Why did Leonard move up to 154 to fight Kalule before Hearns?

[-EX-]

Was just checking out the fight recently and heard Tommy guest commentating...any1 kno why Ray went up to 154 to fight Kalule and take his belt when he was gonna jump right back down to 147?

Would post in the History section but its usually dead...

[Thread Stealer]

I wonder if Leonard's team wanted him in there with a bigger guy (not in height and reach but in natural frame) since he was taking on a big WW in Hearns. Then again, Ray had beaten the 160 lb. Geraldo two years earlier. Not sure the exact motive then, why his management would want him to do this 3 months before the megafight.

Arum thought Leonard was too small for Kalule.

[-EX-]

Interesting.......

[edgarg]

It's always been commonplace for top fighters to move up temporarily, and Kalule was a good fighter but no threat to Leonard.

If you look at the 20's and 30's you'll see fighters battling for a crown (for example) who weigh 134 (champion) and 129 (challenger), or, say,
144 (champ) and 138 (Challenger) etc.etc.

Robinson fought Maxim the light-heavy champ weighing only 157 V 173, and Maxim I read somewhere, came into the ring at 184. Robinson was weighed after the fight at 147.

[BattlingNelson]

Kalule was far and away the best fighter at 154. Still Leonard's team was sure of their mans superiority. Leonard wanted to be champion in several divisions and Mogens Palle, promotor/manager for Kalule, had the ugandan fighting Leonard for peanuts.

In the end Leonard caught Kalule and the referee stopped the fight to early. That was at a point in the fight when Kalule was getting better and better. Remember it was 15 rounds and Kalule was in top shape.

[TBear]

Gotta understand this was back when it was important to take tough challenges to prove yourself, it wasn't about remaining undefeated. Kalule was an undefeated southpaw champion that was bigger and a chance for Leonard to prove himself. Leonard had the confidence to take that challenge and after that take on Hearns who at the time seemed unbeatable and very dangerous. Unfortunitely that kind of risk is rare today.