By Gerardo Granados: Same approach as the last question, both in their prime, young macho Latinos, eager to prove they are the best. This fight will be agreed either on lightweight or light welterweight. Can you imagine Don King announcing this fight? Only in America! I can imagine him holding the Mexican flag in one hand and the Panamanian Flag on the other, screaming out loud and laughing. I can imagine “El Cholo” working out in the gym jumping the rope, hitting the speed bag; and Julio Cesar Chavez training surrounded by a hundred people who gather only to see him train.

Tale of the tape:

ROBERTO DURAN – height 5´7´´, reach 66´´

Record: 119T – W 103 (70) – L 16 (4) – D 0 / 22 Title fights W 18 (14) – L 4 (2) – D 0. *At light weight title fights W 13 (12).

Champion at Lightweight – Welterweight – Light middleweight – Middleweight, also fought for the super middleweight title against Sugar Ray and lost.

Notables: IRAN “BLADE” BARKLEY, THOMAS “HITMAN” HEARNS, “MARVELLOUS” MARVIN HAGLER, JOSE “PIPINO” CUEVAS, WILFRED BENITEZ, “SUGAR” RAY LEONARD.

JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ – height 5´7 ½ ´´, reach 68´´

Record: 115T – W 107 (86) – L 6 (4) – D 2 / 37 Title fights W 31 (20) – L 4 (3) – D 2. *At light weight title fights W3 (2), at light welterweight 22T – W 18 (13) – L 3 (2) – D 1.

Champion at Super featherweight – Lightweight – Light welterweight, also fought for the Welterweight title against Pernell and Oscar, and lost to both.

Notables: EDWIN “CHAPO” ROSARIO, MELDRIK TAYLOR, HECTOR “MACHO”CAMACHO, PERNELL WHITAKER, OSCAR DE LA HOYA, KOSTYA TSZYU.

“Manos de piedra” and “el gran campeon mexicano”, would put a show at press conference until both entered the ring. Duran insulting and calling names to Chavez, while he smiles and states to press “I don’t like to talk, I rather talk inside the ring”. Now, Chavez was relentless, always going forward, steel chinned, great right, great hook to the body, not as good at defense as he was at offense, he used to get hit with huge shots; when he fought Rosario in 1987 (WBA World lightweight title, W TKO-11) and Taylor in 1990 (WBC and IBF light welterweight title, W TKO-12, fight of the year) he took some really hard shots that didn’t even wobble him. Meanwhile Duran´s defense was superior to Chavez, had more power, I do remember watch him knock down Iran Barkley in 1989 (WBC middleweight title, W SD-12, fight of the year), he had great overall defensive skill, and at offense how could anyone forget the beating he gave to Davey Moore in 1983 (WBA World light middleweight title, W TKO-8). I think the best performance of Duran´s boxing career was against Sugar Ray Leonard in Montreal, and Chavez best was against Hector Macho Camacho. Also consider that Duran fought fifteen rounds and Chavez twelve.

So, who do you pick? If you answer this question, you will be answering two questions; the first one and you would be answering who is the best Latino fighter of all times.