was Roberto Duran really that great?

[Silencers]

i cant think of any lightweight who could beat a prime duran, even aaron pryor would have a hard time!

Aaron Pryor was a junior welterweight.

[5burowz]

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.

Let me tell you why I think your post is funny. It's because your a BIG Tyson fan. Why is this amusing? It's because if you knew a lot about Tyson you'd know that he felt Tommy Hearns was P4P the hardest punching boxer of all time. Tyson said that Hearns possessed the power to KO heavyweights.

So, that's pretty much why Hearns was able to KO Duran. No shame in losing to Hearns.

And, yes, Roberto Duran was really that great. Why? Because he started his pro career at 118 lbs. and ended it at 175lbs. and was competitive with some of the greatest welters and middleweights of all time. Duran wasn't a natural welter or middleweight; but he sure as hell fought like he was.

[Ras44]

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.

The only man to ever beat a prime Sugar Ray Leonard, who in my opinion is the G.O.A.T.

[TommyGunn.]

Duran is top 15 ever, most regard him top 10. The greatest lightweight fighter to have lived, fought greats like SRL, Hearns and Hagler way over his weight limit.

[Allucard]

To include Mayweather in a discussion about Duran is an act of blasphemy. The former could not carry the latter's jock strap, let alone step into the same ring with him, to say nothing about a boxing match.

Mayweather could hang with anyone in boxing history (within his weight or around it) and that's not me saying that. Alot of critics and boxing experts share that. Now about Duran, i never saw him fight but i see him often in everyone's top 10 all time so he has to be a good fighter at least. Things like did he came in the rings much heavier than his opponents (some fighters do that)? Did he fought the best or some of the best competition out there at least in his natural weight? What kinds of skills did he have? Was he all heart or also could box?
These would help one see a better picture.

[hemichromis]

Aaron Pryor was a junior welterweight.

i thought he started as a lightweight?!

in that case NO lightweight in history could beat a prime duran IMHO

[rusticraver]

top 5 all time.

[hemichromis]

Mayweather could hang with anyone in boxing history (within his weight or around it) and that's not me saying that. Alot of critics and boxing experts share that. Now about Duran, i never saw him fight but i see him often in everyone's top 10 all time so he has to be a good fighter at least. Things like did he came in the rings much heavier than his opponents (some fighters do that)? Did he fought the best or some of the best competition out there at least in his natural weight? What kinds of skills did he have? Was he all heart or also could box?
These would help one see a better picture.

mayweather is a good boxer and certainly would stand a good chance against anyone. however, these 'experts' usually have investments in boxing. it is to their advantage to make a fighter seem more interesting.

now about duran:

he fought people alot bigger than him simply bcause he let himself get 'chunky' he was a natural lightweight and yet was fighting lightheavies at the end of his career and still having some success!

he fought some of the best competition of all time and again these weighed more than him being natural welters, middle or super-middleweights.

he was not a great boxer but he had good skills of getting to the inside, he could hit very hard and take a very hard punch!

hope that helps

[rusticraver]

mayweather is a good boxer and certainly would stand a good chance against anyone. however, these 'experts' usually have investments in boxing. it is to their advantage to make a fighter seem more interesting.

now about duran:

he fought people alot bigger than him simply bcause he let himself get 'chunky' he was a natural lightweight and yet was fighting lightheavies at the end of his career and still having some success!

he fought some of the best competition of all time and again these weighed more than him being natural welters, middle or super-middleweights.

he was not a great boxer but he had good skills of getting to the inside, he could hit very hard and take a very hard punch!

hope that helps

HE was a great boxer. Very underrated defensively and his fainting and reading of opponents was first class. you don't beat Iran Barkley when your 36 25lbs over our starting weight if your not a great boxer

[muppetman]

really he used to fight at
a light weight.

supposebly duran is the greatest lightweight ever in history....i belive it.....hes also mike tysons favorite fighter of all time just to let you know......hes the only man to beat leonard in his prime