On his show, The Fight Podcast, Atlas predicted Duran would come out on top. He believes the Panamanian fighter would win by unanimous decision, citing Duran's relentless aggression, body work, and ring intelligence as key factors.
"I'm going to pick Duran. At the end of the day, body work, relentless, aggression. He's smart too. You have to be smart if you're going to beat someone as smart and as high IQ as the genius Mayweather, you have to be."
Atlas painted a picture of how the fight might unfold. He suggested Duran would jab to Mayweather's chest to keep him in place, push the fight, and maintain control. In Atlas's view, this approach would force Mayweather into survival mode rather than allowing him to fight on his own terms.
Mayweather, who retired with a perfect 50-0 record, dominated boxing in the 2000s and 2010s. He earned world titles in five divisions and became the sport's biggest pay-per-view star. His notable wins include victories over Manny Pacquiao, Oscar De La Hoya, and Canelo Alvarez.
Duran, who ruled the lighter weight classes before Mayweather's era, boasts an impressive record of 103 wins from 119 fights, with 70 of those victories coming by knockout. He claimed world championships across four weight divisions from lightweight to middleweight and faced off against other legends like Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvin Hagler.
Atlas's prediction adds to the ongoing debate among boxing fans about theoretical matchups between stars of different eras. His opinion carries weight due to his extensive experience in the sport and his current role as a leading analyst.
Fans can hear Atlas's full breakdown of this fantasy fight on The Fight Podcast, where he continues to share his insights on both past and present boxing scenarios.