Which Lightweight would have had the best chance to beat PRIME Duran?

Out of this list:

Pernell Whitaker
Oscar De La Hoya
Shane Mosley
Floyd Mayweather Jnr
Julio Cesar Chavez
Manny Pacquiao


So this is not about who you'd pick to BEAT Duran, but who do you think would have had the best chance of beating him (to prevent idiots coming up with "none of them" type answers).

 

Pacquiao or Floyd without a doubt, they'd both give Duran a tough fight.

I think Whitaker would get overwhelmed by Duran, and Chavez would just get steamrolled. That fight wouldn't even be competitive.

I assume you mean lightweight Mosley too? If so, I actually think Shane was a bit drained at lightweight, he'd also get steamrolled by Roberto.

Oscar would give him a decent fight at lightweight, but I think both Manny and Floyd match up with Duran better. Well, that and they are just better.

 

The one who snorted coke.

 

Camacho?

 

In order from greatest chance to least:
Pernell Whitaker
Julio Cesar Chavez
Oscar De La Hoya
Floyd Mayweather Jnr
Manny Pacquiao
Shane Mosley

 

Interesting order.

I think the bottom two would be Chavez and Mosley...but I'm not sure on the top 4 order. I think Floyd, Oscar, Manny and Pernell all give Duran fits at lightweight.

 

Jake, what makes you think Chavez would be second?

I would make him last without hesitation.

He was essentially a homeless man's Duran, I think there is literally nothing he could do to Duran.

At least Mosley would have reach and handspeed.

 

Pernell Whitaker

Then De La Hoya, Chavez

Pacquiao, Mayweather and Mosley would get destroyed by Duran..

 

Pacquiao and Floyd wouldn't get destroyed by anyone in history in the 130 to 147 range, apart from maybe Hearns and his absurdly hard, rangey right hand. If they don't get taken out with 1 punch, they give anyone in history a fight.

I can see Mosley getting battered, because I don't think he was all that at lightweight.

Duran Vs Chavez is a fight I really WISH happened, if their timelines coincided at 135, just so we wouldn't have to speculate about it.

IMO it would have been one of the most 1 sided big fights in history.

 

That's a severe exaggeration, considering that he's one of the greatest fighters of all time.

 

Chavez was hella tough, had decent D and picked his shots well. No way would it have been one-sided.

 

thank you

 

Pac and May aren't getting destroyed by anyone. Don't be silly.

 

I'd go with Whitaker 1st and Pacquiao second.

 

In a P4P sense I don't think he is one of the greatest fighters of all time.

I think Marquez is a better fighter.

And regardless of how highly you rate Chavez, Duran is an AWFUL style matchup for him.

It would be similar to Floyd vs Marquez. Duran is bigger and just better at almost everything.

 

Duran vs. Chavez would be one of the greatest fights in boxing history...and of course Duran would win....


Mayweather struggle with Castillo, who was a poor man's Chavez, who was as you said a poor' man Duran. Mayweather doesn't throw enough punches or moves enough to beat Duran, what is he going to do when Duran bulldoze his way into range? Turn his shoulder and roll with it..?? ...



Pacquiao has the movement(in and out) and punch output to bother Duran, but his defense is SHIT..he would get run over down the stretch...

 

Destroyed might be tooo much...but Pacquiao won't end the fight on his feet vs. Duran, and Mayweather won't win more than 3-4 rounds....

 

Whitaker is the ONLY guy that could beat him

 

come on

 

I was obviously exaggerating by calling Chavez a HOMELESS man's Duran.

A poor man's Duran is apt though. He basically a smaller, weaker, slower duran with worse defense and ringsmarts and stamina.

Although Chavez was an elite fighter in his own right and good champion, I truly believe that stylistically, it's one of those matchups that would be shockingly 1 sided. A bit like Sanchez Vs Gomez, or Nard Vs Tito.

Duran is bigger, more talented and more skilled in just about every way.

 

I really do.

I don't hate Chavez or anything, but I think Marquez is just better.

People take this generation for granted and look back with rose tinted glasses.

Chavez is one of those beloved fighters, and it seems sacrilege picking a modern day Mexican fighter over him.

Marquez arguably beat Pacquiao in the rematch, a lightning fast, unpredictable, powerful freak of nature. What is Chavez's best win?

 

You might be right about Floyd I'm not sure.

Floyd seems like he stands a better chance than Whitaker because I always see Whitaker is a fighter that's all defense and no offense. But the truth is, he probably let his hands go more than Floyd in most fights.

But Floyd has a sharp right hand counter, respectable power. I can imagine Duran steaming into Whitaker with less worries about getting hit with anything.

In order, how would you guys rank handspeed between Leonard, Whitaker, and Floyd?

 

Whitaker is the only one Id actually favour over Duran from the list.

 

I'm sticking to my guns, I think Floyd matches up better with Duran.

Floyd is bigger with more physical strength and power than Whitaker, and is more or less as hard to hit.

 

watch Chavez/Rosario and get back to me... that is one of the most amazing performances in history... he walked right through him and basically performed vivisection on him... Rosario would have knocked Marquez out at 135... if anything, people are looking at NOW with rose-colored glasses as they watch Pac and JMM look great against what are really an assortment of pretty unremarkable fighters in the worst overall era for the sport since the 1910s... Don't get me wrong, Pac is great and JMM is great too, but the guys they are beating are just not very good, or if they were ever any good (Pac's opponents especially) it was years ago

 

Pea.

 

Pea vs Duran is a great match-up in the new fight night champions game.

 

Whitaker defense will make Duran think twice about just steaming into Whitaker. Whitaker defense was far more complex than Mayweather, Whitaker would twist and turn in all dirrection, back up jabbing, roll with punches and counter, and uses different heights.....

While Mayweather is shoulder roll & counter right, when the opponent is to close for him to shoulder roll he bend down so the ref break them up, or uses his elbow to the throat/face for room to counter...and usually shoulder rolls straight back...


fastest hands...LEONARD, then MAYWEATHER, then WHITAKER...

 

I did Haye vs Wlad (I was Wlad) and we had a war!!! Haye knocked me down three times and stunned me on 3 more occasions. I eventually stopped haye in the 8th rounds after droppin ghim for the 5th time. If only the real fight would turn out that way!!!

Now, to this thread. I still haven't decided fully but I'll vote Pacquiao.