Dream match. Carmen Basillio vs Roberto Duran. Who wins?

Question

welterweights and 15 rounds

Basillio 56-16-7 (27)

Duran 103-16-0 (70)

Answer 1

Because he's an old-time fighter who gave Robinson all he could handle people tend to rate Basilio higher than he should be rated.  What people forget is that Robinson was WELL past his prime and fighting for all the wrong reasons.  Only in the rematch did he become motivated.  Still a younger Robinson would have beaten Basilio easily.

Someone once asked me what would happen if Carmen fought Hearns.  Carmen once said in an interview that Leonard and Hearns wouldn't stand a chance in his era.  Both would beat Basilio easily.  Hearns takes him out in 6 and Leonard stops him late.

As for Duran,  if he can get into the shape he was in against Leonard in June 1980 he would stop Basilio late.  Carmen was tough but very limited in terms of boxing ability.  He might go even with Cuevas.  He would lose on points to Benitez.  A brawler like Basilio could keep Benitez busy and stop him late.  However, Carmen didn't punch very hard.   His major strength was heart and stamina.  He's in your face all night...............................or until Tommy puts him to sleep.  

He loses to Trinidad and DeLa Hoya too.

Answer 2

Basilio is too big for Duran. If they were the same size, it might be the greatest fight in history.

Answer 3

Man this would be a great fight I,ve watched alot of film on Basillio he was a monster in the ring Roberto Duran another monster in the ring I would like to see this fight at 137lbs 15 rounds. Non stop from the opening round I can see Duran getting knocked down in the early rounds. But when he gets up I see the fight turning ugly for Basillio Duran would not stop throwing punches until Basillio went down in the 13th round cuts over both eyes and just beaten up the ref stops it.

Answer 4

Great question. . .man, I never thought of this matchup.  

Honestly, Basilio fought at heavier weights than Duran, and was more proficient at these higher weights.  Having said that, I'll guess that weight is not an issue.  

Both had great chins, both were able to "dig deep" to pull out a win, but I'd say if these two were to have fought ten times, Duran would have won 8 of them.  A couple of these wins would have been knockouts, too.  Two Hall of Famers from different eras. . . that's worth a cold one and a stogie!

Answer 5

i believe that basillio was one of angelo dundee's first world champions (if not the first).

the duran who beat leonard would take a fairly close 15 round decision in this one.

Answer 6

I agree with galactus, Basilio was great but i think the fact that he beat an older Ray Robinson gives him more credit than he should get, Carmen had a lot of heart and amazing stamina but he would have made a crucial mistake against Duran, he would have tried to go flat footed against "manos de pietra" and that would have cost him the fight, Duran has an amazing chin and can hang in there with the best of them, his punches are hard and powerful and he was a better over all boxer than basilio,at welter weight Duran would knock basilio out somewhere around the 7th round after a great fight.

Answer 7

Roberto Duran was much more than a classic slugger, Roberto could play the part of the matador when he had to, but lost none of his toughness or viciousness.  Basillio would be game, and come to fight, he might have been tough enough to meet Duran toe to toe in the middle of the ring and slug it out for the full 15, but Roberto had the skill and savvy of a true master, it would take more than toughness and heart to beat Duran at Roberto's best.  I don't think Basillio brought the skill level into the ring that Roberto did, Duran was just that much better a fighter than most of the other greats in history, and if Duran could go 15 rounds with Hagler at 160, Basillio isn't going to get Roberto out of there at 147.  Carmine was tough, but he wasn't tougher than Duran, and skill wise there is no way Basillio is going to out slick Roberto.

Duran by decision.