How good was Benny Leonard?

[hayZ]

Answer Meeeeeeeeee

[AntonTheMeh]

really good.

[Brunswick Assassin]

Benny Leonard's boxing technique was far ahead of his time with his dazzling footwork second to none until Ali came along. He hit hard also and is one of the 'Greatest' Lightweights of all time ranked no. 2 by Ring Magazine.

[Terry A]

I rank Benny Leonard behind only Roberto Duran as the best lightweight ever.
I often wonder if it's because i love Duran so much that I'm not objective enough to just say that Benny Leonard was THE best. The part that bamboozles me is that Duran always had trouble in his prime with great boxers. DeJesus, Leonard and Benitez all frustrated him, so logic says what would Benny L do with him???

[Sweet Pete]

I rate him the top Lightweight of all time. Head to head I see only perhaps Duran and Whitaker beating him. Though a fight with Armstrong is about 50/50.

Based on resume he ranks at the top, combine that with being ahead of his time(in my eyes the first boxer of the modern era) and his reign of dominance, he outranks the rest at LW, regardless of whether or not you think a few could beat him.

[JFB629]

Benny Leonard is argubaly the greatest Lightweight who ever lived and trurly one of the best pound for pound fighters ever to lace on a pair of gloves.

Watch films of Leonard and you will be immediately drawn to his dazzaling footwork and mesmerizing jab. His speed around the ring was unequalled until Cassius Clay came along.

He was a master of the feint, with perfect timing, reflexes, and parrying technique. He won the World Title stopping Freddie Walsh on a 9th round KO.

It was the only time in 167 pro fights that Welsh was ever knocked out, held it for 6 years-beating greats punchers like Lew Tender and great boxers like Welsh and retired (at least temporarily) as Champion.

He also came close to winning the Welterweight Title, losing on DQ when hitting Jack Britton when he was down. There was also talk of a showdown between Leonard and Micky Walker, but it never came about.

Ray Arcel, one of the greatest trainers of all time, concurs on Leonard’s ability to out-think his opponent’s, “Boxing is brains over brawn. I don’t care how much ability you got, if you can’t think your just another bum in the park. People ask me who’s the greatest boxer I ever saw pound for pound. I hesitate to say, either Benny Leonard or Ray Robinson. But Leonard’s mental energy surpassed anyone else’s.”


Leonards resume is incredible....

-Johnny Dundee (Featherweight champion 1922-1923, 1923-1924 and Jr. Lightweight champion 1921-1923 and 1923-1924),

-Freddie Welsh (Lightweight champion 1914-1916) from whom he won the title,

-Willie Ritchie (lightweight champion 1912-1914),

-Johnny Kilbane (Featherweight Champion 1912-1923),

-Rocky Kansas (Lightweight champion 1925-1926)

-Lew Tendler-One of the greatest Southpaws in the history of Boxing who is considered one of the best fighters to have never won a title.

Leonard also defeated top lightweight contenders such as Ritchie Mitchell, Patsy Cline, Joe Welling and left hook artist Charley White, to name a few.

Leonard came along when the 135lb division was stacked full of highly skilled fighters and punchers and he was the best of the best among them.

Leonard fought them all and often. The year he won the title he fought 29 times. Leonard was a magnificent boxer, a great puncher, and a brilliant ring strategist.

It was only fitting he died while refereeing a boxing match in New York.

[cotto16]

I rate benny very highly i think he would of boxed durans ears off

[GJC]

Top 4 light heavy on anyones list I would hope, I have him at number 2 behind Duran.
Top 20 pfp all time. Co sign all the positives above and add the fact that he was a very clever fighter too very good at psychology in the ring.

[cotto16]

Top 4 light heavy on anyones list I would hope, I have him at number 2 behind Duran.
Top 20 pfp all time. Co sign all the positives above and add the fact that he was a very clever fighter too very good at psychology in the ring.

one thing i always notice about leonard from fight films and pictures he didnt look very strong, was he just all skill you think?

[Lord Finesse]

I rate him as the best lightweight of all-time.

He had a blend of all the things it takes to be a great fighter. He had speed, defense, a good punch and good boxing brain.

I think he beat the most hall of famers out of any lightweight, if I'm correct.