Great Fighters beaten by a Journeyman when in their prime.

[young_robbed]

Cuevas, Moore, Hagler, Leonard, Hearns, Barkley, Sims.... All excellent quality opponents who Duran fought and fought well against. Duran had been a pro boxer 8yrs when he fought Kirkland Laing and lost. He then fought for another 19yrs.. Duran was over-the-hill when he fought Pazienza, Castro, Camacho, Joppy but he was nowhere near over-the-hill in 1982 when losing to Laing a defeat which was only 18 months after his greatest ever career performance beating Ray Leonard in Montreal.

Cuevas was nothing special by the time Duran got to him, and Sims wasn't either. Moore was a very good fighter and that's one of Duran's best wins... I don't think he was in shape or at his best against Laing or Benitez. That's all. And for the majority of those fights you listed (moore cuevas hagler hearns barkley sims) he was not in his ideal weight class. He was at his best 135-147. Not 154 or middleweight.

[sonnyboyx2]

Cuevas was nothing special by the time Duran got to him, and Sims wasn't either. Moore was a very good fighter and that's one of Duran's best wins... I don't think he was in shape or at his best against Laing or Benitez. That's all. And for the majority of those fights you listed (moore cuevas hagler hearns barkley sims) he was not in his ideal weight class. He was at his best 135-147. Not 154 or middleweight.

a lot of what you say i agree with, my opinion is Duran's greatest career performance outside of Montreal was losing by a point over 15rds to Marvin Hagler and that was at 160 although both fighters are small by comparison to today's middleweights. Duran's victory over Iran Barkley was quite incredible considering Barkley was at his ultimate peak at that particular time. Having recently beaten Michael Olajide in 5rds, Thomas Hearns in 3rds before losing to Duran in FOTY then going on to lose a very close decision to undefeated Michael Nunn 6 months later..

[young_robbed]

a lot of what you say i agree with, my opinion is Duran's greatest career performance outside of Montreal was losing by a point over 15rds to Marvin Hagler and that was at 160 although both fighters are small by comparison to today's middleweights. Duran's victory over Iran Barkley was quite incredible considering Barkley was at his ultimate peak at that particular time. Having recently beaten Michael Olajide in 5rds, Thomas Hearns in 3rds before losing to Duran in FOTY then going on to lose a very close decision to undefeated Michael Nunn 6 months later..

If you think a losing effort against Hagler is better than his performances against Buchanan, De Jesus, Moore, Palomino, or Brooks, then idk what to say. Hagler for me won that fight by a lot more than a single point, that's pretty crazy scoring.

[sonnyboyx2]

If you think a losing effort against Hagler is better than his performances against Buchanan, De Jesus, Moore, Palomino, or Brooks, then idk what to say. Hagler for me won that fight by a lot more than a single point, that's pretty crazy scoring.

Davey Moore win was AFTER his loss to Laing. Buchanan, DeJesus, Palomino & Brooks although all very good fighters they pale in comparison to Cuevas, Leonard, Hearns, Moore, Barkley & Hagler.. Duran's loss to Hagler was a razor-thin decision, with Hagler rallying in the final round to snatch victory out of the jaws of defeat. Duran actually fought that final round as if he thought he had already done enough to win the fight... i can remember both fighters waiting in their corners for the judges decision, with Hagler having a badly swollen right eye, cut lip and bruised up face. While Duran looked unmarked, Duran shouted across the ring to Hagler, "You No Marvelous".. Hagler glared at him and turned away. Duran had been brilliant on the night, his in-fighting and body punching the best i have ever seen. Marvin Hagler had to be sore for weeks after that fight...You obviously don't feel he was in his prime in 1982 whereas i do. i feel he just lost focus for those two defeats to Benitez & Laing..

[Scott9945]

Davey Moore win was AFTER his loss to Laing. Buchanan, DeJesus, Palomino & Brooks although all very good fighters they pale in comparison to Cuevas, Leonard, Hearns, Moore, Barkley & Hagler.. Duran's loss to Hagler was a razor-thin decision, with Hagler rallying in the final round to snatch victory out of the jaws of defeat. Duran actually fought that final round as if he thought he had already done enough to win the fight... i can remember both fighters waiting in their corners for the judges decision, with Hagler having a badly swollen right eye, cut lip and bruised up face. While Duran looked unmarked, Duran shouted across the ring to Hagler, "You No Marvelous".. Hagler glared at him and turned away. Duran had been brilliant on the night, his in-fighting and body punching the best i have ever seen. Marvin Hagler had to be sore for weeks after that fight...You obviously don't feel he was in his prime in 1982 whereas i do. i feel he just lost focus for those two defeats to Benitez & Laing..

