I can't disregard the possibility that Hammering Henry could have brought out the "No mas!" in Duran.

The comments in this section of boxing ratings are much more serious. Some of the pugilistically ignorant comments in the other sections make me want to weep. Like those dopes that rate Duran 1 or 2 stars... anyway, Armstrong was fast and fought like he was possessed. He did not stop. Duran, however, looked like he was possessed and could fight non-stop as well. Ray Arcel, his trainer par excellence, observed in 1979 that Duran actually got stronger at about round 8. The difference was subtle. Duran was more efficient. He placed his punches better and punched harder. That, my friends, is a lethal combination. He could match Armstrong's speed and was physically stronger. Duran would manhandle Armstrong, believe it or not and probably catch him rushing in at about round 10. And then Duran would snarl and everyone would be locked in stunned silence...

Oh gosh! This fight would have been the greatest lightweight fight after a dream bout between Alexis Arguello and Salvador Sanchez. But in a Roberto Duran vs. Henry Armstrong contest, the fight would have been very close. Looking at their styles, Duran was an efficient assassin in the ring with power in both hands- whereas Armstrong was the quintessential boxer with foot and hand speed. What separates these two greats, however, is Duran's dominance as a lightweight versus Armstrong's knack for being able to gain and lose weight just to fight at any division. If Roy Jones Jr.'s ultimate downfall as the best pound for pound serves as a lesson, Armstrong's weight fluctuations would have garnered him a lost to a hungry and more focused Duran. Perhaps Duran would not have won by knockout, but he would have won in a walk in this instance. (But in heavier weights, Armstrong would have had the obvious edge.)

When Henry Armstrong held titles at 126,135 and 147,his toughest fight was at 135 against lightweight champ,Lou Ambers.Armstrong lost several rounds because of fouls in the first fight and fouling in the rematch cost him the lightweight title against Ambers. Duran not only was capable of retaliating,but his boxing skills were tremendously underrated;this fight would've brought them out.