Sugar Ray or Money May: Who had the faster hands?

Floyds reflexes were superior to Leonrard PacBoy. Thats 1 thing. And defense. Thats 2 things.Defense??? Don't kid yourself. Floyd's defense would have been rendered far less effective if it was Leonard, Hearns, Benitez, Duran throwing at him instead of the far less opposition he has fought. Anyone can look airtight when those ATG's aren't the ones throwing heat sinking missiles at you. Lenard was bigger, faster, stronger, and fought the far better opposition.

Mayweather has faster single shots. Leonard has faster combinations, by far. But, since your studying, the thing that throws everything off is how they are setting up their punches. Level of opposition, angles, how their opponent is reacting to feints, etc. can make boxers seem faster than they really are. totally agree with this. floyd is like lightning delievering one shot but leonard was lightning like in his combos. h2h leonard without much doubt imo

Leonard was considerably faster whether throwing single shots or combinations.

Butterbean

A coach of mine actually sparred with Ray Leonard. He said Leonard had deceptively fast hands; something that the videos can never show. He also hit hard for a welterweight. The same coach says that Floyd doesn't have fast hands, but has amazing head movement, letting his counters come from unexpected angles. That's why he looks so damn fast. He's fast - but not Ray Leonard fast.

Floyds reflexes were superior to Leonrard PacBoy. Thats 1 thing. And defense. Thats 2 things.

Single shots or combos, Ray beats Floyd on both accounts. I've been watching quite a few Leonard fights of late in my free time and the difference is huge.

Leonard wasted punches throwing arm punch showy flurries. When he sat down on his punches and threw with his hips and shoulders and proper technique he is fast but not as fast as Mayweather. Mayweather doesn't waste punches and his accuracy is unreal....I say they are even in their prime in the speed dept but Mayweather accuracy and shorter punches make single shots seem a blur. Watch fights where both fought on the inside Mayweather at 140 and below, Leonard prior 1982....Mayweather three faster more accurate shots....Leonard three faster flurries but Mayweather don't waste punches

SRL is better than Floyd in every way possible

Defence is probably the same......anyone can look better when Hearns, Duran, Benitez, and Leonard arent the ones throwing punches at you. Floyd would have learned what it feels like to be hit much harder and more constantly if he had fought those guys. Power and chin? Not even close. Quality of opposition? Thats a joke.

Jones was pretty amazing with his combos and single punch hand speed. A Lightweight Mosley too. But this is about Floyd and SRL. Leonard's Combinations were faster and his left hook was faster than anything Floyd could throw aside from a jab.

Personally, I'd have to give the edge to Leonard on the speed scale. Floyd is very fast; but I think his accuracy, how quickly he can throw a pot shot when an opening presents itself reveals the quickness of his mind and how his muscle memory takes over. Leonard, while competitive with Mayweather in the above-mentioned regard, far surpassed him in terms of combination punching, IMO. Leonard could unleash a barrage of punches with extraordinary fluidity if the opportunity presented itself. ...just view the first Hearns fight after he had Tommy hurt in both the 6th and the 13/14th rounds.

Leonard cant touch Floyd on single punches and Floyd cant touch Leonard on combo punching. /thread

Mayweather has faster single shots. Leonard has faster combinations, by far. But, since your studying, the thing that throws everything off is how they are setting up their punches. Level of opposition, angles, how their opponent is reacting to feints, etc. can make boxers seem faster than they really are. That's what I was going to say. Single shots Floyd might edge it. Combinations it's Leonard and by a wide margin. Leonard possibly had the fastest combinations ever. Probably him or Ali off the top of my head.

Mayweather has faster single shots. Leonard has faster combinations, by far. But, since your studying, the thing that throws everything off is how they are setting up their punches. Level of opposition, angles, how their opponent is reacting to feints, etc. can make boxers seem faster than they really are.