Duran vs Barkley should be studied for its mastery

[them_apples]

Its one of those fights where the commentating got it wrong and needs to be turned off. Duran was brutally cunning in his dismantling of Barkley. He got caught with one good left hook in all of it, but surgically busted Barkley up - in a feigned play of fatigue and switch and bait. He stumbles around while slipping punches like a mongoose, luring Barkley to fight more aggressively thinking Duran was weak.

duran slips and rolls punches, taking the steam off shots and planting well timed flush shots and creating space for himself to land incredibly hard on Barkley.

[Tatabanya]

Its one of those fights where the commentating got it wrong and needs to be turned off. Duran was brutally cunning in his dismantling of Barkley. He got caught with one good left hook in all of it, but surgically busted Barkley up - in a feigned play of fatigue and switch and bait. He stumbles around while slipping punches like a mongoose, luring Barkley to fight more aggressively thinking Duran was weak.

duran slips and rolls punches, taking the steam off shots and planting well timed flush shots and creating space for himself to land incredibly hard on Barkley.

It was indeed a masterful performance by Manos De Piedra, one of my favorite fights of him.

[kara]

It was indeed a masterful performance by Manos De Piedra, one of my favorite fights of him.

Ironically Toney's fight with Barkley was another piece of art

[Tatabanya]

Ironically Toney's fight with Barkley was another piece of art

Yes, Barkley was often involved in fights to remember, either on the wrong side or the right one (see vs Hearns I, yet another of my favorites...)

[IronDanHamza]

Ironically Toney's fight with Barkley was another piece of art

Or maybe Barkley is just an average fighter?

[GhostofDempsey]

Or maybe Barkley is just an average fighter?

So average that he beat Hearns twice. He was an inconsistent fighter, but when he brought it, he was a tough opponent for anyone. His fights with Duran and Toney were great fights and from a fan's perspective it doesn't get much better.

[IronDanHamza]

So average that he beat Hearns twice. He was an inconsistent fighter, but when he brought it, he was a tough opponent for anyone. His fights with Duran and Toney were great fights and from a fan's perspective it doesn't get much better.

Yeah he beat a passed it Tommy Hearn’s twice, nice one. Who else did he beat? What’s his next best win? Darren Van Horn?

And the second fight with Hearns was an either way fight aswell.

Jeff Horn beat Manny Pacquaio. Zahir Raheem beat Erik Morales. Larry Donald beat Evander Holyfield. Leon Spinks beat Muhammad Ali. Are these any better than average fighters?

Iran Barkley was an average fighter, AT BEST. Outside of a passed it Hearns he lost to every single half decent fighter he fought.

[QueensburyRules]

Ironically Toney's fight with Barkley was another piece of art

- - Ridiculous!

Barkley entered the ring with a clearly damaged eye that never should've passed a fight physical save this is boxing and blubber Toney won the lotto with that fight.

Duran would've beat up Blubber Toney within an inch of his blubber life had each Barkley version fought each other.

[them_apples]

Or maybe Barkley is just an average fighter?

I'll actually agree with you here, Barkley was tough but not that skilled. Hearns defense was lacking as he moved up in weight, Styles allowed Barkley to win that one.

Duran is an old blown up lightweight, who has retired a few times though, so it's still a great performance.

[Willie Pep 229]

Sometimes you have to put aside resumes or age or whatever evaluations/excuses you're into and just look at the fight itself.

Duran redeemed himself against Barkley and that made it a special night.

How great Barkely was or wasn't doesn't matter.

Even what Duran was before, no longer mattered.

It was one last great fight by an ATG, try to embrace the moment not bend over backwards trying to discredit it.