was Roberto Duran really that great?

[Ja Dee]

Nobody here, present company included, is questioning Duran's credentials, I'm just nitpicking on whether he'd beat a prime 135 pound Sweet Pea...and the data I have tells me that he probably would not have.

[Ja Dee]

I recall Whitaker had trouble with this spaniard fighter(saw the fight on you-tube) the Spaniard was wild didn't have the power or speed to beat Whitaker. Now Duran is lightning and has power and speed. If a prime Whitaker had trouble with a wild fighter, Whitaker can't avoid the lightning in Duran.

Can you try to find out the name of the fighter that allegedly troubled Whitaker at 135? All I know is that up until he was coked-up and fighting way above his natural weight (against the likes of De La Hoya and Trinidad), Whitaker arguably never lost a fight in the ring (we all know the "loss" to Ramirez in their first fight and his "draw" against Chavez were laughable).

So explain how Benitez kept Duran off of him (sure it wasn't at 135 BUT was damn close to Duran's prime) with his modest power. Also, if you watch the rematch with Leonard, Leonard used his feet more than his hands/power to make Duran quit (which by the way, is almost unforgivable; I am very surprised than many boxing die-hards whisk away this "boxing sacrilege" committed by the Hands of Stone...but I digress).

[Panamaniac]

...I am very surprised than many boxing die-hards whisk away this "boxing sacrilege" committed by the Hands of Stone...but I digress).

That's easy. That transgression is hardly a blip on the radar screen of the bigger picture. Duran's accomplishments reduces "no mas" to a mere footnote. It's not only die-hard fans that overlook this, it's boxing historians and scholars alike. Running and holding in the ring are far more "sacriligious" to the sport than quitting under Duran's circumstances.

[TonyJ]

So explain how Benitez kept Duran off of him (sure it wasn't at 135 BUT was damn close to Duran's prime) with his modest power.

Near his prime??? SO i guess Whitaker was in his prime against Tito.
Duran was finished after "No Mas". I took years for him to become the same fighter again, in the psychological sense. Years after his prime and way above his natural weight he gave prime Hagler his closest fight goind toe-to-toe wih the biggest MW-monster of all time(in his prime).

Duran wouldN't have an easy night with a slickster like Whitaker, but the pressure and skill of Duran would give Whitaker his hardest fight. I go with Duran by UD.

[Ja Dee]

I dunno man...quitting on the spot versus holding and surviving? It's like comparing body funk versus ****...but the latter is generally far worse.

[Sweet Pete]

Near his prime??? SO i guess Whitaker was in his prime against Tito.
Duran was finished after "No Mas". I took years for him to become the same fighter again, in the psychological sense. Years after his prime and way above his natural weight he gave prime Hagler his closest fight goind toe-to-toe wih the biggest MW-monster of all time(in his prime).

Duran wouldN't have an easy night with a slickster like Whitaker, but the pressure and skill of Duran would give Whitaker his hardest fight. I go with Duran by UD.

Duran was not finished at all after the Leonard fight. It may have took a bit to get his edge back, but he was not finished. Benitez would've always given him trouble, as would any fighter of that style.

Anything outside of Lightweight was not his prime weight, but he wasn't really removed from his prime years.

As far as a bout with Whitaker, I think people that write off Whitaker are the ones with their heads up their asses. I would favor Pea in this matchup. A slickster was the hardest thing for Duran to deal with, and none were better than Pea. He had the ability to fight off the backfoot like none I've ever seen, and had a great southpaw jab, to go along with his great defense and reflexes. Duran was not a Chavez style fighter, he would not wait to hurt you and wear you down, he would look to destroy you, and if he didn't have his way, he got frustrated, which was rare because he usually had his way, except when facing elite fighters who used a style similar to what Whitaker would present him with.

Whitaker would outbox him in the center of the ring and on the backfoot. I don't see Duran winning because I simply can't see him landing enough to win enough rounds.

[Sweet Pete]

Sorry but Prime Duran kills whitacker. Not enough offense from whitacker....You think 147 pound Ray could not hurt him..whitacker would not be able to scratch him.

OK, Ray didn't hurt him, he still humiliated him. You don't need power to beat someone.

[Sweet Pete]

slicker but not better. Nowhere near the power, the speed with hands, and the offensiver repitoir..... Whitacker could frusterate Duran but I highly doubt if he could exchange with Duran like Leoanrd did, for a 15 round period and not end up in asleep.

Why on Earth would he fight like Leonard did in the first fight? He would fight a fight similar to the one he fought against Nelson, which was his best performance in my eyes.

[shawn_]

Duran was not finished at all after the Leonard fight. It may have took a bit to get his edge back, but he was not finished. Benitez would've always given him trouble, as would any fighter of that style.

Anything outside of Lightweight was not his prime weight, but he wasn't really removed from his prime years.

As far as a bout with Whitaker, I think people that write off Whitaker are the ones with their heads up their asses. I would favor Pea in this matchup. A slickster was the hardest thing for Duran to deal with, and none were better than Pea. He had the ability to fight off the backfoot like none I've ever seen, and had a great southpaw jab, to go along with his great defense and reflexes. Duran was not a Chavez style fighter, he would not wait to hurt you and wear you down, he would look to destroy you, and if he didn't have his way, he got frustrated, which was rare because he usually had his way, except when facing elite fighters who used a style similar to what Whitaker would present him with.

Whitaker would outbox him in the center of the ring and on the backfoot. I don't see Duran winning because I simply can't see him landing enough to win enough rounds.

While I agree Pernell would win, you have just proven how poorly you understand the style of Roberto Duran.

[Sweet Pete]

While I agree Pernell would win, you have just proven how poorly you understand the style of Roberto Duran.

Explain please.