Pernell Whitaker vs Roberto Duran over 15 rounds at 135.

[Shake]

In my mind, one of two things might happen --

1) Roberto works effectively off clinches, walking Pernell to the ropes, not giving him enough space to effectively evade and walks off with a close decision.
2) Pernell wins by a fairly wide margin, and Roberto pulls out a gun and shoots him after the match out of sheer frustration.

What I wouldn't pay to see this one.

EDIT: Wrong forum. If a moderator happens to walk by, feel free to move this to classic. Apologies.

[rochsolloch]

oh at 135 duran takes a late stoppage win or ud.
duran was young and too good even for sweet p at 135 lbs.

[Relentless]

duran kicks his ass, whitaker ducked meldrick taylor.

[Relentless]

:lol: i'm kidding, whitaker was a great fighter, i loved the way he would stand in front of you and not get hit while throwing combinations, but duran would still kick his ass.

[Relentless]

:lol: They refused to fight each other you bum, they were good friends. He ducks Taylor but gives the guy who KO'd him a boxing lesson? Sure thing chief.

The only way they were gonna fight possibly is if Taylor got by Chavez, which he didn't.

it was a draw, i had jcc winning.

[chliJs]

i had jcc winning.

against whitaker?


:blood

[paulfv]

Duran.

Best lightweight ever

[paulfv]

Why? He beat two top notch fighters there and the rest were cab drivers. Everyone gives Chavez shit for that but not Duran. Odd. Dejesus(who beat him and dropped him twice), and Buchanan, that's his top wins at LW, otherwise he doesn't have much. Although I will admit that as far as head to head I think he was as good as any of them.

And this is a head to head matchup based on styles, we're not asking who had the better career, although even that is very very close.

If Castillo gave PBF problems, Duran would have torn a hole through him.

Remember, Duran is a guy that took hard shots from Marvin Hagler and Iran Barkley. PBF couldn't have even scratched his beard, and people forget how fast and destructive Duran was as a lightweight. His style and skill set/physical attributes are taylor-made to beat a fighter with PBF's style.

Just go look up any list of top lightweights ever. Duran is universally regarded as the #1 of all-time, and if he's not #1 on someone's list, he's #2. He would have mugged PBF.

See if you can find some early tapes of Duran on YouTube, like the Buchanan fight, etc. He was unreal, and half the time he didn't train for crap or even care in the lead-ups to the fights.

[enquirer]

Sweet pea, or anybody,in what fight do you think was whitaker most hurt by punches? The roger mayweather fight?

[Stewbear]

I dont think anyone is good enough to keep Duran off them at 135 and when added to that Duran's mastery of extracurricular activities :]

[ripcity]

I think Whitaker would out box Duran to win a decsion. At light weight I have Whitaker #2 and Duran #4.(#1 B. Leonard,#3 J. Gans)
On a recent interview on espn Whitaker was sked about this match up, and allthough he beleves he would beat Duran he said he would rather fight him at a higher weight 140 or 147. Just something to keep in mind.
My prediction is Whitaker 10 rounds Duran 5 rounds. There would be no knockdowns.

[Stewbear]

Really? If so I think your word in this thread and any thread that has to do with boxing is useless.

I assume on one hand though that you're just trying to get me going, so I won't take it too seriously.

I think JCC won, but a draw was kind of fair since it could have easily gone to whitaker by one, though he should have been deducted points for fouling.

[Guru_Too_You]

My two favorite fighters ever head to head is a nightmare to analyze.

Sweet Pea has given good accounts of both their strengths and how they actually play into each other perfectly.

This is the ultimate stylistic match-up, and I can think of few fantasy bouts pitting two fighters together that gets closer than this one.

I have to say that with all things taken into account, Pea's slight size advantage would be the difference in this one, and he could probably keep the fight at his distance a little bit better than Duran could.

I would say over 5 rounds Pea takes it by one or two tops. Not to mention, I think this fight would be a NIGHTMARE to score.

[Outboxer]

The fact that people can even argue that Chavez won the fight with Whitaker just depresses me. I didn't realize stupidity could reach such drastic levels amongst fans of this sport.

[enquirer]

I was a big chavez fan back then,and i knew that no way chavez won that fight.....Nobody outboxed and outfought chavez like pernell did at the time.....Great perfomance....

[brooklyn1550]

Duran by close UD

[sues2nd]

duran kicks his ass, whitaker ducked meldrick taylor.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Cmon bro....:patsch

[sues2nd]

I think JCC won, but a draw was kind of fair since it could have easily gone to whitaker by one, though he should have been deducted points for fouling.

Are you serious??????????

Ive posted this fight and my round by round. Its a clear, VERY CLEAR UD for Sweet Pea. Im not gonna get into this nonsense with people again, am I???

Now onto what would happen in this fight.

Pea is my all time favorite and I would favor him over most fighters in history (and able to back it up as well), but, this is one I just cant see him winning.

I do think he would keep it close, with his defense, speed and accurate punching. But Duran was an absolute ANIMAL at 135. Just too strong...and in a 15 round fight (something Whitaker never did) Duran would be more equipped to handle it.....with that said, in a 12 rounder, I could see Pea sneaking out a close UD or SD.

