If Ray Leonard was boxing today....what kind of PPV numbers would he draw?

[GOD-FR33]

Bigger.

"Post 1996, Olympic boxing has gone from primetime major networks to cable companies at off hours. Ray's Olympics were in the eastern time zone in the US."

This would make him even bigger! Very good point here.

[The Big Dunn]

"Post 1996, Olympic boxing has gone from primetime major networks to cable companies at off hours. Ray's Olympics were in the eastern time zone in the US."

This would make him even bigger! Very good point here.

I actually think it makes him smaller because less of the American public has a chance to see him fight.

[djtmal]

[QU. E=GOD-FR33;14133650]SRL is the greatest fighter of all-times, in my opinion. He had no weaknesses. He was the perfect combination of speed and power. He was born to fight. To answer your question, I think he would be the highest paid fighter ever, if he was fighting today. Ray was a brilliant business man. You think Floyd is good, Ray is even smarter. He was the first fighter to dictate glove size, ring size, who walked out last, and what he would be paid for fighting the best; those were all firsts, back then. He would call out Floyd, Manny, Canelo, Lara, GGG, Sergio, and Ward. When those lights came on, you knew what you were going to see with Ray. Fighting the best and taking risks, is what being perceived as great is all about. The more risks you take as a fighter, the more money you'll make and the more people will tune in. Either to root for you, or against you, or just to see what you'll do next. This is proof that Floyd is BAD for boxing. His refusal to fight the fights the fans want to see, Is unacceptable. All he does, is run his mouth and not back it up. All he does, Is take meaningless fights. He is BAD for the sport we've come to love. [/QUOTE]

Lol yeah he'd be a cash cow, but lets not get carried away here...if you thought fmj was a
retiring/unretiring prima donna...Srl created the blueprint...srl put himself on the shelf about 5 yrs before he fought hagler...sat behind the mike and watched hagler fight war after war, until he felt safe to dip his toes in the pool...sound familiar? Lol...

norris and Camacho were cherrypicks gone wrong...lol

[GOD-FR33]

Risks.

Mabe, but what Americans have shown us, is that they Love "risks". Ray was all about leaving no doubt about who was the best. They would love that about him. Furthermore, boxing is STILL an international sport and even more so than it was then. Because of technology, pop culture, and social media, there's no way he wouldn't be bigger.

[-PBP-]

Depends on the opponent. SRL vs. Pacquiao would do 1.5 million plus. SRL vs. Guerrero would probably do like 500K at best.

Against a regular top contender I think he would do slightly better numbers than Roy.

[The Big Dunn]

Mabe, but what Americans have shown us, is that they Love "risks". Ray was all about leaving no doubt about who was the best. They would love that about him. Furthermore, boxing is STILL an international sport and even more so than it was then. Because of technology, pop culture, and social media, there's no way he wouldn't be bigger.

The sport isn't as big so thats why he wouldn't be bigger. He also isn't the next guy after Ali. SRL came at the PERFECT time. DO not underestimate that. He also was the antihtesis to Ali-just as handsome but FAR less polarizing.

SRL was an American fighter, not a black fighter. The whole US watched him. Howard Cosell went giddy over him. That just wasn't possible the last 20-25 yars. Remember ODH blew up in part because his mother died from Cancer.

I just don't know.

[BattlingNelson]

Not sure about 10 million but he would probably be the no.1 attraction in the sport.

Saying that, does he make the same cultural impact without the big names to fight like Hearns, Duran, Hagler etc and with a much smaller hardcore boxing fanbase? Floyd managed to make it by tapping into the Hip Hop culture, how would Ray Leonard make his dollars?

He'd absolutely destroy every PPV record. No doubt about it. Coming out of the olympics he was more famous and more adored than De La Hoya and Leonard was twice the fighter DLH was and his audience would be global and not only north American.

[CubanGuyNYC]

Ward and Wlad seem to have the same olympic pedigree and outside the ring demeanor as ray (although not as charasmatic). They have fought and defeated everyone. Are not controversial, do not talk **** and they are not ppv stars while being HOF level fighters. AGree ray would be a beast- best out there without a doub. Roy was that and wasn't a ppv star.

See why I am somewhat skeptical?

Ward and Wlad are like watching paint dry compared to Leonard. Ray was about as exciting as they come: blazing fast hand speed, footwork, skilled, flashy, willing to put it on the line and gritty. I don't think there's any comparison whatsoever in terms of appealing styles.

[-MAKAVELLI-]

He'd absolutely destroy every PPV record. No doubt about it. Coming out of the olympics he was more famous and more adored than De La Hoya and Leonard was twice the fighter DLH was.

if he came out the same time as DLH, you might be onto something...but if he came out lets say after 2004 or something when US boxing isn't as closely followed as in the past, then im not so sure


plus, if its just Ray with no Tommy, Duran or Marvin, it would be kinda hard to build that legacy


also, he might get caught up in the promotional cold war that's going on now and might not be able to fight everyone...hell, we already know the biggest name now (floyd) would duck him...how famous would Ray be from beating up the Tim Bradleys of the world?

[The Big Dunn]

Ward and Wlad are like watching paint dry compared to Leonard. Ray was about as exciting as they come: blazing fast hand speed, footwork, skilled, flashy, willing to put it on the line and gritty. I don't think there's any comparison whatsoever in terms of appealing styles.

AGreed, thats why I said olympic pedigree and outside the ring demeanor.

I just don't see how Ray becomes the same American icon in a different era. I think ALi, Ray, Tyson and Floyd IMO perfectly reflect their eras.

ALi isn't Ali in any era other than the 60's. Tyson and Floyd same thing. Yes they all have the same skills, but the times helped shape who these fighters are and how the public embraced them. Same for Ray.