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

[The Big Dunn]

Great athletes draw attention to their sport. What you say about Ali and Leonard is true, but I would argue that those men would find a way to make noise. Those just happen to be the situations they had to deal with. Mayweather is a great fighter, but he's not a great personality. Ali and Leonard were both.

Floyd's personality led to 24/7 winning emmy awards and getting incredible ratings and catapulted him to the same spot Ali and Leonard occupied. The show has now become a staple for all PPV fights. Again, its the times as much as the person

The vietnam war was just a situation ali had to deal with? thats kind of a massive understatement. Would Clay even change his name to Ali and protest a war if he came up today? would so many people in the US be so angry at him for becoming a ******?

Would Leonard have the chance to be seen by so many people today, in primetime and on sat/sun afternoon? Are the olympics in general and boxing specifcally mainstream events/sports today?

I am not arguing floyd is as good as they are. I'm just saying that ther skills had very little to do with how they catapulted to prominence in American popular culture.

[Sugar Adam Ali]

Yes leonard would be a huge ppv draw,,, lets just say instead of 76 gold medalist he was a 2000 gold medalist

He would be killing fools right now, and would have made fights vs margs, shane, cotto, manny, pwill, etc

He would be just as big as floyd and maybe alittle bigger since there is no doubt he would have made the fights the fans want to see

[BattlingNelson]

but isnt that more because of boxing's place in the American sports psyche rather than a reflection of those individuals star power?

Ali became a hero because of his opposition to the Vietnam war, not just because of his fighting. Leonrad became a star as the face of the Olympics.

How could either replicate that post 1992/96?

Ali was also a hero because he was funny, articulate and a great fighter. Vietnam was just a part of it.

[bojangles1987]

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 Big Dunn]

Ali was also a hero because he was funny, articulate and a great fighter. Vietnam was just a part of it.

I would think the Vietnam war and his objection to it resonated more in American poular culture than his boxing.

[BattlingNelson]

I would think the Vietnam war and his objection to it resonated more in American poular culture than his boxing.

I beg to differ. Ali the fighter transformed the sport to what it is today. Vietnam was just a minor part. Ali consistently beat the odds in dramatic fashion and he was an outstanding entertainer inside AND outside of the ring.

There's noone above or beside him.

[The Big Dunn]

I beg to differ. Ali the fighter transformed the sport to what it is today. Vietnam was just a minor part. Ali consistently beat the odds in dramatic fashion and he was an outstanding entertainer inside AND outside of the ring.

There's noone above or beside him.

I am not disagreeing. But Had he not objected to the war and been stripped of his title his whole career surely is different.

The fight with Frazier isn't nearly as important. Maybe it takes place earlier. Maybe Ali loses during the 3 years he was stripped. How then could you have a matchup of 2 undefeated HWT champions in the Garden in 71? Maybe they don't even fight 3 times.

I agree he is an entertainer, but do you think speaking out about the war and embracing Islam was done for entertainment?

[CubanGuyNYC]

Floyd's personality led to 24/7 winning emmy awards and getting incredible ratings and catapulted him to the same spot Ali and Leonard occupied. The show has now become a staple for all PPV fights. Again, its the times as much as the person

The vietnam war was just a situation ali had to deal with? thats kind of a massive understatement. Would Clay even change his name to Ali and protest a war if he came up today? would so many people in the US be so angry at him for becoming a ******?

Would Leonard have the chance to be seen by so many people today, in primetime and on sat/sun afternoon? Are the olympics in general and boxing specifcally mainstream events/sports today?

I am not arguing floyd is as good as they are. I'm just saying that ther skills had very little to do with how they catapulted to prominence in American popular culture.

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.

[Daddy T]

#1 p4p & #1 PPV we'd also have gotten the big fights we wanted to see (well floyd obviously wouldn't fight him but we'd have had great match ups v pacman, prime cotto, mosley, and then the like of Martinez etc too all of which would bring in massive money)

[Oasis_Lad]

If he's fighting on 'Cinco De Mayo' - HUGE Numbers.