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

[New England]

i can't even imagine how many buys mayweather - leonard would get.


mayweather is a more compelling figure outside of the ring. he plays a perfect villian. leonard is more compelling inside the ring.

leonard could become quite a savage in the ring when he needed to be.


leonard would be one of the planet's highest paid athletes.

[The Big Dunn]

It was not my intention to downplay the Vietnam War or its role in Ali's life. What I am saying is that Ali would've made his presence felt whether the Vietnam conflict existed or not, or whether he had become a ****** or not. I'm saying the same with Leonard. He would've become a superstar even if he hadn't participated in the Olympics. You yourself say that the Olympics don't mean as much anymore in terms of boxing attention (and I agree). If Floyd could become a superstar in such an environment, Ray Leonard surely can.

Leonard would surely be a great fighter. WOuld he be able to flourish in a 24/7 setting like floyd, I don't know? Would his private life be as private in this day and age and how would that affect hwow the public embraced him?

If PPV stardom was based purely on in ring performance- NO QUESTION. Thats why I brought up roy before. He was everything ray was as a fighter-but he never was a star. That was Mike. That in part is why I also mentioned timing.

As for ALi, he was HWT champ when that meant you were the baddest man on the planet. Maybe he makes the HWT crown still releveant. But I would argue there is a slight difference beating Joe Frazier and George Formeman than beating Deontay Wilder and Chris Aerreloa.

[UTEP]

"Ray Leonard you're next"
Cue fight with Amir Khan lol...

I can just hear Richard Schaefer now "Amir Khan has more twitter followers than Sugar Ray Leonard"

[BUNGALOWS]

This is such a simple topic.

There would be no doubts in anyone's mind who the #1 P4P king would be, if Leonard was in boxing today. He'd easily take over Floyd's mantle. He'd get the same amount of people that want to see Floyd lose, except they'd want to see Ray win. Or you could have a 50/50. Either way, the guy would be on ESPN, CBS, NBC, FOX, ABC, all over the airwaves, promoting himself in interviews, and he knew how to speak.

He'd be looked upon as the MJ of boxing. It's a no brainer.

As long as there's a Ray Leonard in boxing. EVERYONE would know he was the #1 P4P fighter, and the key thing is, he could fight at the weight classes where all the money fighters are.

That's the key. That's why bringing up Ward and Wlad have no substance in this argument.

Let's say he beats Manny, Oscar, Mosley, Cotto, Canelo, GGG, etc. He'd easily be boxing's golden boy and then some. And Floyd wouldn't even be taken seriously anymore. He'd be the guy that's 3rd best, that's ducking Ray.

[The Big Dunn]

This is such a simple topic.

There would be no doubts in anyone's mind who the #1 P4P king would be, if Leonard was in boxing today. He'd easily take over Floyd's mantle. He'd get the same amount of people that want to see Floyd lose, except they'd want to see Ray win. Or you could have a 50/50. Either way, the guy would be on ESPN, CBS, NBC, FOX, ABC, all over the airwaves, promoting himself in interviews, and he knew how to speak.

He'd be looked upon as the MJ of boxing. It's a no brainer.

As long as there's a Ray Leonard in boxing. EVERYONE would know he was the #1 P4P fighter, and the key thing is, he could fight at the weight classes where all the money fighters are.

That's the key. That's why bringing up Ward and Wlad have no substance in this argument.

Let's say he beats Manny, Oscar, Mosley, Cotto, Canelo, GGG, etc. He'd easily be boxing's golden boy and then some. And Floyd wouldn't even be taken seriously anymore. He'd be the guy that's 3rd best, that's ducking Ray.

thats why I also brought up roy. he was everything you just listed but wasn't a ppv star.

[-MAKAVELLI-]

Leonard had the looks, the charm, the personality, the style, the skills, the size, the power, the speed, he was like a genetically engineered boxing superstar. No reason to think he wouldn't be not only a superstar, but the biggest star.

the way things are run today, he might be an even bigger diva than Floyd

[BUNGALOWS]

thats why I also brought up roy. he was everything you just listed but wasn't a ppv star.

Roy didn't have the money opponents to put on great PPVs. He fought B-Hop and Toney way too early.

Ray would have a swimming pool full of money fighters.

Oscar, Manny, Cotto, Floyd, GGG, Martinez, Chavez Jr., Danny G, Lucas, Bradley, Canelo, P-Will, Margarito, Winky, Tito, Roy, B-Hop etc.

Roy fought B-Hop and Toney when they weren't really money fighters yet.

[BUNGALOWS]

the way things are run today, he might be an even bigger diva than Floyd

The problem with that logic is, Ray would undoubtedly beat everyone Floyd ducked in today's era. Other than Manny/Floyd/GGG/prime Sergio, who would he actually have to worry about?

Throw in prime Oscar and prime Sugar Shane.

[The Big Dunn]

Roy didn't have the money opponents to put on great PPVs. He fought B-Hop and Toney way too early.

Ray would have a swimming pool full of money fighters.

Oscar, Manny, Cotto, Floyd, GGG, Martinez, Chavez Jr., Danny G, Lucas, Bradley, Canelo, P-Will, Margarito, Winky, Tito, Roy, B-Hop etc.

Roy fought B-Hop and Toney when they weren't really money fighters yet.

Ray started at 147 in 77, fought 4 years until 81, (32 fights), an average of 8 times a year

You think he could replicate that in this era? How would HBO afford 8 SRL fights in a calendar year?

would a network invest that much in a fighter today. could they afford those fights?

[BattlingNelson]

thats why I also brought up roy. he was everything you just listed but wasn't a ppv star.

Who knows where Roy would have been had he fought a trilogy with Nunn, Liles and Toney and had fought Dariusz Michalszewski and Lennox.