Duran too smart and versatile for GGG, who wouldn't have been able to stop the Panamanian. El Cholo was ready for The Blade after Iran had abruptly blasted out Hearns in their first match, just as he would have been ready for a green Tommy in a WW unification following Montreal after Hearns had blown out Cuevas, and in Montreal, he handled an SRL coming off the most devastating count-out win of his career over Boy Green.
Put Duran in a situation where he's expected beforehand to get his block knocked off, as was the case against Cuevas, Hagler and Barkley, he comes in prepared on high mental alert, and trains accordingly. Hearns came in with his potency seemingly a thing of the past when he knocked Roberto stiff, overconfident over his championship distance showing with MMH. GGG has never entered a phase where he wins by depending on the scorecards over the time limit, a situation the Panamanian was comfortable with throughout his career. Duran was always ready when entering a situation where his opponent was perceived as a serious threat to his life and limb. GGG is not 1984 Hearns. He is not suddenly coming out of the shell of a master boxer to shock the smaller man by unexpectedly blasting him out. (Incidentally, Benitez couldn't have done it either, not after Maurice Hope. Roberto wasn't going to beat El Radar with diminished interest, but Wilfredo wasn't going to stop Duran before the final bell either.)
For Barkley in February 1989, we're talking about one of the most evolved fighters to ever step foot in the ring, somebody after whom Ray Arcel said, "I think he may know more about boxing than I do!" For SRL-Duran III in December that year, Ray knew better than to even think about trying a return to the Montreal playbook at a weight over a dozen pound higher (and 25 pounds above Roberto's peak weight), yet El Cholo still turned Ray into a bloody mess by the end. (Yes, I am coming right out and saying that Roberto Duran would have WON SRL III if Ray had somehow gone retarded and tried to be the larger and stronger man he foolishly attempted to be nine and a half years earlier in Montreal, possibly on a cut stoppage TKO induced by clean punches. Ray's chin hadn't just diminished as he moved up in weight, but so had his resistance to cuts as he got older, and Hearns proved in 1981 that SRL's face could also swell. Ray had what it took between the ears though.)
Roberto Duran of February 1989 just too smart, too tough, and too experienced to any version of GGG we've seen, especially as the rounds mount. GGG has heard the final bell only in a trio of eight rounders, and only reached double digit rounds for the first time in February. By Barkley, Duran had been on the winning side into the championship rounds seven times (Buchanan, Lampkin, Leoncio, Bizzarro, Vilomar, EV II and Montreal), and even won over 12 the day he turned 49 for the Pat Lawlor rematch. To me, the question isn't who wins, but how competitive GGG can get on the cards.
While Duran was noted for his bodywork, overlooked is the fact he wasn't a particularly easy target downstairs himself, as SRL discovered in Montreal. When Cuevas did nail him downstairs (and Pipino got off to an excellent start the first two rounds), Roberto shoved it off and finished matters in short order. Palomino was another very noted body punching specialist who got dominated by Duran. GGG's body work does not decide this one in his favor.
Iran Barkley's greatest career performance may have been Duran. Don't forget that. The Blade did nothing wrong in dropping that one. GGG might not either, but El Cholo would simply be too much to overcome, too much experience, savvy and wisdom when conditioned and focused like that.
