2007-09-05 01:05:12 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Boxing
GOTTA know your history...in conversations like this...its relevent.
First, Leonard and Mayweather are nowhere NEAR each other in speed. Leonard was blinding...I dont care how fast Mayweathers defense is...you gotta see the twelve and fourteen punch combos that Leonard threw in his hey day..I dont care how good you are defensively...no one can anticipate and avoid that much coming at you that fast..NO ONE.
Second, and this is a BIG second. Floyd's defense. Well, Floyd has always attributed his offense to Roger, and his defense to his father Floyd senior...who he truly considers a master in defense. I really wont argue that, considering how much he did with DLH's defense. But ummmm....Sugar Ray Leonard FOUGHT Floyd Mayweather Senior...well let me rephrase that....Sugar Ray Leonard MUGGED Floyd Mayweather Senior. Floyd Senior's best moment in that fight was walking to the ring. After that it was all downhill for him.
AND, was previously said...Sugar Ray Leonard fought...and beat...some of what are considered some of the greatest to ever lace up gloves. Even if he DID do a show with Marvin Hagler...after three years of retirement he walked in cold and beat him....Hearns couldnt do that. Hearns couldnt beat Ray Leonard either...although he retired him. Or Duran.
As was stated previously, who does Floyd Mayweather have on his resume to amount to any of that competition? Hell, do any THREE fighters that Floyd has fought equal up to Thomas Hearns or Roberto Duran?
Nah, no way no how. Floyd would get his a$$ whipped just like dad did.
2007-09-05 04:56:10 · answer #1 · answered by kieran27 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Floyd Mayweather is talented, Sugar Ray Leonard was simply great. You cannot compare the two, Ray Leonard is simply in a different class. They are probably on an equal footing speed wise, but Ray was smarter (and would have Angelo Dandee in his corner), and Ray was tough, and knew how to suck it up. Apart from a few moments against DLH and in the first Castillo fight, Floyd's toughness has never really been challenged. Ray could box, and he could out-fight people. Floyd is not that way. Also compare resumes. Name other than Oscar DeLaHoya another fighter on his resume that is a hall of fame fighter....don't worry I'll wait....none, but Leonard has wins over Benitez, Hearns, Hagler, and Duran...Ray Leonard, who is the bigger of the two, lands the bigger hits, and TKO's Mayweather in the 11th round.
2007-09-05 08:40:53 · answer #2 · answered by Oneirokritis 5 · 6⤊ 0⤋
I'm sure Floyd would frustrate Ray in the early rounds with his defense. But Ray would start piling up the points with combinations, missing the first punch but scoring well with the follow up shots, eventually wearing Floyd down to score a late round TKO. Imagine Ray chasing Floyd like he chased Hearns in rounds 13 and 14.
2007-09-05 08:57:26 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Leonard is naturally bigger, as he started at welter, where Floyd is now after starting 3 divisions lower and working his way up. With the superior natural size and strength, near equal speed, better fundamentals, and ability to overcome adversity (vs Duran, Hearns, Benitez), Leonard would win. Whether it would be a compelling fight or not would depend on if Floyd would press the action, but regardless, Leonard would be practically a sure winner.
2007-09-05 10:23:24 · answer #4 · answered by topgunffl 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Murray you make me change my attitude about Ray Leonard when you put the question this way. Mayweather likes to say he is the best fighter ever and also criticizes Ray to his face saying how much better he is than Ray Leonard. I liked Duran, Hagler, Hearns, and Benitez more than I liked Leonard but Leonard against Mayweather well let's put it this way, Ray is going to chase him for 7 or 8 rounds and then he is going to knock his block off as would a Hearns, Duran or a Hagler. Thank you Murray.
2007-09-05 12:23:50 · answer #5 · answered by Allen 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sugar Ray all the way. Watch some of his classic fights and it's obvious that Ray will win. I would predict a 10 round TKO.
2007-09-05 18:15:51 · answer #6 · answered by bigpoppapun33 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thumbs up to both Paulie & Elmer Fudstein they both nailed this one. Floyd is good, but Sugar Ray Leonard is an all time great.
Leonard wins this one hands down.
2007-09-05 11:35:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Do the names Hearns, Benitez or Duran mean anything to you?
Until you can name PBF opponents that are as highly regarded (due to skill and not popularity a la DLH) there is no point in making this comparison. Hearns really taxed SLR at 147 lbs....and we all know what happened.
There is no current welter that comes close to Hearns @ 147 lbs. If memory serves me correct, Hearns didn't get back in the ring after SLR knocked him through the ropes.
2007-09-05 19:04:39 · answer #8 · answered by ricpr1966 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In a very close fight, I have to side with Mayweather. Sugar was great, but his defense was sub par. I think Mayweather outpoints him, with solid defense and clean, solid punching, both inside and outside.
I make this one sound easy but it would not be. Obviously, Sugar fought more gamed opponents than Floyd but that doesn't mean he couldn't take him.
Styles make fights and Mayweather is Sugar Ray but with more swagger and more defense.
(I think it would take a well groomed southpaw, like Whitaker to win against Floyd, if anyone at all. Conventional boxers don't trouble him.)
2007-09-05 09:35:27 · answer #9 · answered by Corey B 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sugar Ray Leonard could never compare to Sigar Ray Robinson .....but the one thing that Leonard could do was take PBF.
2007-09-05 18:02:30 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