Nigel Benn vs. Roberto Duran at MW

[KOTF]

Match up both of the versions that beat Barkley. Who would take it?

[Mr Butt]

i am going to stick my neck and go against god and say benn by ko

[duranimal]

No Contest, Boxing savvy wins this, I love Nigel, one of the greatest warriors we've ever produced & a top bloke, but Nigel's made for Duran, It would be Cuavas MK2 with the first 2 rounds going to Nigel as Duran just sized him up & countered now & again, then it's all down hill & over by 5/6 max.

[laxpdx]

This is a repeat of the Hearns-Duran affair. It will last longer, but Duran will be KO'd. Nigel is too big and powerful.

[TheGreatA]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Stevie G]

No Contest, Boxing savvy wins this, I love Nigel, one of the greatest warriors we've ever produced & a top bloke, but Nigel's made for Duran, It would be Cuavas MK2 with the first 2 rounds going to Nigel as Duran just sized him up & countered now & again, then it's all down hill & over by 5/6 max.
This is pretty much how I see it.

[PowerPuncher]

Nigel would outspeed, outwork, outmuscle and outpunch the aging great. Benn would just be too intense and stop Duran mid-rounds.

[duranimal]

Nigel would outspeed, outwork, outmuscle and outpunch the aging great. Benn would just be too intense and stop Duran mid-rounds.

YEH, but i'am glad you left out OUT-BOXED as thats what would happen to Nigel & then he'd be KO'd he ai'nt the 1st young slugger that he's wiped out using expeareance & ring savvy.

Go watch the Jorge Castro/Duran fights

[duranimal]

This is a repeat of the Hearns-Duran affair. It will last longer, but Duran will be KO'd. Nigel is too big and powerful.

NO CHANCE:lol: Nigel just has'nt the boxing ability to set it up against a smart operator like Duran, how on earth do you think he still fought the likes of vinny Paz at 44 yrs old & smacked him all over the ring only to get shafted by the judges, NIGEL WOULD BE ON THE END OF A BRUTAL SCHOOLING HERE:bbb

[turpinr]

i am going to stick my neck and go against god and say benn by koi agree.the congregation in nigels church will be over flowing:good

[Shake]

Benn in a war, around the 8th. Everyone watching eventually roots for Roberto as he gives absolutely everything.

[turpinr]

[Only registered and activated users can see links] was really impressed with benn .he didn't stop:good

[PowerPuncher]

YEH, but i'am glad you left out OUT-BOXED as thats what would happen to Nigel & then he'd be KO'd he ai'nt the 1st young slugger that he's wiped out using expeareance & ring savvy.

Go watch the Jorge Castro/Duran fights

That shoulder rolling isn't doing it against Benn's fast hands, watch the sparring vid then imagine Benn actually commiting to those shots

Nigel Benn isnt a C Class slugger like Cuevas/Castro/Barkley hes on a completely different level above them.

Look at what Benn did to the Barkley who went to an SD against Duran

[AREA 53]

Certainly when you watch the all conquering young Nigel Benn Sparring with a vastly out of Shape Duran on a visit to London, you can get "Glimpses" of what might of happened. This young Benn was knocking then out left right and centre, and was very much into intimidation, Roberto was pretty much on Holiday and seeing the sights, During the Sparring Benn was of course pulling his punches, but was a fast puncher - and yet Duran was clearly starting to Frustrate Nigel with his superb ability to Ride and anticipate punches and his overall "Space Perception" Nigel seemed to want to Let Roberto know that he was not for playing with
- of course that was a little Taster between a Young Benn and a vastly out of Shape Duran

As to a real encounter, as well as his power Nigel was a very fast puncher and it was this combination of Speed and Power which caused many a Problem, I can of course see Nigel trying to Impose himself on Roberto from the Start, But Roberto would be comfortable with this, he has been here before, i can See Roberto being Clipped and Shaken by Benn early and Shutting up Shop for a round or Two to let things settle, we must remember that Nigel was Dropped by Dewitt and Shaken by Sanderline Williams, So i can see a Careless Benn being Shaken by Duran, Duran may enjoy a good round Circa the 9th, remember how he came back at Hagler and Dropped Barkley, this is Roberto's trying to take charge for the final Run in, but as we know, Benn is never more dangerous as when hurt, and has good boxing ability when he decides, or is forced to use it, Benn comes forward behind a sharpe fast Jab which keeps Robert too shackled in defence, Soon it is a case of Benn Pressing again and Roberto having to use his Energies and Skills to Survive, probably as per Hagler Fight at the Final Bell Duran Stances up to Benn to show he had scored the moral Victory in Standing up to and outmanauvering the KO King
But the Points will favour Benn Clearly.