They asked Pernell about this on ESPN after his induction into the HOF, and even he says he would favor Duran. But, he then said at 140, he would have a better chance....which is something I also agree on.

All of that said, Whitaker was a one of a kind fighter....someone that we probably will never see again (unreal speed, amazing accuracy, VAST offensive arsenal, tremendous otherwordly defense, incredible workrate, iron chin, got stronger as fights went on, underrated power, picture perfect jab, I could keep going on forever...), so for anyone to just COUNT HIM OUT in this is insane.....Whitaker would always stand a chance against anyone.

But my pick.....Duran UD.

[kg0208]

Hmmm...not touching this one.

But I can't believe anyone had Chavez beating Whitaker.

[Titan1]

Duran by close UD, if Pernell not up to par, then late round stoppage.

[sues2nd]

He's up to par surely if Buchanan and Dejesus are and guys like Benitez handle him. No way in fuck he gets stopped.

Gotta agree....no way he gets stopped, but....

[Ramshall1]

in what round would Pernell simply run out the ring?

[kg0208]

in what round would Pernell simply run out the ring?

You simply don't like a certain style and therefore your opinion is invalidated on it. It's like being a critic of music you don't like. You can't critique it with any objectiveness.

[DoumB]

Also, Duran beat Dejesus(also lost to him and got KD'd twice in his fights with him) and Buchanan at 135, otherwise his resume there is full of Chavez-like cab drivers, so why is he the consensus best ever at LW? Someone like Benny Leonard had a better resume for sure, as did someone like Carlos Ortiz. I'd say Whitaker's is right there with his as well. Better quality in less fights, but Duran had more fights at the weight. I rank them pretty even at LW, but based on resume neither are the best(head to head may be a different story though).

no offense but your terribly biased in favor of sweet pea, there is a strong chance pea get stopped in this one, and I beleive it would be a one sided beat down, sweet pea even tho a defensive specimen could not hide for 15 rounds of ferocious attack like that and Duran is a lot better the chavez was beleive me

[Ramshall1]

The round that Duran says "No mas". Those are about as likely to happen as the other one. Please STFU, you have shown your bias against fighters that actually box instead of running at each other and having phone-booth brawls like your hero Gatti. Just leave.

"boxing" and "running" are two different things. . . too bad youre too dumb to know the difference.

I kid Pernell alot, but he did "box" in some of his fights, like Tito. . . but he also ran in many, like DLH and Chavez.

[DoumB]

Hmmm...not touching this one.

But I can't believe anyone had Chavez beating Whitaker.

yeah I scored that fight 8-4 for whitaker I cant actualy beleive someone who had chavez winning

[Ramshall1]

He ran against Chavez? Try watching the fight.

what fight? All I remember is a track meet . . . props to Pernell for running backwards faster than Chavez can run forward.

[Axe]

it was a draw, i had jcc winning.

:rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl

That fight was a clinic put on by Sweet Pea, I had it 10-2.

[Muchmoore]

Both of these fighters are my favorite little guys of all time.

That being said, I would pick a young ferocious Duran over Sweet Pea by close decision. This is a toss up though and I could see Whitaker who is the greatest defensive boxer of all time outboxing him.

[DoumB]

I am not terribly biased at all. I think Duran, Loi, Ortiz, and guys of that nature have a good shot at beating Lightweight Pea, but I would favor none.

There is NO CHANCE that he gets stopped. If an old, faded Pea at WW against a much bigger, harder hitter than Duran in Trinidad couldn't stop Pea, no fucking way in this world or any other Duran stops a prime, quicker, slicker, 10X better Pea at LW. None.

One sided beatdown my ass, just like Duran put a one-sided beatdown on Dejesus right? But I'm sure Dejesus was better than Duran, as was Benitez? Those style of fighter gave Duran problems, and Pea showed on more than one occasion that he thrived against pressure fighters. Now, do I think he schools Duran like he did them? No, because Duran is better, it will be a lot closer, and Duran is capable of winning, but to call it a one-sided beatdown just shows you have no clue what you're talking about. I suppose Gatti stops Pea as well, right?

no need to try to insult me my friend, dont get too defensive, I tell it like I and many see's it, Trinidad while being a harder puncher is no where near as accurate and relentless like Duran, Duran wouldnt stop Pea with one punch its 100% sure, accumation is what I see, 15 round is long and fighting on the back foot all night takes a lot out of u especialy when u take a lot of punishement,

The way I see it is Pea take like 4 of the first 6-7 rounds and then he starts to slow down, his movement would slow down and his reflexes would be also slower in the rest of the fight, thats where the beat down would happen in my eyes,

I dont think Pea cannot win it, but I think its fair to say that this isnt a 50/50 fight but a fight that duran should be slightly favored

:good didnt mean to insult u btw

[DoumB]

What makes you say a prime Pea slows down? He never showed any signs of stamina problems in his prime at all. He got better really as the fight wore on, as the Chavez fight showed.

