Like many of you have already stated Sugar Ray Leonard was yesteryears "Golden Boy" Much like De La Hoya he used tow in fights simply due to the fact that he was americas hero. He was polished, non-threatening and completely conformed to white americas expectations. He also won fights because many of his fans wore high heels. He used the same tactics that de la hoya did to win fights. He would flurry in the last few seconds and win the match, even though he would be getting the snot knocked out of himself for the rest of the round. Secondly he would usually only fight people when the deck was completely stacked in his favor, other time he just would completely avoid people altogether. (notice he never fought Aaron Pryor? or Allxis Arguello). Look how long he waited to fight Marvin Hagler and to fight Thomas Hearns. Hearns waited three years and finally leonard caved in.
I actually am from the same area as Sugar ray and when he was fighting I used to go to the same gym.. My dad used to box as well as my older brother and I had a chance to meet ray a few times. His son (this will let you in on my age lol) Used to compete against me at Track and Field meets when I was in high school.
Outside of the ring Ray was not a model citizen either. he of course was a filthy Drug user, secondly he was soo cheap. Once we went to a banquet for the sugar ray leonard foundation and the foundation was taking money for children with cancer or something I cant remember cause I was so young. ANyway the place would announce how much each person donated. There were many affluent people in the Washington D.C area who donated thousands of dollars. He only gave 500 bucks and it was his own charity organization (Cheap bastard).
There is too much to write but anyway Ray was a great fighter who carefully was guided throughout his career. he would often change divisions or retire in order to avoid complicated or difficult fights, or he would wait until he had every advantage. Do you remember him fighting camacho when they were young or Tony Ayala Sr? or what about aaron pryor or Marvin hagler when he was young and not damn near 40. or what about john the beast mugabi or tons of other fighters who begged tog et a fight that Ray simply would not do. Yes he was a great fighter with a carefully selected path but that makes him yesteryears golden boy and a guy who also had an evil side when the camera wasnt on.
"even though he would be getting the snot knocked out of himself for the rest of the round."
"(notice he never fought Aaron Pryor? or Allxis Arguello). "
"Do you remember him fighting camacho when they were young or Tony Ayala Sr?"
All.....terrible inaccuracies.
Alexis Arguello ? You mean the thirty-something who won a 135lb crown 3 months before Leonard UNIFIED the 147lb. crown against the sport's most lethal fighter (Hearns) ?
Leonard should have been arrested had he fought such a sickening mismatch.
Ayala ? You mean the 20-fight "veteran" who went away (JAIL) for two decades....starting just a few months after Leonard retired ?
Ayala was a PROSPECT when Ray was in his prime.
Camacho ? You mean the guy who made his network debut, at 130lbs, just 3 months before Leonard (a 147-154lber) retired ?
These two were on DIFFERENT PLANETS.
Some of what you said was true, but these things are so off, & I'd hate for the youngins on here to get misinformed.
But...Thank God Oscar, the warrior he is, gave that rematch to Julio Cesar Chavez...because "Chavez wouldn't admit I really KO'd kim the first time."
I'm surprised that he didn't go the whole nine yards and give Hector Camacho a rematch to finally answer just who exactly had the better jab...
i guess, nice joke, but we know the truth, Sugar out boxed him.. :) i don't see why people hate the man, he was truly a great fighter, in the top ten of great fighters.
Hagler didnt want to hit ray that hard because he Knew that Ray was a bitch and he didnt really want to hit a woman. Ray came to the ring in high heels pumps and he had to remove his lipstick and eyeshadow before they would put grease on his face lol hahahahaha
Plus, Sugar Ray was the qucikest 2nd to ALI to ever throw hands, that's why he was able to steal those rounds from hagler, plus hagler could never get a good shot in, Sugar has been dropped before, and hagler was very capable, Sugar was just a better boxer..
This post is quite accurate.....which makes me wonder how many of those who hate Ray Leonard could manage to like Oscar DeLaHoya.
Oscar was/is even more of a pussy than Ray outside of the ring...while only being about 1/10 the fighter Ray was, inside of it.
Just wondering..........
hmmm
while oscar is clearly not on the level of leonard as a fighter, I think he is also less of a bitch:
while dlh gave no rematch to quartey or pea, I don't think that de la hoya, or jones, or anyone would do negotiations like the ones for duran rematch or even the hagler fight (in the end it's their fault for taking those terms for the money, but in the old times, leonard would no have got away with that shit, because he would not command so much money)
along with my previous comment, he also moved up in weight from jr. welter to welter in order to avoid fighting aaron pryor. hows that for 'nuff said?
Anyways, like I said, he beat three of the greatest of all time, even if he did duck Pryor, (Which he didn't) he still beat three of the greatest pound for pound of all time, so Nuff Said..
Like many of you have already stated Sugar Ray Leonard was yesteryears "Golden Boy" Much like De La Hoya he used tow in fights simply due to the fact that he was americas hero. He was polished, non-threatening and completely conformed to white americas expectations. He also won fights because many of his fans wore high heels. He used the same tactics that de la hoya did to win fights. He would flurry in the last few seconds and win the match, even though he would be getting the snot knocked out of himself for the rest of the round. Secondly he would usually only fight people when the deck was completely stacked in his favor, other time he just would completely avoid people altogether. (notice he never fought Aaron Pryor? or Allxis Arguello). Look how long he waited to fight Marvin Hagler and to fight Thomas Hearns. Hearns waited three years and finally leonard caved in.
I actually am from the same area as Sugar ray and when he was fighting I used to go to the same gym.. My dad used to box as well as my older brother and I had a chance to meet ray a few times. His son (this will let you in on my age lol) Used to compete against me at Track and Field meets when I was in high school.