[Addie]

If the Duran of Barkley turns up, Nigel would get his ears boxed off before being stopped late.People bring up the Barkley/Duran fight and say well Nigel blew Barkley away. Irrelevant. Nigel is not a durable fella outside of the G man spectacle, and Duran would be countering as often if not more so than he did with Barkley, who took a lot of the punches well. Benn wouldn't take them as well in my estimation, and there's always the possibility that he punches himself out early trying to get the smaller man out of there quick. It won't happen.

[TheGreatA]

That shoulder rolling isn't doing it against Benn's fast hands, watch the sparring vid then imagine Benn actually commiting to those shots

Nigel Benn isnt a C Class slugger like Cuevas/Castro/Barkley hes on a completely different level above them.

Look at what Benn did to the Barkley who went to an SD against Duran

It would have been one of the greatest wars of all time if not for the useless 3 knockdown rule which totally ruined the bout. Barkley wasn't hurt at all at the time the fight was stopped, and he had been rabbit punched while he was on the canvas.

[Stonehands89]

...This thread is annoying.

Benn would beat the Duran who showed up against Pat Lawlor. He would be systematically taken apart by the version who fought Iran Barkley.

Benn was a brawler. An inspired Duran had those guys for breakfast with a side of hash browns.

[Unforgiven]

I think Benn would knock Duran out to be honest.
Barkley was a good puncher but Benn possibly hit even harder than Hearns.

Duran would have beaten the Benn of the Watson fight and before, but Benn got a bit wiser in his next few fights and I dont see how Duran beats him. Duran cannot slip every punch, he didn't slip everything Barkley threw, and Benn was quicker and more powerful, I believe.
Benn wasn't impervious to Duran's punches either, but on balance I'd favour Benn.

[MRBILL]

I love Duran, but, not at 160 pounds........ Duran was just too small for the most part........ Duran at 154 and below was MUCH better off upon being motivated....... Duran really only looked great for two fights at 160........ "Hagler and Barkley." All his other fights at 160 to 168 had Duran looking sometimes good to merely ordinary....... Cheers.......

MR.BILL

[Addie]

I love Duran, but, not at 160 pounds........ Duran was just too small for the most part........ Duran at 154 and below was MUCH better off upon being motivated....... Duran really only looked great for two fights at 160........ "Hagler and Barkley." All his other fights at 160 to 168 had Duran looking sometimes good to merely ordinary....... Cheers.......

MR.BILL

Duran was obviously a small Middleweight, but it didn't stop him beating the much bigger Iran Barkley in a really inspiring display of skill. I agree with Stonehands, that Duran would often make Benn look foolish en route to a late stoppage. Barkley fights one way, and so does Benn, the big difference between the two being Benn's often lacking punch resistance, and Duran showed he could hit hard enough at 160lbs to get the job done.

[MRBILL]

Duran was obviously a small Middleweight, but it didn't stop him beating the much bigger Iran Barkley in a really inspiring display of skill. I agree with Stonehands, that Duran would often make Benn look foolish en route to a late stoppage. Barkley fights one way, and so does Benn, the big difference between the two being Benn's often lacking punch resistance, and Duran showed he could hit hard enough at 160lbs to get the job done.

I didn't think Duran looked all that good in sparring with Benn, but that's just sparring........ Benn looked too spry and quick for the slowed Duran in that footage........ Duran still appeared tricky, but he was getting tagged too much for my liking........ I can't see Duran beating Benn at 160.....

Benny was green in 1989, but he still seemed capable of pulling off a win over an in-shape Duran at that point in time.......

MR.BILL:bbb

[TBooze]

Benn would have had too much respect for Duran in 89. Duran (at the time) had forgotten more about the sport than Benn knew!

