Around 1980-1982, you had Aaron Pryor and Alexis Arguello ducking it out at 140: both great fighters, and im sure a fight taken with either by Duran wouldve been one for the ages: what could have been of Duran at 140? Let's take this a step further, and stack him up against the best of all time at 140: he might not have a track record in this division, but how do you guys think it mightve played out for him, opinions would be greatly appreciated
Around 1980-1982, you had Aaron Pryor and Alexis Arguello ducking it out at 140: both great fighters, and im sure a fight taken with either by Duran wouldve been one for the ages: what could have been of Duran at 140? Let's take this a step further, and stack him up against the best of all time at 140: he might not have a track record in this division, but how do you guys think it mightve played out for him, opinions would be greatly appreciated
Thanks for the input guys: I always a little curious about this, so its useful information
Duran's last fight at lightweight was in January 1978. He beat Palomino at 147 in late 1979, then Leonard for the WBC 147 lb. title in June 1980. Cervantes had the WBA 140 lb. title from 1977 until August 1980, losing to Pryor on the same day Hearns beat Cuevas.
The WBC 140 lb. champs during this time were:
Saensak Muangsurin
Sang-Hyun Kim
Saoul Mamby
I haven't seen much of them but I think it's safe to say that Duran would be favored to win. Duran also beat Mamby at 140 in a non-title bout in 1976.
Duran would also probably have been favored to beat Cervantes. Duran actually had an offer to fight Cervantes in the mid 70s, but Carlos Eleta rejected the fight. This wasn't the only fight that Eleta rejected on behalf of Duran, despite most people feeling Duran would win. Eleta also had Duran fake an illness, for whatever reason, when Duran was scheduled to fight an old Carlos Ortiz at Madison Square Garden.
Duran likely would've beaten Pryor @ 140 too, but that would've been one exciting fight. It's too bad we didn't see that one. They were also supposed to fight a couple years later @ 150, but Pryor's managerial issues screwed that one up.
Cervantes was the man Duran should of fought on his way up, not Arguello or Pryor, by 1980 Duran was a Welter which is when Pryor took the title, there were talks of a fight between them but Duran wanted Leonard badly and asap, much more money involved then Cervantes.
Imo he would of beaten Pryor, Cervantes and Arguello at the time with the most difficult for him being Cervantes.