I remember as a kid just how big Ray Leonard was. He was before Jordan, he changed the game for athletes he was the mega million dollar star who was able to get record number of endorsements, I don't think any other athlete before him did what he did when it came to the type of money he was making.
He built a brand, he was the biggest star in all of sports in the 70s and early 80s.
Ali was a big political name but he wasn't endorsed by sponsors his name is only kept alive today because of how big he was politically and almost all his documentaries deal with the civil rights movement, Ali he was already past his prime when Ray was coming on the scene, Ray was a sports star.
Its crazy when you see Ray Leonard on TV today and remember how famous and huge of a star he was at one point but the younger generation don't really no about him.
He was the most loved boxer, he was the golden boy, nobody hated this man, he was a hero had the looks the good guy image, the fighting skill, I remember those Franklin gloves he used to have.
I think this is how badly boxing has fallen off, while others sports strive boxing had a period where it was basically shut off and niche, this why the name of Ray Leonard has lost its luster.
This is why Jordan was able to still be a huge star after retirement because NBA has grown and continues to grow. Boxing fell off the mainstream eye.
People should be looking at Ray Leonard like sports Royalty the way they look at Jordan, now he can walk into places and not many people know him only those from the older generation, its a damn shame shows the sport of boxing really is nothing like it used to be.
Ray Leonard was a SUPERSTAR! Ray Leonard and Michael Jordan, I don't know how they did it but the American Sports Media absolutely LOVED those 2 and rarely wrote or reported negative stuff about them.
Now of course Ray Leonard love from the media did not sit well with other fighters and even some fans who thought Ray got everything his way because of that. Also think he got the decision over Hagler because of his popularity among other things.
good point..
lebron/durant are too big for jordan.
kobe definitely would have whooped him one on one.
jordan is overrated.
I know it was a ton of trolling idiots on this forum but MY GOODNESS! :no:
Ray Leonard was a SUPERSTAR! Ray Leonard and Michael Jordan, I don't know how they did it but the American Sports Media absolutely LOVED those 2 and rarely wrote or reported negative stuff about them.
Now of course Ray Leonard love from the media did not sit well with other fighters and even some fans who thought Ray got everything his way because of that. Also think he got the decision over Hagler because of his popularity among other things.
I think he means that Ali's name has never lost it's luster while Ray's has dropped off more.
Ali had relevance beyond the boxing world. Ray was more like Oscar. A great poster-boy, but ultimately a bit vacuous.
lol great point, most of these kids know Jordan mostly from those ugly shoes and the sports wear. Also, how many of these dumb kids don't spew stuff like "Lebron/Durant/Kobe woulda ball'd up Jordan, doe!"
Lol they just released the same shoes over and over
lol great point, most of these kids know Jordan mostly from those ugly shoes and the sports wear. Also, how many of these dumb kids don't spew stuff like "Lebron/Durant/Kobe woulda ball'd up Jordan, doe!"
lebron/durant are too big for jordan.
kobe definitely would have whooped him one on one.
jordan is overrated.
I think he means that Ali's name has never lost it's luster while Ray's has dropped off more.
That's not what he said at all and I interpreted his statements in the same way as the other poster. If he meant something else it's up to him to explain. it.
With respect to Jordan, it does help his name being around that he has a brand called Jordan where kids kill each other for a pair of his hideous looking shoes.
lol great point, most of these kids know Jordan mostly from those ugly shoes and the sports wear. Also, how many of these dumb kids don't spew stuff like "Lebron/Durant/Kobe woulda ball'd up Jordan, doe!"
With respect to Jordan, it does help his name being around that he has a brand called Jordan where kids kill each other for a pair of his hideous looking shoes.
Leonard 2-1 vs Duran no mas lol
Yeah, but before their first fight everybody was sure Leonard was gonna beat him easy. He was the bigger man and the better boxer. Duran closed the distance, applied relentless pressure, and beat the odds.
We are fortunate enough to see a modern day incarnation of this classic fight, and I wouldn't be surprised if history repeats itself. I still give Floyd the edge, considering that he has probably forgotten more about boxing than Manny has ever known, but if Pac can apply pressure and cut off the ring like Duran did, we might see an upset.
Dempsy, Marciano, Louis, Ali, Leonard, Chavez, Tyson, and of course Manny and Floyd to a lesser degree. Just about every generation had a superstar boxer, but thanks to PPV, those numbers are greatly dwindling.
Like Haymon or not, his bring boxing back to broadcast television is a pretty cool thing.
that's a great commercial. it's too bad floyd mayweather's exploits are so well documented, and no brand will touch him with a 10 foot pole. it's a great way to get exposure, advertisement.
To show how big Leonard was is to realise how many fights well past his prime people were still willing to pack the big venues to see him.
He never lost his star power, even up to his last fight/loss.
Leonard was making some big money too, around $15-20M a fight at his peak if my memory is right (what is that in todays money?)
lol at you downplayin ali as being big just because of political reasons. you just sounded like the young people you're preaching to.
ali was huuuge. he was big around the world because he was great in boxing and the world outside america doesnt give a flying fvck if he was an activist or a controversial figure in the draft.
Ali was big because of his political stance dude, stop talking stupid. If he never took a stance against the war he wouldn;t be as big as he was today and beloved around the world. Civil rights movement was huge at the time.
Ali stood for something and that is why his name echos and he transcends sports, when I speak of sports figure Ray Leonard was a sports star. Ali was an icon.
If Ali never took a stance against the war would he still be loved today? nope and im an Ali fan, love the guy.
But im 100 percent honest.