And as The Blade found out, for one more glorious time, The Hands of Stone were still there, and were controlled by a genius who still had a little bit of magic-dust left.

[Seamus]

NO CHANCE:lol: Nigel just has'nt the boxing ability to set it up against a smart operator like Duran, how on earth do you think he still fought the likes of vinny Paz at 44 yrs old & smacked him all over the ring only to get shafted by the judges, NIGEL WOULD BE ON THE END OF A BRUTAL SCHOOLING HERE:bbb

It could play out either way, Nigel catching Duran with a few powerful shots to stop him or how you have it above. My first thought, is how you have put it. So much of what Benn does is made to order for Duran.

[PowerPuncher]

It would have been one of the greatest wars of all time if not for the useless 3 knockdown rule which totally ruined the bout. Barkley wasn't hurt at all at the time the fight was stopped, and he had been rabbit punched while he was on the canvas.

Bullshit Barkley was ready to go anyway, the fight should have gone on but Barkley but there was only 1 winner

[Addie]

I didn't think Duran looked all that good in sparring with Benn, but that's just sparring........ Benn looked too spry and quick for the slowed Duran in that footage........ Duran still appeared tricky, but he was getting tagged too much for my liking........ I can't see Duran beating Benn at 160.....

Benny was green in 1989, but he still seemed capable of pulling off a win over an in-shape Duran at that point in time.......

MR.BILL:bbb

You got it right the second time, sparring means jack shit. The Duran that fought Barkley was a damn good fighter. Look at his movement, the way he'd effortlessly avoid Iran's jab, and then return with combination's. Wonderful performance from a fantastic fighter, and the dude was 37 years of age. It's incredible really.

Benn wasn't even a better fighter than Barkley in my estimation. His power is often overstated, the best fighter he stopped was Barkley, and it was only due to the bullshit three knockdown rule. Duran almost had Barkley out twice in their fight, and if he lands those same shots on Benn, don't expect the same resistance. Benn never displayed a great chin outside of his win against the G man. He fights one way, he has no plan B, and Duran is going to make him miss an awful lot, and I expect him to take Benn's best shot if called upon also. Benn is a handful for 3-4 rounds..after that, you an capitalize.

[Robbi]

you got it right the second time, sparring means jack shit. The duran that fought barkley was a damn good fighter. Look at his movement, the way he'd effortlessly avoid iran's jab, and then return with combination's. Wonderful performance from a fantastic fighter, and the dude was 38 years of age. It's incredible really.

37.

[Addie]

37.

Same thing :good

[MRBILL]

Benny knocked the shit outta "Barkman" in 1990 in ONE round................ Weight drained or not, Benn slaughtered The Barker.......

I too like Iran Barkley, but aside from being a big 160 pounder with a big hook, Barkley was also seriously flawed in his skills.......... Duran struggled hard to overcome Barkley's natural size and strength advantages in 1989......... Duran did edge Barkley, but I had it only by a cunt hair........

Albert Bernstein actually had Barkley by a cunt hair or two after 12 classic rds...... The fight was close............. Duran NEEDED that big 11th round to win.........

Benn in 1989 was still better than Barkley, IMO!!

MR.BILL

[TheGreatA]

Bullshit Barkley was ready to go anyway, the fight should have gone on but Barkley but there was only 1 winner

Ready to go? The bell had sounded and Barkley wasn't exactly reeling around the ring. He was stopped only because of the three knockdown rule.

Under the same ruleset Juan Manuel Marquez would have lost to Pacquiao, and Archie Moore would have lost to Yvon Durelle.

Benn was a puncher but he didn't exactly display a great amount of skill in that fight. It was bombs away with both men hurting each other and Benn got a victory due to the 3 knockdown rule. At the same time he could have very well been DQ'd for hitting Barkley not once but twice while he was on the canvas.

[MRBILL]

WTF am I missing?????? Barker was only dropped ONCE by Duran in round 11.........

MR.BILL

[Addie]

WTF am I missing?????? Barker was only dropped ONCE by Duran in round 11.........

MR.BILL

And was reeling...BIG TIME...at the end of the opening round from a Duran counter right hand over the top. It was beautiful.

