Legendary trainer Emanuel Steward once predicted the outcome of an intriguing fantasy clash between Roberto Duran and Floyd Mayweather.
Duran is considered to be one of the greatest fighters to have ever graced the sport, capturing world titles in four-weight classes throughout the course of his storied professional career which spanned across five decades between 1968 and 2001.
As for Mayweather, the Michigan-native also proved himself to be one of, if not the greatest fighter of all time during his tenure, winning world titles in five divisions before his retirement in 2017 whilst racking up victories over fighters such as Canelo Alvarez, Manny Pacquiao and Oscar De La Hoya.
Legendary coach Steward, who trained no less than 41 world champions during his career in the sport, once spoke out and revealed who he believes would have prevailed in a fantasy clash between ‘Hands of Stone’ and Mayweather.
Speaking in a resurfaced interview, Steward claimed that Mayweather would have had his ‘hands full’ against someone like Duran, although he does admit that the five-weight world champion would have also struggled against the likes of Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns.
“Well when you go back to Duran, Hearns, or Leonard, I could just stop right there. I mean Mayweather or Pacquiao, they would have their hands full. I just can’t see Manny or Floyd beating those fighters.”
‘The Four Kings’ was made up of Duran, Leonard, Hearns and Marvin Hagler, a legendary quartet of fighters that took the sport by storm during that golden era throughout the 1980s, providing fans with a number of memorable encounters along the way.
