Imagine a fight between Roberto Duran and Pernell Whitaker at their respective primes for the undisputed Lightweight Title.

Roberto Duran

http://www.boxen.com/themen/boxsport/fame/pics/duran.jpg

62 Wins and only one loss to Esteban De Jesús (which he avenged twice) as a Lightweight.

vs.

Pernell Whitaker

http://akter.kulichki.net/boxing/ih/PernellWhitaker.jpg

26 Wins and only one loss to Jose Luis Ramirez (which he avenged) as a Lightweight.

Two totally different styles in a fascinating matchup. Would Roberto Duran power his way through or would Pernell Whitaker outbox Duran for an easy win on points? What's your opinion?

i don't know

i'd say it depends on

1) the referee (as it is the case when duran is involved)

2) and on the intentions of duran:

If he goes for the head then i'd give the fight to pea.

If he decides to apply constant pressure, I'd go most likely with duran, still pea had very strong legs at 135, which could take him through the storm for the whole fight.

and by the way either way the fight goes it is by decision

I have trouble seeing anyone beat a prime Pea at 135. I think it would be a very close decision, Pernell might taste the canvas...I think Pea would win by way of UD.

Sweat Pea via UD...

I'm going with Pernell, I think he would frustrate Duran like Sugar Ray in the "No Mas" fight. Pernell was so slippery that Duran would have trouble loading up on him. Sweet Pea by UD

I think Duran knocks Pea down, once very early....the second time very late.

But....Pea outboxes him through a good part of the fight, winning a very narrow decision.

Sweet Pea would beat duran making him look stupid. El Cholo has a good power advantage but I do not believe he can beat Sweet Pea.

You morons are high........or maybe just plain stupid. Sweet Pea's pitter/pat shots would have no effect on Duran. You've seen the Duran sneer. The Hands of Stone hurt people and Sweet Pea finds out the hard way.

.........8,9,10 and the fights over. DURAN IN 5

You morons are high........or maybe just plain stupid. Sweet Pea's pitter/pat shots would have no effect on Duran. You've seen the Duran sneer. The Hands of Stone hurt people and Sweet Pea finds out the hard way.

.........8,9,10 and the fights over. DURAN IN 5


This is an insult to THE greatest Lightweight fight that could happen, featuring the two BEST 135 pounders ever. Pernell at 135 was one of the best defensive, if not THE best defensive fighter ever. Theres almost no way this fight ends by way of KO...unless God himself guides Durans hand into Peas liver. Also, Sweet Pea didn't throw pitter patter shots at 135...he didn't have mindblowing power but he could throw you off your game and hurt you late if you weren't careful. That being said, Duran would eat everything Pea threw at him, could score a KD, but would lose the decision. Duran would have his best luck trying to go to the body.

This is an insult to THE greatest Lightweight fight that could happen, featuring the two BEST 135 pounders ever. Pernell at 135 was one of the best defensive, if not THE best defensive fighter ever. Theres almost no way this fight ends by way of KO...unless God himself guides Durans hand into Peas liver. Also, Sweet Pea didn't throw pitter patter shots at 135...he didn't have mindblowing power but he could throw you off your game and hurt you late if you weren't careful. That being said, Duran would eat everything Pea threw at him, could score a KD, but would lose the decision. Duran would have his best luck trying to go to the body.

Have another hit dude.

Have another hit dude.

Check yourself into a clinic...dude. :rolleyes:

This is an insult to THE greatest Lightweight fight that could happen, featuring the two BEST 135 pounders ever

The two best 135 pounders ever? Ah...NO!

What the hell has Whitaker done to deserve that distinction, besides pitty-pat his way to wins over a past his prime former featherweight great, in Azumah Nelson (who doesn't crack the top 10 of all-time in that division), and a past his prime version of a lightweight champion that wasn't anything special to begin with, in Jose Luis Ramirez?

The rest of his wins at lightweight were rather meaningless, considering they were against very mediocre opposition, and there's NO WAY Pernell Whitaker was one of the two greatest lightweights in history. As a matter of fact, I'd have trouble finding him a spot in the all-time top 10 of this division, when you consider all of the great fighters who have fought in it (Benny Leonard, Joe Gans, Roberto Duran, Henry Armstrong, Ike Williams, Barney Ross, Tony Canzoneri, Carlos Ortiz, Beau Jack, Lou Ambers etc., etc.).

At lightweight, Pernell Whitaker is the most OVERATED fighter that there's been in my lifetime, and those who think he could beat somebody like Duran at this weight, are only kidding themselves.

Duran knocks Whitaker out before the end of the ninth round!

That's fine. Duran is easily the greatest lightweight to ever live but theres no reason for me to believe that he would knock out Pernell Whitaker. This fight would most likely go to the cards and Pernell was very elusive at this weight. He's NEVER been knocked out...even when he was shot fighting a beast in Trinidad at 147...was only down once at 135, and outboxed virtually every opponent he faced at 135 and 140. Duran's most notable wins weren't far more special than Pea's either. His wins in the trilogy with DeJesus was about it, and maybe Buchanan. I dunno...different opinions I guess, but to say that Pernell wasn't as good stylistically as any of the fighters you named at 135 is strange in my opinion. It's hard for me to comment on fighters such as Ross and Armstrong, although they are two of the greats all-time (especially homicide hank), because I have never really seen them fight. I cannot make assumptions about who would win the fight because styles make fights. I have seen both Duran and Pea however, and my opinion is that these are two of the best Lightweight fighters ever...and that Pernell would take a close decision over Duran.

Pernell Whitaker by UD.

Let me tell you, no one beats Duran at Lightweight. The only guys that can maybe do it are Arguello,Armstrong and Williams. As for Sweet Pea he gets KO'd late.