BoxRec

Muhammad Ali and Roberto Duran
Are these two greats have similar careers?

Both started in the 1960s
Both avenged their first loss to their nemesis
Both are considered as the best fighters of their time
Both are considered as the best fighter all-time of their respective weight classes
Both were arrogant and funny
Both legends had a huge following
Both were involved in some of the most controversial fights in history.

Not similar at all, except for that they both always took on the best and are among histories greatest fighters.

The career trajectory and paths were different although I can see where the TS is coming from in posing the question of these 2 ATG's. But totally different careers, although the elements were there of great victories where there was some doubt beforehand (Duran -SRL1 and Ali-Foreman, altho again the difference is many expected Foreman to kill or possibly maim Ali, no one thought that of SRL or Barkley....Ali's decline and fall was relatively swift in comparison with Duran who campaigned at B-C level throughout the 90s before having his Holmes-Berbick moment with Joppy.

Interesting question but answer is no!

I hate when people try to compare Ali to truly great p4p fighters like Duran who was a cut above him.

HomicideHenry wrote:I hate when people try to compare Ali to truly great p4p fighters like Duran who was a cut above him.

Which is why Duran quit embarassed by Benitez and lost to Robbie sims man cmon!!

You must not have been on the BOTP forum very much. On this forum there are always excuses for Duran's losses whereas there are excuses for the guys that Ali beat. So they are different that way.
They each had great careers in their own way. Obviously there are similarities and differences.

Recycle wrote:

HomicideHenry wrote:I hate when people try to compare Ali to truly great p4p fighters like Duran who was a cut above him.

Which is why Duran quit embarassed by Benitez and lost to Robbie sims man cmon!!

Sims? That was a great fight long past Duran's best. That's akin to throwing out Leon Spinks on Ali.

To imagine that Duran or Ali EITHER OF THEM somehow are NOT genuine top shelf, is to rely on emotion for your sensibililty. In the world of the CRANIUM...both of these fighters are greats.

Obviously, that was just a very poor post on Duran. They are both among the 20 or so greatest fighters who have ever lived. Either can easily be placed over the other and both could be in the top 10.

Who goes from being Champion at 135 to Champion at 160? Im not sure but I think Duran is the only guy to ever do this?

scallum wrote:Who goes from being Champion at 135 to Champion at 160? Im not sure but I think Duran is the only guy to ever do this?

Yes! He is the only lightweight champion to become middleweight champ. That speaks lots of volumes.

Some try to say that Oscar De La Hoya did it when faced WBO Middleweight champ Felix Sturm, but to many, the fight was a robbery. And second, the WBO is not a recognized governing body like the WBA or WBC or IBF.

scallum wrote:Who goes from being Champion at 135 to Champion at 160? Im not sure but I think Duran is the only guy to ever do this?

The Rose of Soweto, Dingaan Thobela, had a WBA belt at 135 and later won a WBC belt at 168.

Obviously not a fighter in the class of Roberto Duran, few are, but not a bad accomplishment all the same.

A decent accomplishment, I suppose. However, that speaks volumes about the credibility of these WBS titles. Usually the titleholder is a good fighter, but sometimes he is the only 4th best fighter or worse at that weight class.
There is a big difference between being a true champion (like say Henry Armstrong) and beating a titleholder at multiple weight classes.

Giancarlo wrote:

scallum wrote:Who goes from being Champion at 135 to Champion at 160? Im not sure but I think Duran is the only guy to ever do this?

The Rose of Soweto, Dingaan Thobela, had a WBA belt at 135 and later won a WBC belt at 168.

Obviously not a fighter in the class of Roberto Duran, few are, but not a bad accomplishment all the same.

Leonard won WBC or WBA titles from welter to light heavyweight.

Brute wrote:

Giancarlo wrote:

scallum wrote:Who goes from being Champion at 135 to Champion at 160? Im not sure but I think Duran is the only guy to ever do this?

The Rose of Soweto, Dingaan Thobela, had a WBA belt at 135 and later won a WBC belt at 168.

Obviously not a fighter in the class of Roberto Duran, few are, but not a bad accomplishment all the same.

Leonard won WBC or WBA titles from welter to light heavyweight.

and?