Floyd Mayweather Jr. (49-0) vs 1981 Sugar Ray Leonard @ 147

Sugar Ray. He's naturally bigger, faster, hits harder, better combination puncher, better infighter and smarter.

I'm torn between decision or late tko for srl. But I will be generous to Floyd. Srl by decision

WHAT????? are you insane?? Floyd SR hand speed gave Leonard some major problems 1st round.

If Floyd was fighting Prime SRL this sat instead of McGregor he loses...no doubt

People forget Sugar Ray Leonard was being outboxed periodically by a much lesser Mayweather SR. Took it to him and landed clean shots until he gassed. Floyd JR wins by UD. WHAT????? are you insane??

Ray would have had too much for Floyd at WW.

Sugar Ray Leonard defeats any version of Floyd Mayweather, Jr. At 147 because welterweight was his natural peak weight. Whereas 130, Junior lightweight; Was Pretty Boy Floyd's natural peak weight. Plain and simple. Floyd was great enough to move up and be an excellent welter, but he was no Leonard. None of his opponents at WW were within miles of a prime Leonard who defeated such tremendous fighters as Benitez, Duran and Hearns at that weight. Guererro and Berto don't exactly measure up.

The thing is this - SRL beat Hearns and Benitez but struggled a lot in those fights. Both great fighters in their own right, but let's look at WHY those fights were difficult. Benitez was tough because he had great defense and movement (Not like Floyd, but still very good) and Hearns was able to outbox him for long stretches of the fight. Yes that was in part because of his length, but also because he had a lot of skill and a great ring IQ. The reason I say Floyd wins is because he would pose these exact same problems, but even more so. He's the hardest person to hit in boxing history, and also has the best IQ and the most pure boxing skill. Ray was bigger and hit harder, but that alone doesn't win a fight by any means. It's not like he was a concussive knockout puncher either. De La Hoya was a lot bigger and hit harder than Floyd, but still struggled badly to land punches. Everyone did. I do think it's a close fight because Ray did have a lot of skill and heart but Floyd would've got in his head and made him fight his fight. Just like Duran got under his skin and made him fight irrationally, Floyd would do the same. Even if you disagree you gotta admit it's a close fight (If not ask yourself - Was Wilfred Benitez better than Floyd?). A lot of people get starry eyed when it comes to the great fighters of the past and forget that they had flaws too. In all honesty if we're talking that era Hagler probably would give him the most trouble because of his relentless pressure style. Hearns too but Floyd had a better ring IQ and more skill than all these guys.

Love it. Think of time like smoke through a keyhole. Never stagnant just a continuum. But to the OP's point, on one hand I see Sugar Ray beating Floyd but whenever I've thought anyone has had a shot against him I was wrong. Floyd is a genius in the ring and has a way of figuring out how to beat the best out there. Lol, the OP technically has the Mayweather of 49-0 vs. Sugar Ray Leonard of 1981 according to the title. Lol, in that match up Leonard would crush Mayweather. But Prime vs Prime is much more debatable on who would win.

Leonard is bigger, faster, stronger, and has far greater opposition. Decision or late stoppage. Leonard's combinations made mayweather's combinations look like nothing.

Dream fight to watch, its hard to call but i have to go with the guy who has never been defeated.

Prime Floyd puts on another masterclass. Similar 2 Duran vs Leonard 1

I would favor SRL but it's really hard to say because its going to hinge on how much Floyd makes him miss. If Floyd can make him miss, he could show the pace down then it comes down to SRL trying to land that counter. Ray really wasn't a counter puncher. Ray could do anything, but we've seen him get frustrated and shut down. Yes, he got Hearns late and all, but Hearns got comfortable when he was ahead and let his defenses down. Floyd doesn't do that.

Sugar Ray Leonard defeats any version of Floyd Mayweather, Jr. At 147 because welterweight was his natural peak weight. Whereas 130, Junior lightweight; Was Pretty Boy Floyd's natural peak weight.

May doesn't stand a chance in this hypothetical and mythical match up. He's fighting a man who is naturally larger and stronger than him with just as much of a gifted skill set and ring IQ as his own. I like Sugar Ray Leonard in this match up by either TKO or lopsided unanimous decision. Also, the answer to that old question is yes. Ray Leonard will crack the MayVinci code

Prime SRL against 40 yr old Floyd. Really???

LOL @ people saying SRL knocks Floyd out. Even Leonard himself said that Floyd would've been competitive and great in any era of boxing. Floyd had 2 close fights his whole career, no one is just gonna "destroy" him. It's competitive vs anyone. Put it this way, if Hearns and Benitez could outbox Ray for periods of those fights and make it very close, and Duran was able to get in is head and make him fight a fight that didn't suit him, Mayweather could do those things too. It's a close fight for sure, but Floyd is more complete than SRL and from a mental standpoint he's the smarter fighter. Plus he would've been a lot harder to hit than those guys. I like Floyd by a very close decision.

Lol, the only moment that exists for us is right now. In the past five minutes ago though that was at one point right now and the future in five minutes will be right now too. In our 3 dimensional realm we experience time in a linear fashion as a past, present and future. But if we think about it the only moment that exists is now. We can remember the past and imagine the future. Those moments in the past though at one time were now and the future will be now too. It all exists at the same time, we just experience it in a linear way in our realm. Lol, ah...sh*t, my bad, totally off topic. I got into my quantum physics mode. Haha.....it's cool stuff though. Very interesting. I encourage ya'll to look into it. Namaste...........Love and Light Lol Love it. Think of time like smoke through a keyhole. Never stagnant just a continuum. But to the OP's point, on one hand I see Sugar Ray beating Floyd but whenever I've thought anyone has had a shot against him I was wrong. Floyd is a genius in the ring and has a way of figuring out how to beat the best out there.

Leonard wouldn't let Floyd of the hook if he had him on the ropes the way the Manny did. Ray would straight brutalise him when he sees an opening.

I think it will have a similar pattern to De La Hoya vs Floyd but SRL has a bit more about him. He is slicker, faster, and has more skills. I think it's a close fight. I think SRL probably has a bit too much of a combination of size, athleticism, and boxing ability for Floyd to overcome. 8-4 to 7-5 type of decision.