Anyways, here ya go guys, the best highlights of the two of them on the web. Whaddaya think? Two of my favorite highlights on the net.

ohS570Pz6nc

yjTHLPmfBCQ

not a problem of stamia but the ferocious shot to the body would take their toll on him, anyway I think we have different opinion but we can argu it would be a real great fight

[Ramshall1]

Great long distance runner.

[Ramshall1]

Chavez was a sprinter then, so was Duran, what a runner, never have I seen a runner like your hero Gatti though.

running after the fight and running away from the fight are two different things. . . to bad you too dumb to know the difference.

[sweet_scientist]

Great highlights from Duran. Should show this clip to Bigtime 9, who probably thinks Duran's career started in 1980.

[Axe]

Perhaps the two best Lightweights EVER. Both would beat PBF, imo.

This is a 50/50 fight as far as I can see. I keep wanting to give the edge to Roberto Duran, he was such a ferocious animal in the ring--and unlike the vast majority of other such animals that we tend to see in boxing, he was an extremely intelligent fighter--who could box off the backfoot and outbox, and often stop, slick pure technical boxer opponents.

I always said I'd favour Duran over anyone at 135 lbs, but then I look back at a Pernell Whitaker match at 135 and I just shake my head...nobody was that smooth.

Overall I might make Duran a slight favourite, but it's truly a toss-up match for me.

[Ramshall1]

You've said that same insult twice, and it's "too bad you're too dumb to know the difference", not "too bad you too dumb......".

Too bad you're too dumb to know the difference. :good

:lol: good one.

I seriously have a hard time figuring out how guys like Pernell, RJJ, Spinks, FMJ have any fans though. . . they boxed like cowards far too often IMO.

[dave82]

:lol: good one.

I seriously have a hard time figuring out how guys like Pernell, RJJ, Spinks, FMJ have any fans though. . . they boxed like cowards far too often IMO.

Do us all a favour and never post again.

[sweet_scientist]

I don't think anything changes Bigtime's opinions, but I agree that HL is fantastic, I like the music as well for the first part. Very chill and good to just sit back and watch Duran do his thing.

Yeah, the song at the beginning compliments Duran's easy time of it amongst the lightweight ranks. Just cruising right through 'em.

[Ramshall1]

Spinks and Mayweather I agree with. You are way out of line saying that about Roy though, especially Pernell. Pernell was the farthest thing from a coward. Someone that doesn't have KO power isn't gonna rush in to brawl a puncher, he will outbox you, and he did it masterfully. I don't even know where you get off saying it about Jones.

these guys like Pernel, FMJ, RJJ. . . are all fast as sin and rely on it too much as far as defense goes to be entertaining. . .RJJ did have some good performanced. . . the Montell rematch for example. . . but I also remember seeing him run from an Aborigone. . . Merchant gave him hell for taking on bums and making boring matches to boot, I agree with him. Having said that, these guys are still HOF'ers . . . just too boring and ran to much IMO to be entertaining.

[Ramshall1]

Do us all a favour and never post again.

yeah, sure o.k. :roll:

[Robbi]

If Castillo gave PBF problems, Duran would have torn a hole through him.

Remember, Duran is a guy that took hard shots from Marvin Hagler and Iran Barkley. PBF couldn't have even scratched his beard, and people forget how fast and destructive Duran was as a lightweight. His style and skill set/physical attributes are taylor-made to beat a fighter with PBF's style.

Just go look up any list of top lightweights ever. Duran is universally regarded as the #1 of all-time, and if he's not #1 on someone's list, he's #2. He would have mugged PBF.

See if you can find some early tapes of Duran on YouTube, like the Buchanan fight, etc. He was unreal, and half the time he didn't train for crap or even care in the lead-ups to the fights.

Duran took hard shots from Hagler, correct. But he also got kncoked down twice against De Jesus.

[digiram]

duran kicks his ass, whitaker ducked meldrick taylor.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Shake]

Some great discussion, some ugly posts, but overall I think this is pretty split. Strangely, I almost feel good about the fact that these two never fought. No matter the circumstances of it, the boxing community always takes such a negative stance whenever any fighter takes a loss, even if they did all that they could. One of these two would have to lose, and neither really deserves that treatment.

FYI, I personally don't enjoy most fighters that seem to try only for a points win, I don't feel Whitaker was one. He fought off the back foot often but he was still fighting to do damage, landing fully leveraged body shots and combinations. He wasn't in there to potshot his way to a decision.

[ko factor]

Whitaker would make Duran miss a lot of punches & win a wide UD.

[ripcity]

What makes you say a prime Pea slows down? He never showed any signs of stamina problems in his prime at all. He got better really as the fight wore on, as the Chavez fight showed.

Anyways, here ya go guys, the best highlights of the two of them on the web. Whaddaya think? Two of my favorite highlights on the net.

ohS570Pz6nc

yjTHLPmfBCQ
After Watching these videos I still beleve that Whitaker would outbox Duran. I'm terpeted to say the score might be 9 rounds to 6 rounds for Whitaker, but I can stil see it going 10-5 Whitaker as in my first post.
Also sence it has come up in this threed Whitaker domantaed Chavez. It's called boxing he stayed on the out side and hit Chazez, and he also went toe to toe with Chavez. On the inside Whitaker was the better man as well.