BoxRec

15 rounds-160 lbs.

Surely, Foulmer loved them past prime welterweights, but his crooked style would be an invitation for Duran to whoop him.

Hands of Stone by dec or late TKO.

Either both Fullmer and Duran outhustle one another to take a decision in a classic war.

The great Gene Fullmer wins. It's ironic, but a lot of people think of Fullmer as a brute. The guy was one of the smartest fighters of his era. Always in great condition.

If he tries to outhustled the great Roberto Duran, he loses by UD. But, Fullmer knowing of Duran's style, he will not be in a toe to toe warfare. He would run circles and outbox Duran.

He will mix it up. Sometimes using his upper body and physical strength on the Hands of Stone. Then, he switches to boxer.

Fullmer was the most conditioned of the two at 160.

If Duran came to fight, this would be similar to the Fullmer-Basilio fights. Lots of action, but eventually Fullmer would wear him down. Fullmer could go all out as long he needed to.

Duran in tip top shape, and as ready as could be as a Middleweight could certainly hold his own with Fullmer, and possibly take a decision. But I think Fullmer would've beaten Duran more often than not.

The great Gene Fullmer is the only fighter I know that fought the opposite of the style.

If a guy came to fight a swarming style with him, he would used his boxing skills.

If the guy was a boxer, then Fullmer would be all over him, putting an extra amount of pressure.

A very smart fighter, Fullmer. He was not given credit for his versatility.

This would've been a truly interesting clash of special level HOF Boxers.
Fulmer is the naturally bigger boxer in this one, even though he's only maybe an inch taller, at 5'8.
I saw Duran listed as 5'7 usually, and sometimes listed at 5'7-1/2(The Hagler bout).
His reach was usually listed at 66" or 67". Fulmer's reach I'm actually not certain. I'd guess between 68-70.
He's definitely naturally the bigger boxer. Naturally stronger and bigger boned.
Imo, I see this one likely looking like an even match, at least for a good 10 rounds.

Does it remain an even match if they have a 12 or 15 round bout..? That's the main factor I think.
It might, or one or the other out lands and out brawls or out boxes the other even if ever so slightly to take the win.
Logic may tell us that Fulmer would finish stronger and Duran would fade just enough to lose the championship rounds,
Like he did versus Hagler. I see Duran letting loose more for this bout than he did versus the scarier and more dangerous opponent in Hagler. Fulmer, even though is physically stronger than Duran, he simply doesn't present that extra level threat of brutality that Hagler did.

Duran would therefore let his hands of stone fly more freely, and I think that We would see a furious back and forth brawl-fest exchange right to the final bell, even in a 15 rounder.
One judge would have it 145-144 Duran, one would have it 145-144 Fulmer, and the third judge would see it 145-145.
A Draw.

AngryGoon38 wrote: ↑08 Feb 2023, 07:05 This would've been a truly interesting clash of special level HOF Boxers.
Fulmer is the naturally bigger boxer in this one, even though he's only maybe an inch taller, at 5'8.
I saw Duran listed as 5'7 usually, and sometimes listed at 5'7-1/2(The Hagler bout).
His reach was usually listed at 66" or 67". Fulmer's reach I'm actually not certain. I'd guess between 68-70.
He's definitely naturally the bigger boxer. Naturally stronger and bigger boned.
Imo, I see this one likely looking like an even match, at least for a good 10 rounds.

Does it remain an even match if they have a 12 or 15 round bout..? That's the main factor I think.
It might, or one or the other out lands and out brawls or out boxes the other even if ever so slightly to take the win.
Logic may tell us that Fulmer would finish stronger and Duran would fade just enough to lose the championship rounds,
Like he did versus Hagler. I see Duran letting loose more for this bout than he did versus the scarier and more dangerous opponent in Hagler. Fulmer, even though is physically stronger than Duran, he simply doesn't present that extra level threat of brutality that Hagler did.

Duran would therefore let his hands of stone fly more freely, and I think that We would see a furious back and forth brawl-fest exchange right to the final bell, even in a 15 rounder.
One judge would have it 145-144 Duran, one would have it 145-144 Fulmer, and the third judge would see it 145-145.
A Draw.

Good points. And it could happen. I can see that scenario. Two rugged and tough SOBs going toe to toe.