Outside of the ring Ray was not a model citizen either. he of course was a filthy Drug user, secondly he was soo cheap. Once we went to a banquet for the sugar ray leonard foundation and the foundation was taking money for children with cancer or something I cant remember cause I was so young. ANyway the place would announce how much each person donated. There were many affluent people in the Washington D.C area who donated thousands of dollars. He only gave 500 bucks and it was his own charity organization (Cheap bastard).
There is too much to write but anyway Ray was a great fighter who carefully was guided throughout his career. he would often change divisions or retire in order to avoid complicated or difficult fights, or he would wait until he had every advantage. Do you remember him fighting camacho when they were young or Tony Ayala Sr? or what about aaron pryor or Marvin hagler when he was young and not damn near 40. or what about john the beast mugabi or tons of other fighters who begged tog et a fight that Ray simply would not do. Yes he was a great fighter with a carefully selected path but that makes him yesteryears golden boy and a guy who also had an evil side when the camera wasnt on.
I hate him for never giving Quartey a rematch. I thought, although it was close, that Quartey beat him in that fight and thought that there should have been an immediate rematch. I guess there were bigger fish to fry with Oba Carr though :rolleyes:
But...Thank God Oscar, the warrior he is, gave that rematch to Julio Cesar Chavez...because "Chavez wouldn't admit I really KO'd kim the first time."
This post is quite accurate.....which makes me wonder how many of those who hate Ray Leonard could manage to like Oscar DeLaHoya.
Oscar was/is even more of a pussy than Ray outside of the ring...while only being about 1/10 the fighter Ray was, inside of it.
Just wondering..........
I hate him for never giving Quartey a rematch. I thought, although it was close, that Quartey beat him in that fight and thought that there should have been an immediate rematch. I guess there were bigger fish to fry with Oba Carr though :rolleyes:
I already wrote this in the past
a GREAT fighter in the ring, a champ, like few we will ever get to see, fast, smart, technically sound, with an incredible chin
a BITCH out of the ring, who makes roy jones look like he was tough and fearless like jake la motta.
His behavior in negotiations, his cheap tricks because he commanded the most money, his not giving a rematch to hagler were sickening and a bad thing for the sport
This post is quite accurate.....which makes me wonder how many of those who hate Ray Leonard could manage to like Oscar DeLaHoya.
Oscar was/is even more of a pussy than Ray outside of the ring...while only being about 1/10 the fighter Ray was, inside of it.
Just wondering..........
I already wrote this in the past
a GREAT fighter in the ring, a champ, like few we will ever get to see, fast, smart, technically sound, with an incredible chin
a BITCH out of the ring, who makes roy jones look like he was tough and fearless like jake la motta.
His behavior in negotiations, his cheap tricks because he commanded the most money, his not giving a rematch to hagler were sickening and a bad thing for the sport
how can you hate him???.. he fough the best and won.. he dare to fough against fighter who could really hurt him.. and brough good show and always did his best...
I'm a Hagler fan..thats why :D
I'm actually kidding..a little. I have a great deal of respect for Sugar, he just broke my heart in April 1987
how can you hate him???.. he fough the best and won.. he dare to fough against fighter who could really hurt him.. and brough good show and always did his best...
Sugar Ray was a great fighter. Speed,power and underrated heart. Alot of people want to throw the "pretty boy" label on him. He had tremendous courage. For the last time, he didn't duck Pryor. He had bigger fights to worry about. To say he is afraid of Pryor is ludicrous. Look who the guy fought.
Having said all that, I hate him with a passion. I'm a Hagler homer. :D
Anyone who says Ray Leonard couldn't punch is someone who has never seen him fight.
If you saw his KO's of Andy Price, Pete Ranzany, Davey Green, Ayub Kalule, Bruce Finch....you'd see the man had power.
He had an incredible variety of shots, thrown in blurs, & I don't know if there was fighter in history (Robinson maybe) who possessed Leonard's balance.
He punched with power against the B-level guys. Against the elite, he relied other resources to get him through. That's what makes him as versatile & complete a fighter as there has ever been.
I hated Ray when he was active in the 80's, & that was because I was a dumb kid. I worshipped Hagler, & didn't know how to be a fan of his & respect his nemesis at the same time.
When you all grow up....& analyze Ray Leonard's career, you will realize how incredible he was.
IMO Ray was one of the greatest ever. He was just so smart. Had excellent movement, such fast feet. He really knew how to close the deal. He was just amazing to watch. A great entertainer - remember that wind-up against Hagler?
He fought the best and beat them all. IMO he is an inspiration and one of (if not) the greatest of all time.
yeah, he had a problem with drink & drugs after he retired (the 2nd time I think!)...
I've met him after an after dinner speech thing and you can tell he's a bit spaced out (could be the result of too much charlie or getting hit in the head a lot.. dunno which!)
He spoke really well though and it was an honour!
I think Sugar Ray was a great boxer... I used to love his 'signature' combination to get off the ropes!
He could mix it up, dance with style, and manipulate the crowed to win by decision when he had to as well...
He was never going to knock out Duran or Hagler for example (without a baseball bat!) but he did what he had to do to beat them!
He tried to 'fight' Duran in the first fight, lost, came back and beat him with a different tactic in the second... That get's respect from me, not because it the bravest thing to do but it's certainly the cleverest.. And besides, anyone who got into the ring with Duran or Marvellous was no coward!
He managed his own career as well which is rare among boxers.. At least ones who got to the top.. he may have retired too many times but he always came back when financially he didn't have to..
Did he really cheat a bunch of his associates? I've not heard that before..
So what if he was a coke head for a bit as well? So was I and it aint' something to be laughed at and he should get kudos for beating it...
was he really a coke head?