The Difference Between SRL and Mayweather

Leonard had a detached retina and was gonna have to move up 2 weight classes from where his last fight took place, what's Mayweather's excuse? SRL came back down from 154 to fight Tommy Hearns (who I was talking about in the first place) before his retirement took place. So SRL isn't even worse in that respect. SRL did have detached retina at one point, but that wasn't what caused him to retire. He retired because he didn't love boxing. After SRL won gold at the Olympics, he announced he was retiring from boxing (1st retirement). He said that he wanted to go to college rather than be a pro boxer. He only changed his mind and became a pro boxer because his family was in tough financial circumstances and he needed money. After being a pro boxer for 5 years and getting a few good wins, SRL announced he was retiring for the 2nd time. He said at the event where he announced his retirement that although he had had a detached retina, the doctors had cleared him to fight but he just didn't want to box anymore. After being retired for 2 years, SRL made a comeback against journeyman Kevin Howard. Since SRL had spent the last 2 years abusing cocaine and beating his wife instead of training, he struggled against an opponent he had no business struggling against. At the post-fight press conference he announced he was retiring again (3rd retirement) because he wasn't as good as he used to be. 3 years later when he was finally starting to get his drug addiction under control, SRL was coaxed out of retirement for a superfight with (past-prime) Marvin Haggler. He won by controversial split decision, then announced he was retiring again (4th retirement). He only stayed retired for a little more than a year this time before coming back to beat Donny Lalonde. He then got a controversial draw against Hearns (most thought Hearns deserved to win) and beat a well past-prime Duran. After being inactive for more than a year (but not announcing that he was retiring this time) Leonard lost a fight to Terry Norris. After the fight SRL announced his 5th retirement. Six years later, Leonard made an ill-advised comeback attempt against Hector Camacho. After being KOed for the first time, SRL finally retired for good (6th retirement).

would leonard wait for williams to be out of his prime and washed up like he did with hagler?? but then again, williams hasnt really done anything to warrant a fight with the big guns, last fight he was in, he had life and death with martinez, (i thought martinez won) I dont agree, Hagler went undefeated as champ for at least a decade. It was SRL's style of fighting that won him that fight.

They admire PBFs confidence but dont agree with PBfs assesment. He cant be the best of all time. Hes not even the best of this time. He should try proclaiming he is the best now, because no one believes him.

this...u gotta love how ppl nitpick. im not sayin srl isnt greater than floyd. but dont nitpick shit if you dont know what you are talking about. See post above:wave:. You should do your homework :popcorn:

Floyd was "retired" for less than 2 years. After Ray Leonard fought Bruce Finch he took 2 years off, fought Kevin Howard, then took another 3 years off. So basically SRL spent more than 5 years of his prime without fighting a credible opponent. Floyd Mayweather has already fought more title fights than SRL fought in his whole career. You can criticize Mayweather for not being active enough and for "retiring" when there were some big fights he could have made, but SRL was even worse in that respect. Leonard had a detached retina and was gonna have to move up 2 weight classes from where his last fight took place, what's Mayweather's excuse? SRL came back down from 154 to fight Tommy Hearns (who I was talking about in the first place) before his retirement took place. So SRL isn't even worse in that respect. Actually I thought in rounds 10-12 Mayweather stepped up his pace against Marquez and hit him with some hard shots. I credit Marquez going the distance because of his skills and mental toughness to finish the fight. I give a lot of credit to JMM and I did see Floyd somewhat step it up, especially in the 11th, but he could have forced a stoppage despite what JMM showed. Mayweather, RJ, and Hopkins are great finishers when their opponent is visibly hurt, but not even close when they are easily outclassing them. There's more than a few fights where some extra flurries would have forced to ref to stop a fight.

Floyd was "retired" for less than 2 years. After Ray Leonard fought Bruce Finch he took 2 years off, fought Kevin Howard, then took another 3 years off. So basically SRL spent more than 5 years of his prime without fighting a credible opponent. Floyd Mayweather has already fought more title fights than SRL fought in his whole career. You can criticize Mayweather for not being active enough and for "retiring" when there were some big fights he could have made, but SRL was even worse in that respect. this...u gotta love how ppl nitpick. im not sayin srl isnt greater than floyd. but dont nitpick shit if you dont know what you are talking about.

No, sometimes a closely viewing, analyzing, and knowledgeable spectator can have a better view of what's happening than the fighter. That's part of the reason why there's cornermen. You don't have to buy it, my perception is if you're outclassing and, in some cases, hitting someone almost at will, you should take the necessary risk to take them out. There's been a couple of fights where they could have stepped on the gas and taken an opponent out, but didn't. You rarely see Mayweather take those risks to end a fight. Mayweather had no business letting JMM go all 12. JMM never went into survival mode and the ref had been asking if he wanted to continue since around the 8th. Actually I thought in rounds 10-12 Mayweather stepped up his pace against Marquez and hit him with some hard shots. I credit Marquez going the distance because of his skills and mental toughness to finish the fight.