I can see the great Roberto Duran winning at least one fight or 2 of a 3-fight series against the great Gene Fullmer.

How do you see it in a series, AngryGoon? Who wins this 3-fight series?

As great as Duran was he was just not a middleweight.
Fulmer wins in a brutal war.
Duran stands a chance with anyone and everyone 147 or below. Just not a middleweight.
Great great fighter but there are weight divisions for a reason

The favorite of this fight is the great Gene Fullmer, no doubt about it. He was a superb conditioned athlete, always in great shape for any fight.

I believe that his upper body strength and relentlessness would make the fight very ugly. Like I said before, Fullmer was a very smart fighter. Against guys that can brawl, like the great Carmen Basilio, he boxes and goes around in circles and give angles in his attack. Against a boxer, like the great Sugar Ray Robinson and Benny Paret, he would suffocate those types of fighters by giving them a relentless non stop assault.

It's in the later rounds from 13th to 15th, the championship rounds were Fullmer will have the better stamina. He is not knocking Duran out, but he will win by decision.

At least, I think a well-prepared Duran would win at least 1 fight of the trilogy.

tiny_acres wrote: ↑08 Feb 2023, 12:21 As great as Duran was he was just not a middleweight.
Fulmer wins in a brutal war.
Duran stands a chance with anyone and everyone 147 or below. Just not a middleweight.
Great great fighter but there are weight divisions for a reason

Duran would've won by SD versus Hagler in they're 1983 15 rounder, had it been a 12 rounder.

Duran won a 12 round decision victory versus Barkley in 1989. Almost Tko'd the Blade in that 11th round.

Duran Took Iran's best punches in the early goings, and they were Hard Ko Type punches.
The type that flattened Hearns in 1988.
Duran definitely did a 360 between the 1984 Hearns bout and the 1989 Barkley bout.
Yes, Yes, I already know, styles make fights, but it's so obvious sometimes when a particular boxer is at 50% compared to they're 100%. Unfortunately this is what became of Duran due to his apparent lack of Consistency via inconsistent motivation.

Now, to Elmers question, in a 3 bout hypothetical trilogy scenario, Roberto Duran versus Gene Fulmer, a big rugged brute of a MW, even only at 5'8, I like Duran's chances in literally every bout. Simply based on size based leverages. Fulmer is Strong and tough with an endless gas-tank, and he's obviously very durable. His punching power is only maybe slightly above average though. Personally I would say Barkley had about 10-15% more pop in his offensive barrage. SRR managed to Ko Fulmer in 1957. Which is extremely impressive to me. Probably even a bigger deal than Hearns ko'ing an obviously unprepared Duran in 1984.

With that said, I definitely see Duran-Fulmer basically always going the distance and being very competitive, ala Canelo-Golovkin type of match scenario. Who gets the better of the overall trilogy probably would be more to do with location of the bout than the exact compu-box stats. That's my personal take on it anyway. Example, the Duran-Castro bouts in 1997. They both looked like draws imo. Castro was given the nod in they're first bout, held in Argentina, and then Duran was given the nod in they're return bout held in Panama, so there you go.

Also, The 1986 bout where Robbie Simms was given the nod versus Duran wasn't fair. That bout looked like a Draw to me. They wanted Duran to be a jobber/gatekeeper at that particular point in time. Also similar, And then some, was Then Superstar John Duddy battling it out versus Rugged veteran Yory Boy Campos, and almost getting tko'd towards the end. But getting awarded a big-time gift decision. Because of Boxing Politics obviously.

tiny_acres wrote: ↑08 Feb 2023, 12:21 As great as Duran was he was just not a middleweight.
Fulmer wins in a brutal war.
Duran stands a chance with anyone and everyone 147 or below. Just not a middleweight.
Great great fighter but there are weight divisions for a reason

Agreed.

Fullmer was very tough but Duran - a pound-for-pound ATG - was better. I pick Roberto by decision.

Fullmer UD.

At middleweight, would have to lean towards Fullmer. Yes Duran was a dirty fighter, but Fullmer could eal with that. Fullmer fought so many tough opponents like Robinson, Giardello, Jones, turner, jones etc. He was used to dealing with anything.