprised if Whitaker won a rematch

Mosley beat Whitaker, mosley might not win 3 rounds

[El Kabong]

Duran is considered the best lightweight ever for a reason. I think he would stalk Pernell down and do work on him in spurts. Pernell would fight too negative to get a decision vs Duran.

[Beanflicker]

Duran is considered the best lightweight ever for a reason. I think he would stalk Pernell down and do work on him in spurts. Pernell would fight too negative to get a decision vs Duran.

Hmmmm... it's possible for sure!

[IamInuit]

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

Nice.

Throw Benny Leonard in there along with the Old Master and Ike Williams and that's one hell of a tourney.

I don't think Whitaker or Shane make it out alive.

[El Kabong]

Duran is considered the best lightweight ever for a reason. I think he would stalk Pernell down and do work on him in spurts. Pernell would fight too negative to get a decision vs Duran.

Hmmmm... it's possible for sure!

I think with Duran being as solid of a boxer as he was he would connect more and defend better than most.

I think Pernell would make a guy like Mosley look foolish though.

[Beanflicker]

I think Pernell would make a guy like Mosley look foolish though.

Agreed! I think Mosley was an ATG lightweight, but I don't fancy his chances against Whitaker!

[Beanflicker]

Nice.

Throw Benny Leonard in there along with the Old Master and Ike Williams and that's one hell of a tourney.

I don't think Whitaker or Shane make it out alive.

Benny Leonard wouldn't have lasted 1 round against Shane. We're talking about the stoneage of boxing hahah.

[IamInuit]

Nice.

Throw Benny Leonard in there along with the Old Master and Ike Williams and that's one hell of a tourney.

I don't think Whitaker or Shane make it out alive.

Benny Leonard wouldn't have lasted 1 round against Shane. We're talking about the stoneage of boxing hahah.

Lol

[Spicoli]

Nice.

Throw Benny Leonard in there along with the Old Master and Ike Williams and that's one hell of a tourney.

I don't think Whitaker or Shane make it out alive.

Benny Leonard wouldn't have lasted 1 round against Shane. We're talking about the stoneage of boxing hahah.

Leonard was blue printing a Pernell before Whitakers Pappy was rolling in the backseat.

[El Kabong]

I think Pernell would make a guy like Mosley look foolish though.

Agreed! I think Mosley was an ATG lightweight, but I don't fancy his chances against Whitaker!

Yeah nothing against Shane, but his style would be something that played to Whittaker's best attributes. I think the more you load up on punches then the more you play into Whittaker's hands.

[Beanflicker]

Leonard was blue printing a Pernell before Whitakers Pappy was rolling in the backseat.

Oh for sure, I give big respect to the pioneers like Leonard who paved boxing's long highway and made it possible for guys like Whitaker, PBF, Roy Jones, ect to exist!

But we're talking WAY back in the day when boxing was still evolving, people were figuring out what worked and what didn't. Back when sport science was basically non existent and nutrition and training wasn't nearly as advanced as it is in modern times. Guys are bigger, stronger, faster and technique grew a great deal since.

So when people say stuff like Benny Leonard would kill Whitaker or Mosley... it's just unrealistic. If you had a time machine to go bring him (at his prime) to Pernell's time and have them fight, he wouldn't know what to make of Pernell (or Mosley).

Great for their time, but if you want to talk modern day, you can't compare a guy like that.