Let's say the fight Happened in 1982, three years after Benitez was stopped by Sugar Ray Leonard and two years after Duran had become the first man to beat Leonard. Now I know that Benitez beat the actual Roberto Duran at WW in 1982 just before Kirkland Laing did it but I'm referring to the Mythical version of the man that rules in this forum. Would Benitez stand a chance against that one? Now that's the interesting question! I'm not so sure. Benitez was stopped by Ray leonard and arguably in decline by 1982. Benitiez would soon go on to lose to guys like Moore and Hamsho and Duran would soon go on to destroy Davey Moore and hang tough with the fellow mutant, Hagler.. Surely the Duran of this forum would be too much for Benitez. Mythical Duran would surely have beaten Bentitez' countryman Felix Trinidad, beat De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather, Quartey and all other Welterweight fighters in the last 30 years not named Thomas Hearns. My pick is Duran by late TKO.
You do know this fight actually happened, right. :Steve-Dave/MMA: Ha ha. Just kidding. I read your post. I say Duran beats him. People like to say that Benitez schooled Duran, but that's bull-shit. He won the fight, but it was certainly competitive.
I think the Montreal Duran would beat him via late stoppage. But it would be a really difficult fight.
The Mythical Montreal Duran wins in 30 seconds. It only takes so long because he scratches his balls between punches
Montreal Duran and prime Tyson are the two greatest mythical fighters ever. Ibeabuchi inches closer as the years go on.
so it is the position of you guys that the Roberto Duran that Wilfred Benitez actually fought was of the same quality as the Duran of the Palomino/Leonard era?
It's not my position. It is that he'd probably have beaten Duran anyway, however. He was a different challenge altogether from Leonard.
If it's 1978 and you have a 140 fight between Benitez and Duran, I don't see Benitez winning that at all the main difference in the 82 fight was SPEED... Benitez still had his at that point... Duran was noticeably slower... he was in great shape that night and as good as he was going to be at that weight, but his quickness was obviously diminished compared to where it had been just a few years earlier The part of Duran's game that his detractors always overlook was his defense, his reflexes... he could move his head so fast, stick his chin out there and sucker guys into throwing the right and then so fast, slip the punch and counter with his right hand... that was as important a part of his game as any, especially againt fast handed guys He made Ray Leonard miss like that two dozen times when they fought... when he fought Benitez, you could SEE he was slower than he had been and he was clearly not as strong... but at the lower weights, it was a different story there's no way it looks like the '82 fight if it's 1977-1980... no way at all
Oh, so you're gonna put Duran in his pomp against, what Benitez at 18? Then I agree, I expect a Duran victory.
so, let me get this straight Benitez is good enough at 17 years old to beat one of the best fighters in the history of the division, a dominant long-reigning champion, but its unfair to put him in there with Duran? So we can only make this fight when Benitez is fresher than his opponent? this way, we can keep the odds in his favor? maybe thats why Leonard beat Benitez, after all, he was just a child... make it Montreal, 1980 and take Leonard out of there and put Benitez in his stead and Duran is winning that fight, because he'd still have his speed