In response to your earlier post, Nacho was smoking some serious shit that night in 89 as far as I'm concerned. He's great usually, but a hell of a lot of good work on the part of Duran was being ignored by him and his co commentator, Clancy. They were often crediting Barkley for shots that weren't even landing, and they weren't landing because of Duran's movement. I had Duran winning something like 116-112, might have even been wider...and I'm not known for being a Duran supporter, to put it mildly.

You say Barkley had a lot of flaws, well so did Benn. Benn was great for a few opening rounds where he'd impose his will on the other fella, throw absolute bombs, and then he's slow down. The whole time he's fighting one way, and moving one way. Duran has seen it all before, he'd be far to slick for Benn on that night against Barkley, who was missing more often than not.

[MRBILL]

Look, I give a fuck........ I am a Duran nut-hugger........... But I knew Duran needed that big 11th round to totally sway the judges and get the nod over Barkley..... Had Barkley not gone down, I think Barkley would've kept the title....... I had the fight too close for my comfort........ Cheers.....

MR.BILL

[Addie]

Look, I give a fuck........ I am a Duran nut-hugger........... But I knew Duran needed that big 11th round to totally sway the judges and get the nod over Barkley..... Had Barkley not gone down, I think Barkley would've kept the title....... I had the fight too close for my comfort........ Cheers.....

MR.BILL

It's subjective...but I was much more impressed by Duran's ability to make Barkley miss than anything else. Duran won the fight outright if you ask me, and it stands as one of the best wins of the last 50 years. Awe-inspiring stuff.

[MRBILL]

It's subjective...but I was much more impressed by Duran's ability to make Barkley miss than anything else. Duran won the fight outright if you ask me, and it stands as one of the best wins of the last 50 years. Awe-inspiring stuff.

I admit, my coctus erectus was stiff and hard for about six months straight after Duran won the WBC 160 lb. title from Barkley in 1989......... But then it went fully limp on me when Duran & Leonard stunk out the joint in Vegas at the end of '89 on PPV......
:admin:patsch

MR.BILL

[Addie]

I admit, my coctus erectus was stiff and hard for about six months straight after Duran won the WBC 160 lb. title from Barkley in 1989......... But then it went fully limp on me when Duran & Leonard stunk out the joint in Vegas at the end of '89 on PPV......
:admin:patsch

MR.BILL

:lol: Oh well, Duran vs Barkley is more than ample for a good tug. It's as good as this game gets. Top 5 fight for me.

[essexboy]

My two favourite fighters, Benn a tad before prime in the super-middleweight division and Duran a long way out of prime. I see a very close fight, Duran could get results against decent middleweights at that time but fights like Barkley and Sims were won and lost by very close margins. The win over Barkley was Duran's last great performance but Barkley was notoriously inconsistent and with him in Hearns beating mode he annihalates Duran. I think Benn beats Duran by decision over ten, a small ageing Duran cant do enough to stop Benn, no way, people underrate Benn's chin, I feel he learnt alot from the Watson fight, you tend to learn more losing than winning and he rarely punched himself out after this. Even losing against Eubank who although a wasted talent was far better than Duran ever was at middleweight, Benn wasnt knocked down although arguably he could have been had the fight gone on, although he was just as likely to score a knockdown himself with one big, swinging, wild hook. Anyway, long story short Benn is a step to far for an ageing Duran. Pound for pound in their primes though they are in different stratospheres.

[MRBILL]

My two favourite fighters, Benn a tad before prime in the super-middleweight division and Duran a long way out of prime. I see a very close fight, Duran could get results against decent middleweights at that time but fights like Barkley and Sims were won and lost by very close margins. The win over Barkley was Duran's last great performance but Barkley was notoriously inconsistent and with him in Hearns beating mode he annihalates Duran. I think Benn beats Duran by decision over ten, a small ageing Duran cant do enough to stop Benn, no way, people underrate Benn's chin, I feel he learnt alot from the Watson fight, you tend to learn more losing than winning and he rarely punched himself out after this. Even losing against Eubank who although a wasted talent was far better than Duran ever was at middleweight, Benn wasnt knocked down although arguably he could have been had the fight gone on, although he was just as likely to score a knockdown himself with one big, swinging, wild hook. Anyway, long story short Benn is a step to far for an ageing Duran. Pound for pound in their primes though they are in different stratospheres.

