Roberto Duran is literally the most overrated boxer in history

[hugh grant]

Fighting everyone means nothing you have to actually win the fights. Fighters aren’t ranked based on who they fought they are ranked based on who they beat. He was 1-4 against Hagler Hearns Leonard.

Fighting and beating people past prime means very little also. But at least fighting ATGs in their primes who were bigger shows you didn't duck a challenge even if you lose

[Mikeh333]

I believe he’s 1-4 against Hearns Hagler SRL.. He couldn’t handle them 3 American boys and by todays standards he beat a green and inexperienced SRL according to those who ranked Floyd’s win over Canelo. The second fight with SRL he quit. The third fight was one of the worse fights in boxing history. Got knocked out cold by Hearns in less than 5mins. When speaking of his resume his fans usually use his split decision win of Iran Barkley as one of his best wins. People tend to overrate things of the past due to nostalgia. If he were an American in this era his resume would be picked apart by critics.

You’re probably right about the difference if Duran were American, though I am unsure why critics treat him differently. What is Roberto Duran’s appeal after all these years, exactly? I mean, clearly he was a great fighter (witness his work as a lightweight) but nowhere near the best of his era. After his loss to Leonard, he won two fights of consequence, and neither of the opponents were close to elite. His post-prime was far longer than his actual prime.

Was it because he was uncompromisingly masculine? In what way? His cruel, sneering mockery of his opponents in victory, his sulking bitterness in defeat? His surrender in the biggest fight of his life? His gluttony and laziness, which caused him to be out of shape in some of the biggest fights of his career, effectively conceding the fights before they even began? Clearly Duran was a man who, at times, preferred to self-sabotage and lose, rather than put in the work and risk losing at his best.

Frankly, I wonder if Duran’s politics, which were generally anti-American, is what makes him appeal to American journalists. These are the same people, after all, who let Muhammad Ali get away with saying the most outrageous things, because they agreed with his politics and his social outlook. Maybe that’s the reason why Duran is remembered so fondly today. I am not sure.

[djtmal]

He couldn’t handle them 3 American boys and by todays standards he beat a green and inexperienced SRL according to those who ranked Floyd’s win over Canelo.

Stopped reading after this.

Gtfoh. Really need to get your head out Floyds azz

[STREET CLEANER]

Duran is an ATG. His technic at LW was excellent and he went up in weight and fought the pinnacle with mixed success. Gave Hagler a good close fight when he was in his peak and a bigger guy. The Barkley win was outstanding and a good win against Davey Moore.

When Duran was motivated and in shape he was something to watch, he was lazy and sometimes unmotivated.

[Science]

Duran is very overrated...I think Julio Cesar Chavez is more overrated though. Nobody looks at either of these guys fight and are overwhelmed by their skillset. Duran's claim to fame was weight jumping and taking on bigger foes. Chavez's is fighting nobodies in Mexico and padding his record.