BoxRec

In the 70s decade, we had in almost every weight class a formidable champion. Most of them dominated by Latin fighters. It was the era of the Latin Connection Invasion.

What if WBA World Jr. Welterweight Champion, Antonio Cervantes, would have fought the great Roberto Duran at 140lbs or the great Jose "Mantequilla" Napoles at 147lbs...Let's say in 1972 or 1973.

Cervantes was a terrific fighter with a hell of a punch. Especially, that lefth hook he had. He could have been a big dangerous opponent for these two.

Who wins

I think Cervantes knocks Duran down with a left hook early but Duran wears him down and KO's him late rounds, ala De Jesus. A Cervantes-Napoles match in 1973-75, when Cervantes was beating Locche, Peppermint Frazer, Giminez, Furuyama, and handing a one-sided beating to Estaban De Jesus and Napoles was still beating the best (besides the Monzon fight) would have been amazing, and IMO, close