That, and Floyd retiring after the Hatton fight and not facing Cotto, Margarito before or even the winner of the fight, would be as if SRL retired after fighting Kalule without fighting Hearns. Floyd was "retired" for less than 2 years. After Ray Leonard fought Bruce Finch he took 2 years off, fought Kevin Howard, then took another 3 years off. So basically SRL spent more than 5 years of his prime without fighting a credible opponent. Floyd Mayweather has already fought more title fights than SRL fought in his whole career. You can criticize Mayweather for not being active enough and for "retiring" when there were some big fights he could have made, but SRL was even worse in that respect.

You don't know what you're talking about. Leonard would beat Mayweather, and Duran-Leonard 1 was a close fight, and he TKO'd Hearns. But nvm, you are probably just clowning. I meant hagler sorry. But the point still stands that SRL wouldnt be able to catch floyd. Whooped his dads ass though.

I really like SRL but mayweather jr wouldve dominated him in his prime. SRL got destroyed by duran and got lucky on the dec against hearns. You don't know what you're talking about. Leonard would beat Mayweather, and Duran-Leonard 1 was a close fight, and he TKO'd Hearns. But nvm, you are probably just clowning.

I hear this a lot but I don't agree. The fighters have a better perception of whether their opponent is ready to go, than a spectator. If the KO isn't there, it's not there. I don't believe any of those fighters had a fighter on the verge of a KO that they just "let slide" because they didn't want it. I don't buy that. No, sometimes a closely viewing, analyzing, and knowledgeable spectator can have a better view of what's happening than the fighter. That's part of the reason why there's cornermen. You don't have to buy it, my perception is if you're outclassing and, in some cases, hitting someone almost at will, you should take the necessary risk to take them out. There's been a couple of fights where they could have stepped on the gas and taken an opponent out, but didn't. You rarely see Mayweather take those risks to end a fight. Mayweather had no business letting JMM go all 12. JMM never went into survival mode and the ref had been asking if he wanted to continue since around the 8th.

Ray would've fought Cotto, Margarito and Williams.....Ray would've came outta retirement and went str8 at Manny or Shane without a tune up....thats the difference!! :boxing:

Tommy Hearns and Ray Leonard were asked how they felt about Floyd Mayweather's frequent proclamations that he is the best fighter of all time. "I don't have any problem with that," said Hearns. "It's good for him to have that confidence in himself." "I echo what Tommy says," added Leonard. "Fighters have to believe they're better than anyone. It's a confidence bordering on arrogance. But I would have phrased it a little better." -- Kieran Mulvaney Floyd's ring IQ might be second to none, but he's an idiot outside of it. He sounds like he doesn't know what he's talking about, whether he does or he doesn't know. Which leaves his fans trying to defend or put his comments in a better context. That, and Floyd retiring after the Hatton fight and not facing Cotto, Margarito before or even the winner of the fight, would be as if SRL retired after fighting Kalule without fighting Hearns. I think Leonard is right.

true indeed you have to be a confident man when you step in the ring

I really like SRL but mayweather jr wouldve dominated him in his prime. SRL got destroyed by duran and got lucky on the dec against hearns. Yeah right. Think about it. Floyd takes two years off and then fights a LW at WW. Leonard does the same and fights the greates MIDDLEWEIGHT that ever lived. GTFO.

True. Floyd is from the cloth of RJJ and Hopkins. All 3 of them have more than a couple of fights where they could have stopped an opponent if they decided to step on the gas and not continue coasting. I hear this a lot but I don't agree. The fighters have a better perception of whether their opponent is ready to go, than a spectator. If the KO isn't there, it's not there. I don't believe any of those fighters had a fighter on the verge of a KO that they just "let slide" because they didn't want it. I don't buy that.

I really like SRL but mayweather jr wouldve dominated him in his prime. SRL got destroyed by duran and got lucky on the dec against hearns.

Comparing Floyd to Hearns and Leonard, who both were huge welterweights? Floyd is smarter than them, both of those guys talk punchy, what did they get for all their bravado, nothing more than memories and talk around the barber shop. Im sure they wish they had been smarter and more defensive in the ring if you ask them now. what do you mean what did they get? they've gotten more respect in the boxing world and higher ATG status because of it and even w/o the juvenile insecure trashtalk.

Sugar Ray was also a very good finisher. Not so much for floyd. Sugar also didn't mind getting his hands dirty from time to time. Sugar Ray punched harder than Mayweather. Leonard's power is an underrated part of his arsenal.

would leonard wait for williams to be out of his prime and washed up like he did with hagler?? but then again, williams hasnt really done anything to warrant a fight with the big guns, last fight he was in, he had life and death with martinez, (i thought martinez won) True, but that was at 160.