Julio Cesar Chavez believes that one boxing legend, who twice lost to a mutual opponent of theirs, would never have beaten him at 140lbs.
The Mexican icon cultivated a phenomenal 90-fight unbeaten, becoming a three-division world champion before losing his WBC super-lightweight title to Frankie Randall in 1994.
He did, of course, manage to win their rematch that same year, before securing a second victory over former two-weight world champion Meldrick Taylor.
Most would argue that Chavez’s undefeated streak should have ended in 1993, though, as many felt he was fortunate to come away with a draw against Pernell Whitaker.
In any case, the Hall of Famer doubts that fellow legend Roberto Duran would have beaten him in his prime, especially given the Panamanian’s two defeats to Hector Camacho in 1996 and 2001.
While Chavez comfortably outpointed Camacho in 1992, Duran lost two unanimous decisions to the Puerto Rican at a time when he was simply well past his prime.
This was a far cry from the ‘Hands of Stone’ who stopped Ken Buchanan in 1972, and indeed the one that defeated Sugar Ray Leonard for the WBC welterweight title in 1980.
Against any super-lightweight version of Duran, however, Chavez has told Luis Parra that he would never have been beaten.
“Roberto Duran would never have beaten me. That b***ard is just a f***ing idiot. He always talks s**t.
“I respect him, and I don’t answer him because he’s older than me, but he always talks crap; as if he was God.
“I know he remembers that Camacho beat him up.”
Given it is unfair to compare their respective performances against Camacho, it must be said that the jury is out on whether Duran would have defeated Chavez. The fantasy fight, therefore, remains up for intriguing debate.
