Casual boxing fans don't understand Durans greatness, they think his career began during Leonard fight, they also forget that while Leonard was getting whopped by Camacho, senior citizen Duran was still kicking butt, he also whopped men Leonard dodged like Barcklay. ESPN, the International Boxing Research Org. and several other organizations rank him as the greatest p4p fighter in the last 30 years.
Duran was beat goods when he beat Leonard [entered the ring with 72 wins 1 loss] the first fight and out of shape in the second fight [long boxing career].
Prime Duran was very accurate, fast and strong.
If he beat Mayweather it would be by attacking his body then aiming for the head, he was also far more active round by round than Floyd [threw allot more punches]. If he beat money it would be on activity and later, if he hurts money, possibly on tko but i doubt they could ko each other. Lightheavyweights couldnt ko Duran, and Floyd knows how to survive.
Notice i said IF he beat Floyd because we will never be sure.
At lightweight and lightwelterweight its a very close fight and would depend on whether the judges prefer accurate punching, the jab, ring genaralship and defense over activity, pressure, harder punches and body punches. At these two weights, out of a trilogy, l say it's 1-1-1.
At welterwight and 154, l say the bout is 65/35 in Mayweather's favour simply because Duran, while he was still a beast, he wasn't what he was at the lighter weights while Mayweather has gotten better as he moved up. Out of 5 fights, Mayweather wins 3, one is a draw, one is a loss
Durans best shot would be to fight him at ligjtweight, where he was a beast....
the fact that duran was 15 round fighter means nothing against May, who looks just as fresh in the 12th as he does in the 1st
Duran may indeed pressure his way to a Decision, but over the course of 3 fights he would drop the other 2
at 147 and 154, Duran cant catch May
Not saying Duran would win, but Money May has never fought the caliber of fighter as him. Not anyone even close really. Now we can talk strategy or whatever but at the end of the day these are great fighters and whoever is able to impose their will upon each other is the one who will win.
At LW, Duran wins. PBF style vs Duran's style. Look at some of Durans fights at LW. His power, speed, footwork and inside fighting was amazing. PBF never faced anyone who can slip and roll with punches like Duran did. Im not saying that Duran would destroy PBF, because he wont, but I think at LW Duran guts out a victory by UD or late round stoppage/KO. Now anything above LW I think PBF would win.
The thing is a lot of people credit the old school fighters not because of their boxing ability, but for their love outside the ring as well. Look at Muhammad Ali, he is the greatest boxer to ever do it because of his character, his charisma. People may not LIKE Mayweather, but in terms of SKILL he is unmatched. I think no fighter could ever beat Mayweather...
Alot of people always say Duran would slaughter Mayweather.
Is it really that much of a one sided fight? Duran had immense pressure and I'd say hes one of the scariest fighters of all time, but Mayweather wouldn't be THAT intimidated to let it go to his head, hence the trash talk and the boasting about himself.
Tactically, how would Duran beat Mayweather?
