Probably my favorite boxer of all time, some people tend to underrate his achievements at times and underrate some of his more impressive wins. Heres a quick look over his career and who he beat.
-Ernesto Marcel-Duran KOed him at 130lbs, his first significant victory in his long career. Marcel would go on to become featherweight champ, beating none other than Alexis Arguello right before Arguello would go on his destructive reign
-Hiroshi Kobayashi-Duran KOed him a mere 3 months after Kobayashi had been super featherweight champ
-Ken Buchanan-One of the best Lightweights ever and reigning Lightweight champ, HOF
-Hector Thompson-top 5 at 140lbs, Duran fought him at 135lbs
-Guts Ishimatsu-future WBC titlist, would become champ 7 months after the Duran loss
-Esteban DeJesus-future WBC titlist, #1 at Lightweight
-Ray Lampkin-#1 win at Lightweight
-Leoncio Ortiz-top 10 at 140lbs, Duran fought him at 135lbs
-Saoul Mamby-future titlist at 140lbs
-Lou Bizzaro-top 5 at 140lbs, Duran fought him at 135lbs
-Vilomar Fernandez-top 5 at Lightweight, would beat ATG Alexis Arguello shorterly after
-Edwin Viruetx2-top 3 at Lightweight
-Esteban DeJesus-#1 at Lightweight
-Monroe Brooks-top 5 at 140lbs, Duran fought him at WW
-Carlos Palomino-former lineal champ, HOF, top 3 at WW
-Joseph Nsubuga-top 10 at WW
-Ray Leonard-at least top 15 ATG, arguably 2nd best ever WW, reigning lineal champ
-Pipino Cuevas-HOF, but past prime
-Davey Moore-top 3 at JMW, would go on to KO Benitez
-Iran Barkley-top 3 at MW, had just KOed Thomas Hearns
-Jorge Fernando Castro-top 5 at MW, Duran was 46 years old and fighting at 168lbs
His win over Leonard might be one of the best single wins in the history of boxing, all things considered.
-Ernesto Marcel-Duran KOed him at 130lbs, his first significant victory in his long career. Marcel would go on to become featherweight champ, beating none other than Alexis Arguello right before Arguello would go on his destructive reign
-Hiroshi Kobayashi-Duran KOed him a mere 3 months after Kobayashi had been super featherweight champ
-Ken Buchanan-One of the best Lightweights ever and reigning Lightweight champ, HOF
-Hector Thompson-top 5 at 140lbs, Duran fought him at 135lbs
-Guts Ishimatsu-future WBC titlist, would become champ 7 months after the Duran loss
-Esteban DeJesus-future WBC titlist, #1 at Lightweight
-Ray Lampkin-#1 win at Lightweight
-Leoncio Ortiz-top 10 at 140lbs, Duran fought him at 135lbs
-Saoul Mamby-future titlist at 140lbs
-Lou Bizzaro-top 5 at 140lbs, Duran fought him at 135lbs
-Vilomar Fernandez-top 5 at Lightweight, would beat ATG Alexis Arguello shorterly after
-Edwin Viruetx2-top 3 at Lightweight
-Esteban DeJesus-#1 at Lightweight
-Monroe Brooks-top 5 at 140lbs, Duran fought him at WW
-Carlos Palomino-former lineal champ, HOF, top 3 at WW
-Joseph Nsubuga-top 10 at WW
-Ray Leonard-at least top 15 ATG, arguably 2nd best ever WW, reigning lineal champ
-Pipino Cuevas-HOF, but past prime
-Davey Moore-top 3 at JMW, would go on to KO Benitez
-Iran Barkley-top 3 at MW, had just KOed Thomas Hearns
-Jorge Fernando Castro-top 5 at MW, Duran was 46 years old and fighting at 168lbs
His win over Leonard might be one of the best single wins in the history of boxing, all things considered.
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