Question for Sugar Ray Leonard haters..

[solo1bc]

I think Sugar Ray was a great boxer... I used to love his 'signature' combination to get off the ropes!

He could mix it up, dance with style, and manipulate the crowed to win by decision when he had to as well...

He was never going to knock out Duran or Hagler for example (without a baseball bat!) but he did what he had to do to beat them!

He tried to 'fight' Duran in the first fight, lost, came back and beat him with a different tactic in the second... That get's respect from me, not because it the bravest thing to do but it's certainly the cleverest.. And besides, anyone who got into the ring with Duran or Marvellous was no coward!

He managed his own career as well which is rare among boxers.. At least ones who got to the top.. he may have retired too many times but he always came back when financially he didn't have to..

Did he really cheat a bunch of his associates? I've not heard that before..

So what if he was a coke head for a bit as well? So was I and it aint' something to be laughed at and he should get kudos for beating it...

[Ricomania77]

I think Sugar Ray was a great boxer... I used to love his 'signature' combination to get off the ropes!

He could mix it up, dance with style, and manipulate the crowed to win by decision when he had to as well...

He was never going to knock out Duran or Hagler for example (without a baseball bat!) but he did what he had to do to beat them!

He tried to 'fight' Duran in the first fight, lost, came back and beat him with a different tactic in the second... That get's respect from me, not because it the bravest thing to do but it's certainly the cleverest.. And besides, anyone who got into the ring with Duran or Marvellous was no coward!

He managed his own career as well which is rare among boxers.. At least ones who got to the top.. he may have retired too many times but he always came back when financially he didn't have to..

Did he really cheat a bunch of his associates? I've not heard that before..

So what if he was a coke head for a bit as well? So was I and it aint' something to be laughed at and he should get kudos for beating it...

was he really a coke head?

[solo1bc]

yeah, he had a problem with drink & drugs after he retired (the 2nd time I think!)...

I've met him after an after dinner speech thing and you can tell he's a bit spaced out (could be the result of too much charlie or getting hit in the head a lot.. dunno which!)

He spoke really well though and it was an honour!

[svsv]

IMO Ray was one of the greatest ever. He was just so smart. Had excellent movement, such fast feet. He really knew how to close the deal. He was just amazing to watch. A great entertainer - remember that wind-up against Hagler?

He fought the best and beat them all. IMO he is an inspiration and one of (if not) the greatest of all time.

[jabsRstiff]

Anyone who says Ray Leonard couldn't punch is someone who has never seen him fight.

If you saw his KO's of Andy Price, Pete Ranzany, Davey Green, Ayub Kalule, Bruce Finch....you'd see the man had power.
He had an incredible variety of shots, thrown in blurs, & I don't know if there was fighter in history (Robinson maybe) who possessed Leonard's balance.
He punched with power against the B-level guys. Against the elite, he relied other resources to get him through. That's what makes him as versatile & complete a fighter as there has ever been.


I hated Ray when he was active in the 80's, & that was because I was a dumb kid. I worshipped Hagler, & didn't know how to be a fan of his & respect his nemesis at the same time.
When you all grow up....& analyze Ray Leonard's career, you will realize how incredible he was.

[marvdave]

Sugar Ray was a great fighter. Speed,power and underrated heart. Alot of people want to throw the "pretty boy" label on him. He had tremendous courage. For the last time, he didn't duck Pryor. He had bigger fights to worry about. To say he is afraid of Pryor is ludicrous. Look who the guy fought.

Having said all that, I hate him with a passion. I'm a Hagler homer.

[kapersky]

how can you hate him???.. he fough the best and won.. he dare to fough against fighter who could really hurt him.. and brough good show and always did his best...

[marvdave]

how can you hate him???.. he fough the best and won.. he dare to fough against fighter who could really hurt him.. and brough good show and always did his best...

I'm a Hagler fan..thats why

I'm actually kidding..a little. I have a great deal of respect for Sugar, he just broke my heart in April 1987

[wmute]

I already wrote this in the past

a GREAT fighter in the ring, a champ, like few we will ever get to see, fast, smart, technically sound, with an incredible chin

a ***** out of the ring, who makes roy jones look like he was tough and fearless like jake la motta.

His behavior in negotiations, his cheap tricks because he commanded the most money, his not giving a rematch to hagler were sickening and a bad thing for the sport

[jabsRstiff]

I already wrote this in the past

a GREAT fighter in the ring, a champ, like few we will ever get to see, fast, smart, technically sound, with an incredible chin

a ***** out of the ring, who makes roy jones look like he was tough and fearless like jake la motta.

His behavior in negotiations, his cheap tricks because he commanded the most money, his not giving a rematch to hagler were sickening and a bad thing for the sport

This post is quite accurate.....which makes me wonder how many of those who hate Ray Leonard could manage to like Oscar DeLaHoya.
Oscar was/is even more of a ***** than Ray outside of the ring...while only being about 1/10 the fighter Ray was, inside of it.
Just wondering..........