Roberto Duran's best middleweight effort ?

[goose 5]

Was it his loss to Marvin Hagler or his victory over Iran Barkley ?

[DrDuke]

Both fights were close, but not arguable with the decisions. Hagler was obviously better than Barkley. But Duran was older by the Barkley fight. While Barkley kayoed Hearns, who had kayoed Duran himself, so Barkley bout could look kinda more suicidal for Duran. Hagler was an undisputed champion, their fight with Duran was bigger. But Barkley fight was more entertaining. The thing is, Duran was obviously more worn down by the Barkley fight, so probably it was a tougher challenge for him. Eventually it was Duran's last hurrah. I gotta go with the Barkley bout.

[AntonioMartin]

Barkley..

[bwu]

Both were great efforts. Candidly, I think there are legitimate arguments that Duran lost the Barkley fight, but I thought he edged it and I would pick that one over Hagler.

Interestingly, I’m not sure either was his top middleweight performance. His split decision loss to Robbie Sims in ‘86 was actually very strong.

[DrDuke]

His split decision loss to Robbie Sims in ‘86 was actually very strong.

Btw, that's where decision was arguable indeed.

[elmersalsa]

To me, his win over Iran Barkley got to put Roberto Duran amongst the 5 best fighters pound per pound ever. I have not seen nothing close to it. The way he won that fight, and at the age of 37 being considered washed up, is one of the greatest accomplishments in boxing.

Seventeen years apart of his lightweight days, he becomes middleweight champion. Ridiculously remarkable! There are no words to explain it.

If he would have beaten a prime Marvelous in '83 after he beat Davey Moore, there would have been arguments of who is the greatest boxer ever between he, Sugar Ray Robinson, and Henry Armstrong.

Man!, if he could have won one of the last 3 rounds with Marvelous! Damn!

[f read]

The Iran Barkley fight was surely his greatest at middleweight. This took place February 24 1989 in a raging snowstorm at Atlantic City. I was thinking of going there as i only live 75 miles away but the weather stopped me. Barkley was a large middleweight and Duran stymied him throughout the fight. Duran is without a doubt a top 5-10 pound for pound boxer of all time. This is one of his greatest and he was 37 years of age at this time.

[harrygreb]

been watching tons of duran lately. what an incredible fighter. but I think he must have been a bit crazy. he looked so bad against Kirkland laing. clearly hadn't trained. and then he fights brilliantly against moore and onwards towards the middleweight greats. barkley must be his greatest triumph. the hagler bout shows what a complete competitor he was.
probably the best lightweight ever - has to be top 10 of all time