The Two best Lightweight Champions of the last 50 years or so.

The Southpaw defensive master vs the Slugger/Boxer. Speed IMO is about even. Strength is pretty even though Duran hits much harder. Whitaker being a Southie is an advantage just because it takes some time to adjust to it.

Can Whitaker get Duran`s respect enough to gain room to box? Can Duran torture the body enough to slow Pea`s movement down?

I got Duran by split decision with a KD.

Duran's about the only other lightweight who could beat Whitaker. This is a great fight, a beautiful contrast of styles. Duran's gonna hit Whitaker more than he's ever been hit in a single fight, and Whitaker's still gonna make Duran miss more than he ever has. It could go either way, but I like Duran's power to make the difference, when at their primes, they were supremely skilled equally, just in different ways. There's no way anyone gets stopped.

Very tough to call. Whitaker would have given him serious fits, but I'll go with Duran by MD.

If Ramirez can beat him by Split
Duran should win by unanimous decision

Ramirez never came close to beating Whitaker.

Duran would, but he'd fall short, too, for mine. Whitaker on a narrow decision.

In terms of style, I think it's not a bad match up for Whitaker. However, Duran will apply just enough pressure to win by close decision.

Done to death, still taking the GOAT.

Duran by UD, 10-5ish with a couple kd's. Ray Leonard couldn't keep the king off of him, I love Whitaker but he has a long night with his back on the ropes trying to counter the master of violence.

The biggest difference to me is that Duran will probably be walking through anything Whitaker throws, while if Duran catches Whitaker with anything flush, he'll rattle him for sure. It'll be highly competitive, but Duran wins decisively.

Duran beats everyone, except for Hearns. these are just facts that my beer just told me. Never argue with the beer.

There are just some guys who are useless to do MM's with. Duran is one of them. Some people have him over everyone from 135-154.

Among the silliness is Duran over Mike McCallum. LOL

That's a close fight, it would depend on his condition. If he wasn't 100%, Mccallum could pull the upset.

The Duran from Montreal kicks your boy Tommy's ass.

Duran was a truly special talent, but I believe, too, he is over-rated in general.

He's no Primo Carnera.

I could see either man winning, or Pea losing/drawing in a fight purists howl over as a win. In battles between great offense and defense, defense usually trumps.

Lucky for Duran that he had a great defense then.

And Whitaker had solid offense...but each was better at one than the other.

Huh ? Did you even see that fight ?

I'd take Duran's combination over Pea's, without question. To suggest it's a battle of offense vs defense is to ignore what made Duran that great. It's a tough night for him but Duran would best him.

I pondered that outcome, myself. There's no doubt who the more popular man would be, & Whitaker would have to win more convincingly than would Duran to earn a decision.

Of course, in the perfect world of MMs, we don't have to worry about that. In reality, Whitaker might've.

who needs to see fights
when all the answers are found on BoxRec.com?

Yikes.

I think if they fought 3 times Pea would win one. They would all be very close.

I don't see any version of Duran beating the Hearns that KO'd him at 154. The only man from 147-160 who could've taken the punch Hearns flattened Duran with was probably Marvin Hagler.

I cant think of too many Lightweight Champions that have also won the Middleweight Title. He climbed the scale pretty impressivley. Even in a losing effort against Marvin Hagler he showed why he was a legend.

This is what Hagler said before their fight in 1983..." Duran is a very gutsy fighter. He`ll fight anybody and I admire that. Guys like Hearns, Benitez and Leonard, if I hadnt been Middleweight champ wouldve been up here. Instead theyve all been sitting on the fence like a bunch of vultures waiting for me to get old or get beat or retire, wondering who will be the fool to go against Marvin Hagler first. Whatever you say about Duran at least he wasnt afraid to fight me."

Coming from Hagler thats alot of respect.

I don't think Duran gives Tommy that shot if he was focused and prepared. I will say tha by 154lbs, Duran had lost more than he had even at 47lbs. Not to mention Tommy's dimensions were ridiculous and it would be tough for Duran to overcome that. At 147lbs, it would have been a great fight.

I dont think Tommy`s legs were as sturdy at 147lbs. That coupled with the fact that Duran`s speed and condition was better as a Welter at least in his first few years there. Its a good fight that might go either way but Duran brought alot of heat.

Duran by decision.