I thought a 45 year old Duran hammering a 34 year old Camacho at middleweight was Duran's last great performance... I care LESS what the judges scored in 1996; Duran was screwed blue in the end.........

The 1997 rematch win over Jorge Castro was good but not great, yet it was kool and satisfying for me....... The rest is history.......
:deal:hat

MR.BILL

[essexboy]

I thought a 45 year old Duran hammering a 34 year old Camacho at middleweight was Duran's last great performance... I care LESS what the judges scored in 1996; Duran was screwed blue in the end.........

The 1997 rematch win over Jorge Castro was good but not great, yet it was kool and satisfying for me....... The rest is history.......
:deal:hat

MR.BILL

I missed alot of his fights he had in the nineties, I always find it difficult watching an ageing legend try to hang on to what little talent they have left. If you think its worth me watching though I'll give it a go.

[WhataRock]

Ready to go? The bell had sounded and Barkley wasn't exactly reeling around the ring. He was stopped only because of the three knockdown rule.

Under the same ruleset Juan Manuel Marquez would have lost to Pacquiao, and Archie Moore would have lost to Yvon Durelle.

Benn was a puncher but he didn't exactly display a great amount of skill in that fight. It was bombs away with both men hurting each other and Benn got a victory due to the 3 knockdown rule. At the same time he could have very well been DQ'd for hitting Barkley not once but twice while he was on the canvas.

Exactly.

Dictionary definition of a technical knock out..It was stopped on a technicality...You could even see the ref didnt want to actually call it but had no choice.

Cant take anything away from Nigel...He put Barkely down 3 times and took some huge shots in doing so..Thems the rules, so thats that really.

It must be said though would have been great to see it go on...Barkely was a proven warrior who could come back from such thinks and that stage Benn really wasnt proven in this regard.

As for Benn-Duran.....Roberto from the Hagler fight outboxes Nigel to take a clear but hard fought 8-4 kind of decision.
Duran from the Barkley fight.....Id actually pick Benn to reverse the SD that went against Iran and edge it out. See his firepower catching the judges attention in enough rounds to just get by.

Either way Duran came in good shape in those fights and I dont see him getting stopped or convincingly beaten by a guy like Nigel. He just had to much skilled combined with amazing toughness.

[PowerPuncher]

Ready to go? The bell had sounded and Barkley wasn't exactly reeling around the ring. He was stopped only because of the three knockdown rule.

Under the same ruleset Juan Manuel Marquez would have lost to Pacquiao, and Archie Moore would have lost to Yvon Durelle.

Benn was a puncher but he didn't exactly display a great amount of skill in that fight. It was bombs away with both men hurting each other and Benn got a victory due to the 3 knockdown rule. At the same time he could have very well been DQ'd for hitting Barkley not once but twice while he was on the canvas.

Benn was wobbly though and they were harder KDs than those other fights, Benn was also a great finnisher, would 60seconds have been enough because Benn would be right back on him at the beggining of the second round. And we all know Benn would be landing first again with his greater speed/technique on Barkley who had a wide open defense.

Yes benn hit Barkley when he was down, lots of fighters foul though, thats often part of the game

[MRBILL]

Barkley was shot at 160 by 1990................ After Barkley and Nunn struggled against each other in the summer of 1989 on HBO, "The Barker" should've gone to 168-175 for good..... Barkley was a limp dick at 160 for Benn in '90...........

MR.BILL:deal

[rekcutnevets]

Duran would put on a wonderful display; much like he did against Barkley, much like he did sparring with Benn.

Barkley and Duran was close in scoring. I think Benn is slightly better than Barkley in most aspects.

Benn by close decision.

[Minotauro]

I think Benn would stop Duran probably in the sixth his power and speed would be too much for Roberto to handle. Duran would have his moments and make Benn look silly at times but eventually the power would takes it tool and Nigel would come our on top.

[BENNY BLANCO]

I think Benn would stop Duran probably in the sixth his power and speed would be too much for Roberto to handle. Duran would have his moments and make Benn look silly at times but eventually the power would takes it tool and Nigel would come our on top. Yeah pretty much.