This is the next in my blog series ‘Mythical Matchups’. The bout is between Pernell Whitaker and Roberto Duran. My imaginary bouts all take place in Las Vegas at the Caesar’s Palace Outdoor Arena, with the great Mills Lane as the referee.
Pernell Whitaker was born on January 2, 1964 in Norfolk, Virginia. He had an outstanding amateur boxing career, finishing with a record of 201-12, with 91 knockouts. He won the Olympic gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and turned pro in November of that same year.
‘Sweet Pea’ would capture belts in four separate weight divisions, from lightweight to junior middleweight. He fought his last bout of significance on February 20, 1999 against Felix Trinidad, before hanging up the gloves.
During his tremendous career however, Pernell beat the best of his era, and was given a draw in his mega-bout with Julio Cesar Chavez in September of 1993, which he actually won rather easily. Never afraid of anyone, he was a great champion, and had the boxing skills to give any fighter trouble.
Roberto Duran was born on June 16, 1951 in Guarare, Panama. He had an amateur record of 29-3, with all three of his losses coming in his first three bouts.
His first pro bout at age 16 in February of 1968. He won his first 31 fights, and defeated Ken Buchanan in June of 1972 at Madison Square Garden in New York City in the 13th round. He left the lightweight division in February of 1979 after dominating that weight class for 6 plus years. He won the welterweight belt in June of 1980 by winning a decision over Sugar Ray Leonard. In June of 1983 he stopped Davey Moore to win his third belt at junior-middleweight before a huge crowd at the Garden in New York City. In February of 1989, he upset Iran Barkley to win his fourth title at middleweight in a classic brawl in Atlantic City.
Roberto hung on way too long, before finally retiring in 2001, shortly after his 50th birthday. His final record stands at 103-16, with 70 knockouts.
In his prime, Duran was as rough and tough a fighter as there ever was. He had a great chin, and terrific punching power, and was also as dirty as he was talented.
His fight with Whitaker takes place at 147 pounds, where both men boxed for a good period of their career.
Duran fanatics won’t like my opinion, but Pernell would have been too slick for Duran. He would have slid off the ropes, landed enough combinations to frustrate the Panamanian madman, and driven him crazy. Whitaker was also southpaw, had a great chin, and would have avoided the mad-rushing Duran’s bull tactics. ‘Sweet Pea’ by unanimous decision.
This stuff is all for fun and for entertainment only, and if people disagree, that’s fine with me. It’s my blog and my website, to I stick to my call with Pernell the winner. It certainly would have been fun to watch however, and given fans their money’s worth.
Sadly, Pernell got run over by a car and died on July 14, 1969. He was inducted in the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006 in the same class with Roberto Duran. On a different note, if you’ve never been to Canastota, New York to visit Boxing’s Hall of Fame, do yourself a favor and go. You won’t be disappointed.
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