Is Roberto Duran the best lightweight of all time?

[joseph5620]

He may have had said that immediately after the fight duran was a mean guy but I read he visited
Ray afterwards

Yeah to be honest I was surprised when I read it. Underneath the evil facade I have read about a lot of good things Duran has done for others. I know he also visited Dejesus in the hospital when he was dying from AIDS.

[joeandthebums]

I know he also visited Dejesus in the hospital when he was dying from AIDS.

He did so at a time when hysteria about how the disease was contracted was prevalent.



The photo was taken by Jose Torres.

[billeau2]

He did so at a time when hysteria about how the disease was contracted was prevalent.



The photo was taken by Jose Torres.

Wow! thats really a wonderful testiment to Duran, very touching and...very brave considering what people thought about transmission of the HIV virus. Great find JB.

[Suckmedry]

I rate Duran, Floyd, Whitaker and James Toney as the most skilful guys in the ring of all time. Any of these guys is technical brilliance defined.

[DannyNL]

Personally, I would take Sweet Pea over Duran any day of the week.

No knock on Duran, I just think Pernell was on another level.

[BennyST]

I found this article and thought the hardc0re Duran fans here might enjoy it:

I'm amazed that his Ernesto Marcel win gets so overlooked. The guy rates wins over Lampkin, Viruet, Ishimatsu, Thompson etc over Marcel. Not that they aren't great wins, but Marcel was a special fighter, if not so well known. Easily one of Duran's greatest underrated wins.

[rightsideup]

I'm amazed that his Ernesto Marcel win gets so overlooked. The guy rates wins over Lampkin, Viruet, Ishimatsu, Thompson etc over Marcel. Not that they aren't great wins, but Marcel was a special fighter, if not so well known. Easily one of Duran's greatest underrated wins.

Duran himself says his fights in Panama are a undervalued part of his career

[Scott9945]

I'm amazed that his Ernesto Marcel win gets so overlooked. The guy rates wins over Lampkin, Viruet, Ishimatsu, Thompson etc over Marcel. Not that they aren't great wins, but Marcel was a special fighter, if not so well known. Easily one of Duran's greatest underrated wins.

Marcel was an excellent fighter whose early retirement still baffles me. A great victory for Duran.

[BennyST]

Marcel was an excellent fighter whose early retirement still baffles me. A great victory for Duran.

Yeah, it was a weird one. Only 24 or something crazy from memory. Already had a HOF level career and a lot of big fights on the horizon.

[Panamaniac]

Personally, I would take Sweet Pea over Duran any day of the week.

No knock on Duran, I just think Pernell was on another level.

Pernell was a yawn-inducing defensive counter-puncher, Duran was an aggressive, power-punching, exciting crowd-pleaser. So I agree, Pernell was on another level...