Duran vs Whitaker, prime vs prime at LW

[BIG H]

One of the most intriguing, theoretical match ups in any division in history for me!!

Gun to the head I pick Duran, but he wouldn't have liked having the piss taken out him a la Leonard II, so who knows!

[DavilaJones]

As for myself regarding these hypthetical matchups I would have to say:

*]JMM over armstrong because if an older JMM could eventually breakdown Diaz over 8 rounds a fresher marquez could do it equally to Armstrong.

* Duran would beat benny because infighters with boxing skill are the damn nightmare of pure boxers.

*Ugh...See I honestly think Mosley is perhaps the hardest hitting lightweight, he KO'd people at 154, so his power carried from 135 to 154 and thats a big jump too. Sweet Pea had beed KD'd before but never really hurt and damn damn damn I hate picking a winner in this one but gun to my head and knife to my balls I would pick Shane due to his sheer blinding handspeed, pop and tenacity at 135.

* I'd pick Mayweather over Ike ala Chico Corrales.



As for the losers bracket:

Armstrong vs Sweet Pete Hammering Hank is gonna eat that right handed jab all night long.

Ike vs Benny I dont see Ike landing that right enough to win the fight.

[TitoFan]

Process of elimination: First, there's no way in hell Whitaker knocks Duran out. So scratch those options. I consider that Duran's best weight was LW. He was an awesome force, with constant pressure and an amazing work output. Whitaker could hang with him for awhile, and likely use his own awesome defensive skills to avoid a lot of flush punches. He'd surely outbox Duran through some stretches. But I don't see any other outcome but a Duran win by decision, or a late TKO. He beat SRL.... he would beat Sweat Pea.

[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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[DavilaJones]

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.

I never warmed up to Benny. I don't know why. Wish I had a better reason for you than "just cause."

[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.

I never warmed up to Benny. I don't know why. Wish I had a better reason for you than "just cause."

That is cool. The top 5 lightweights in history is perhaps the toughest list to make in boxing.

This is what Durans trainer Ray Arcel had to say about Leonard and its paraphrased by a boxing writer.

The great trainer Ray Arcel once said that the two best fighters he ever saw were Benny Leonard and Ray Robinson and hesitated on picking between them. Of Leonard he said, “His mental energy surpassed that of anyone else.” Indeed “The Ghetto Wizard” was a clever tactician and ring strategist with a brilliant mind who believed and taught that boxing was the art of out thinking one’s opponent. At this few were Benny Leonard’s equal. Leonard was a master boxer who possessed superb defensive footwork, speed, and elusiveness. He was superb at feinting and counter-punching as well as being a great combination puncher. In many ways Benny was the Muhammad Ali of the lightweight division as he defeated the greatest array of challengers in lightweight division history including Freddie Welsh, Willie Ritchie, Johnny Dundee, Ritchie Mitchell, Charley White, Lew Tendler, and Rocky Kansas.

[DavilaJones]

you know who we forgot? JMM. I can't believe I left out Marquez.