was Roberto Duran really that great?

[Easton Assassin]

I just got some new fights into
my collection. I got the one with
Roberto Duran against Tommy Herns.
My uncle keeps saying Duran was so great.
I saw the tape when Duran quit against Sugar
Ray too. Now seeing Tommy Herns knock him out
with one punch. Why do people keep saying Duran
is so great especially old people.

Yes he was great. Check out his carrer before leonard! Consider where he came from and where he ended his career!

[wpink1]

Just who at lightweight did he beat. If you go to boxrec.com...it is a bunch of fighters with losing records for the most part. he did beat Ray Leoanrd and is a great fighter, but Not above Ray or mayweather in my book. He beat Ray when ray willing...I repeat willingly chose to fight durans fight. Look what happened when he fought his fight...then Duran got beat by Benetiz and Heanrs..

Now I agree it was a higher weights, but you cant say past his prime at age 30-33 when we are still reserving judgment for mayweather at his age now, and yes Mayweather has moved up from 130 as well.

[Thread Stealer]

if u want to see duran fights to see how good and skilled he was, i think you should watch some of these fights:

palomino
leonard 1
moore
barkley
dejesus 2 and 3
wheatley
cuevas
bizzarro

[Wiley Hyena]

Arguably the greatest 135 pounder ever.

A top 5 p4p guy all time.

One of the most ferocious and intense fighters ever.

The right hand that Tommy Hearns hit Duran with would have taken out some light heavyweights.

I agree 100% with this post. Roberto Duran was simply unbelievable, and he was one of the most exciting fighters I ever saw. Boxers, or should I say "fighters" of Duran's caliber appear only too infrequently. Boxing is starved for fighters of his grade.

[Wiley Hyena]

Just who at lightweight did he beat. If you go to boxrec.com...it is a bunch of fighters with losing records for the most part. he did beat Ray Leoanrd and is a great fighter, but Not above Ray or mayweather in my book. He beat Ray when ray willing...I repeat willingly chose to fight durans fight. Look what happened when he fought his fight...then Duran got beat by Benetiz and Heanrs..

Now I agree it was a higher weights, but you cant say past his prime at age 30-33 when we are still reserving judgment for mayweather at his age now, and yes Mayweather has moved up from 130 as well.

Duran beat Benitez..........

edit: confused Pipino Cuevaz....he did lose to Wilfredo to clear up the brain fart.

But, Benitez was a great in his time as well....you cannot discredit Duran's career for losing to Benitez. My god, Duran (a natural LW-WW) beat IRAN BARKLEY for the middleweight title. Ahem...

[Thread Stealer]

Duran beat Benitez..........

no he didn't.

anyway, duran at lightweight beat some very good fighters like ken buchanan and esteban dejesus.

edit: i just read that u confused him with pipino. nevermind.

[Panamaniac]

Duran beat Benitez..........

Nope. He lost a 15 rounder for Benitez' light-middleweight crown. Take it from (if I may say so myself) Duran's #1 authority on this forum.

Seems like I'm a "Johnny Comelately" on this response. You addressed it while I paused for 15 min. before posting.

[Thread Stealer]

duran was an atg....now just imagine how much greater he would have been if he had some discipline outside the ring and with the fork.

[eazy_mas]

Duran heamovment training invovle the speedbag, he hit his head on the speed bag and try to be consistant with it similar what you are doing with you hands.

He is also amazing skipping rope in sqaut position and could move his legs in and out.

Duran quite against SRL is that because he wasnt training well and was eating alot. even in the documentary SRL said that he knew Duran's culture so that is why he wanted a rematch.

As for his lightweight legacy he was fearsome but I didnt like the was he won his title with so many lowblows he should have been DQ instead of giving him a KO

[SkillspayBills]

Personally I see Pryor beating Duran at 135.............maybe. That is a horribly tough match to say who would win.