DURAN (1978) vs WHITAKER (1990) @ 135 lbs ?

[Bill Butcher]

I know its been done to death but it`ll be interesting to see who picks who (the magical invention of the public poll ;))

The Duran that outclassed Dejesus in their 3rd fight vs the Whitaker that schooled Nelson, those versions.

I lean towards Duran by close UD.

:think

[Sweet Pea]

I think if Duran tried to box and pick his spots with Whitaker the way he did Dejesus he loses a decision. Especially if we're taking the Whitaker who boxed so beautifully off the backfoot and behind the jab against Nelson. The younger, more swarming oriented version of Duran would likely be the one best to deter Whitaker.

[WhataRock]

The topic I think Ive just about debated the most out of any boxing related one...quite often inside my own head.

I agree with Pea that if Roberto fought like he did in the DeJesus III fight, really at times coasting, he would probably find life a lot harder against Pea.

Either way..Ive always just lent towards Whitaker in this matchup..Most definitely a fight that I see having big discrepancies in the scoring by the final bell.

[CottoDaBodykill]

I think if Duran tried to box and pick his spots with Whitaker the way he did Dejesus he loses a decision. Especially if we're taking the Whitaker who boxed so beautifully off the backfoot and behind the jab against Nelson. The younger, more swarming oriented version of Duran would likely be the one best to deter Whitaker.
yeah ..duran doesn't have said agility and handspeed to pick his spots against whitikar... pea is just gonna pop him every time he goes to set his stance to throw... i see a fight with the 78 version of duran going 10-5 over 15 .. 8-4 over 12 ...

[Bill Butcher]

Its Pea taking Duran`s power for a 15 or even 12 duration that makes me pick Duran... as good as both guys were defensively, both WILL get hit & hit often.
Pernell is a better puncher than given credit for but I still dont think his punches carry enough steam to make Duran think twice when he`s planning an offensive move, I fear Pea might be forced to fight TOO defensively & that could cost him on the cards.
I could be wrong tho... this fight has fascinated me for ages, brilliant clash of styles.

[Robbi]

I think the younger and wildier Duran would lose more easily than the later lightweight version. The one who fought De Jesus the third time was far more accurate and precise with his attacks and overall approach. Constantly coming forward and rushing at Whitaker would make him easier to read and outbox.

[Sweet Pea]

I think the younger and wildier Duran would lose more easily than the later lightweight version. The one who fought De Jesus the third time was far more accurate and precise with his attacks and overall approach. Constantly coming forward and rushing at Whitaker would make him easier to read and outbox.He was anything but easy to read, as unorthodox as he was against Buchanan or in some of his earlier LW fights.

And yes, I'm aware that you didn't directly say he was "easy" to read, so I'll save you the semantics.

[asero]

sweet pea by DQ

[WhataRock]

sweet pea by DQ

Ok :lol:

Please explain?

[asero]

sweet pea would just frustrate duran...that was sweet pea him his prime and i see sweet pea clinching once in a while

[WhataRock]

sweet pea would just frustrate duran...that was sweet pea him his prime and i see sweet pea clinching once in a while


So are you saying Sweet Pea gets DQ'd or Duran?

[asero]

So are you saying Sweet Pea gets DQ'd or Duran?


ofcourse duran...maybe a shot at the back of the head as sweet pea ducks infront of duran

[robert ungurean]

I like Duran here.
The constant preassure,bodywork,roughing up Whittaker will all take its toll.
Duran by tight UD.

[laxpdx]

I've got to give the edge to Duran here. Both are tremendous defensively. However, I think Duran's unrelenting attack would eventually be the difference here. I do think Pea had the skills to score an upset, but Duran would win more often than not.

[RafaelGonzal]

whitacre is not better than Sugar Ray leanord and at Durans best weight never, Pea looked like shit againts lesser fighters. Pea has no offense and basically has one hand the left. Duran easy.

[Shake]

whitacre is not better than Sugar Ray leanord and at Durans best weight never, Pea looked like shit againts lesser fighters. Pea has no offense and basically has one hand the left. Duran easy.

Disrespect Whitaker much?