Buchannan and Dejesus absolutely do NOT pale in comparison to a washed up Cuevas and an inexperienced Moore. They were outstanding fighters in their prime. Everyone else besides you know that Hagler-Duran wasn't nearly as close as those cards showed.

[rightsideup]

Davey Moore win was AFTER his loss to Laing. Buchanan, DeJesus, Palomino & Brooks although all very good fighters they pale in comparison to Cuevas, Leonard, Hearns, Moore, Barkley & Hagler.. Duran's loss to Hagler was a razor-thin decision, with Hagler rallying in the final round to snatch victory out of the jaws of defeat. Duran actually fought that final round as if he thought he had already done enough to win the fight... i can remember both fighters waiting in their corners for the judges decision, with Hagler having a badly swollen right eye, cut lip and bruised up face. While Duran looked unmarked, Duran shouted across the ring to Hagler, "You No Marvelous".. Hagler glared at him and turned away. Duran had been brilliant on the night, his in-fighting and body punching the best i have ever seen. Marvin Hagler had to be sore for weeks after that fight...You obviously don't feel he was in his prime in 1982 whereas i do. i feel he just lost focus for those two defeats to Benitez & Laing..

I am a big Duran fan and yes Marvin Looked like he lost based on his appearance but not on the action. He lost the last round because he was spent and although giving a good account of himself the scoring was skewed in his direction because of sentiment. To me it was a 9-6 in marvins favor he simply outworked Duran.

[rightsideup]

Davey Moore win was AFTER his loss to Laing. Buchanan, DeJesus, Palomino & Brooks although all very good fighters they pale in comparison to Cuevas, Leonard, Hearns, Moore, Barkley & Hagler.. Duran's loss to Hagler was a razor-thin decision, with Hagler rallying in the final round to snatch victory out of the jaws of defeat. Duran actually fought that final round as if he thought he had already done enough to win the fight... i can remember both fighters waiting in their corners for the judges decision, with Hagler having a badly swollen right eye, cut lip and bruised up face. While Duran looked unmarked, Duran shouted across the ring to Hagler, "You No Marvelous".. Hagler glared at him and turned away. Duran had been brilliant on the night, his in-fighting and body punching the best i have ever seen. Marvin Hagler had to be sore for weeks after that fight...You obviously don't feel he was in his prime in 1982 whereas i do. i feel he just lost focus for those two defeats to Benitez & Laing..

Buchannan and Dejesus absolutely do NOT pale in comparison to a washed up Cuevas and an inexperienced Moore. They were outstanding fighters in their prime. Everyone else besides you know that Hagler-Duran wasn't nearly as close as those cards showed.

You can add Palimino to the list of impressive victories that outweigh the cuevas win. Although the Pipino win looked impressive he lost his ability to take a shot. Duran's performance against Palimino while not a knockout was impressive as there was a knockdown and a master boxing exhibition against a fighter not far off his prime and naturally a bigger Man.

[Scott9945]

You can add Palimino to the list of impressive victories that outweigh the cuevas win. Although the Pipino win looked impressive he lost his ability to take a shot. Duran's performance against Palimino while not a knockout was impressive as there was a knockdown and a master boxing exhibition against a fighter not far off his prime and naturally a bigger Man.

I agree. The Palomino win was an excellent performance for Duran as Carlos was much closer to his best weight and prime than Cuevas was.

[rightsideup]

Cuevas was nothing special by the time Duran got to him, and Sims wasn't either. Moore was a very good fighter and that's one of Duran's best wins... I don't think he was in shape or at his best against Laing or Benitez. That's all. And for the majority of those fights you listed (moore cuevas hagler hearns barkley sims) he was not in his ideal weight class. He was at his best 135-147. Not 154 or middleweight.

The Barkly fight was impressive and fight of the year. Could have gone either way and BOTH fighters were impressive and gave a tremendous effort. Some people consider Holyfield Dokes the fight of the year at that time but I think while Dokes did better than people expected I thought it was not as closely contested and action-packed as Duran Barkly. Duran Sims was entertaining but Duran came in too heavy and tired. The Benitez fight puzzles me as Duran looked to be in excellent condition physically but intimidated mentally. Many people have commented that Wilfred took this fight more seriously than any of his others and trained to the highest level of his career.

[joseph5620]

You can add Palimino to the list of impressive victories that outweigh the cuevas win. Although the Pipino win looked impressive he lost his ability to take a shot. Duran's performance against Palimino while not a knockout was impressive as there was a knockdown and a master boxing exhibition against a fighter not far off his prime and naturally a bigger Man.

I think it far outweighs the Cuevas win too. I have never looked at the Cuevas fight as one of Duran's better victories based on when the fought. The Palomino fight is a different story. That was very impressive.