[WhataRock]

whitacre is not better than Sugar Ray leanord and at Durans best weight never, Pea looked like shit againts lesser fighters. Pea has no offense and basically has one hand the left. Duran easy.


*Also Pea's best weight.

*Duran also had the odd performance where he looked fairly average..you will actually find some were against light hitting back foot fighters.

*Sweet Pea is as good as Leonard overall..They have different strengths..Leonard fit the boxer-puncher role better..Pea the defensive specialist.

*Pea had a very very good jab...that was probably his best punch..not his left, which was excellent though.

[Sweet Pea]

whitacre is not better than Sugar Ray leanord and at Durans best weight never, Pea looked like shit againts lesser fighters. Pea has no offense and basically has one hand the left. Duran easy.I've never seen Whitacre fight, but if he had no offense he'd likely lose to Duran. What about Whitaker, though?

[WhataRock]

I've never seen Whitacre fight, but if he had no offense he'd likely lose to Duran. What about Whitaker, though?


Ive always wanted to buy a few whitacres...you know raise some chickens, maybe some cows.

[Sweet Pea]

On the real, what fighters did Pea look like shit against at LW? I don't just mean what "lesser" fighters, I mean what fighters period? I'll wait, and continue waiting, as you'll never have a viable answer. If anyone looked, at times, poor against lesser opposition, it was Duran. You're completely ass backwards.

[sweet_scientist]

whitacre is not better than Sugar Ray leanord and at Durans best weight never, Pea looked like shit againts lesser fighters. Pea has no offense and basically has one hand the left. Duran easy.

Who exactly did he look like shit against? (Can't wait for you to mention Ramirez, despite the fact that he easily won the first 5 rounds and then held his own for the remainder of the fight with one hand).

Who else did he look like shit against? You couldn't name one fighter in his prime.

Also, Duran looked fairly ordinary against Edwin Viruet the first time and didn't look anything too special against Ray Lampkin or Esteban DeJesus the first time they fought.

I happen to think Duran beats him at any weight, but it's got nothing to do with him not being better than Leonard, looking like shit against lesser fighters or having no offense. Calling a guy that threw 80 punches per round (many of which hit the mark with his great accuracy) a no offense fighter is a joke.

[jyuza]

I've never seen Whitacre fight, but if he had no offense he'd likely lose to Duran. What about Whitaker, though?

:lol:

[natonic]

I like Duran by close decision. I can't think of a fighter who closed the gap so rapidly and effectively as a Prime Duran. There's no doubt he'd get hit on the way in, but once there I think he'd have the advantage. Whitaker can handle himself on the inside so it would be a close fight.

[GPater11093]

I think if Duran tried to box and pick his spots with Whitaker the way he did Dejesus he loses a decision. Especially if we're taking the Whitaker who boxed so beautifully off the backfoot and behind the jab against Nelson. The younger, more swarming oriented version of Duran would likely be the one best to deter Whitaker.

you make a good case

Its Pea taking Duran`s power for a 15 or even 12 duration that makes me pick Duran... as good as both guys were defensively, both WILL get hit & hit often.
Pernell is a better puncher than given credit for but I still dont think his punches carry enough steam to make Duran think twice when he`s planning an offensive move, I fear Pea might be forced to fight TOO defensively & that could cost him on the cards.
I could be wrong tho... this fight has fascinated me for ages, brilliant clash of styles.

Thats how i see it really.

whitacre is not better than Sugar Ray leanord and at Durans best weight never, Pea looked like shit againts lesser fighters. Pea has no offense and basically has one hand the left. Duran easy.

:patsch

On the real, what fighters did Pea look like shit against at LW? I don't just mean what "lesser" fighters, I mean what fighters period? I'll wait, and continue waiting, as you'll never have a viable answer. If anyone looked, at times, poor against lesser opposition, it was Duran. You're completely ass backwards.

you will be waiting a long time

Who exactly did he look like shit against? (Can't wait for you to mention Ramirez, despite the fact that he easily won the first 5 rounds and then held his own for the remainder of the fight with one hand).

Who else did he look like shit against? You couldn't name one fighter in his prime.

Also, Duran looked fairly ordinary against Edwin Viruet the first time and didn't look anything too special against Ray Lampkin or Esteban DeJesus the first time they fought.

I happen to think Duran beats him at any weight, but it's got nothing to do with him not being better than Leonard, looking like shit against lesser fighters or having no offense. Calling a guy that threw 80 punches per round (many of which hit the mark with his great accuracy) a no offense fighter is a joke.

i thought he did good against Ramirez the first time i guess your meaning.

He boxed very well reminisent of Willie Pep

[DINAMITA]

I've never seen Whitacre fight, but if he had no offense he'd likely lose to Duran. What about Whitaker, though?

Never mind him, let's stay on point here: who would win between Duran and the mysterious forgotten legend Parnobb 'Swell Pint' Whitacre?

[teeto]

So many plausible scenarios that either lead to a Whittaker decision victory or a Duran decision victory. Whittaker not running but using the movement he could employ to step around his man, if he fights a perfect game plan, can get a decision. I do take Duran if pushed, even the lightweight Whittaker did some of his work in the pocket, where Duran enjoys his best periods of any fight. At distance one would ultimately have to favour Whittaker, but just as the inside game does not go totally Duran's way, the long-range chess match is not completely Pernell's either. Duran's feinting, slipping, and accurate right hand from distance to close the gap are great tools against any boxer, whereas Pernell's ever pot-shotting jab are also.

I believe whoever's work has the other off-balance is decisive.

[teeto]

Hahaha, hilarious page 2 of this thread

[teeto]

whitacre is not better than Sugar Ray leanord and at Durans best weight never, Pea looked like shit againts lesser fighters. Pea has no offense and basically has one hand the left. Duran easy.
Wow, so many posts,

[smitty_son408]

Wow, so many posts,

yet....(go ahead and say it:D)

[smitty_son408]

I got Pernell winning on decision. If Pea implemented the "tight circle" to perfection (the way he usually did) than I see him frustrating Duran to some degree. Also, Duran always had a tendency to fall asleep at times, that would cost him rounds if he did this. Plus, you have to factor in Peas extraordinary defense and inside fighting skills, not mention Pea hardly ever ended up on the roaps. Duran's ring IQ would have to show up that night.

[teeto]

yet....(go ahead and say it:D)
Haha

[Flea Man]

Draw. As I think Pryor-Pea at 140 would be.

[ripcity]

whitacre is not better than Sugar Ray leanord and at Durans best weight never, Pea looked like shit againts lesser fighters. Pea has no offense and basically has one hand the left. Duran easy.

Whitaker has offense and at light weight he has some power.

[ripcity]

I can't see Duran getting knocked out so Whitaker by decision.
The only thing Duran at 135 has over Whitaker at 135 is raw power (mabey work rate). Whitaker is faster and has better defense than Duran has offense. Whitaker also has an outstanding work rate on the offensive end along with decent power as a lightweight. If his perforemance aganst J.C. Chavez tells us anything it is that Whitaker can fight in the pocket and be the agresier as well as box from a distance.

[GPater11093]

I can't see Duran getting knocked out so Whitaker by decision.
The only thing Duran at 135 has over Whitaker at 135 is raw power (mabey work rate). Whitaker is faster and has better defense than Duran has offense. Whitaker also has an outstanding work rate on the offensive end along with decent power as a lightweight. If his perforemance aganst J.C. Chavez tells us anything it is that Whitaker can fight in the pocket and be the agresier as well as box from a distance.

not sure about that Duran was more relentless but Whittaker threw alot of punches and had a very high workrate

[ripcity]

not sure about that Duran was more relentless but Whittaker threw alot of punches and had a very high workrate

That is why I Put that in ().

[Sweet Pea]

I wouldn't say outright that Whitaker has a better defense than Duran has offense. Duran's offense was superb, on the same level IMO and among the best in history. His ability to combine the two was matched by very few.

[werety]

I have trouble thinking about this fight because I honestly dont think the Duran from Dejesus 3 was as good as the one that fought Leonard. I don't think Duran ever looked better than he did then. The problem of course is that this Duran was at welterweight so I don't think that the two can really be matched in their best forms.