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

[-MAKAVELLI-]

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.

Floyd would undoubtedly beat most fighters out there today as well but he doesn't fight everyone...who's to day Ray wouldn't follow in the same path

if Ray era was filled with a bunch of Robert Guerreros and Victor Ortizes with $30mil purses next to them, who's to say he still goes life and death with the Hearsns, Haglers and Durans of his era? hell, that diva had his own pouty retirements and even waited for Marvin to slip before he fought him

[LoadedWraps]

He would be the undisputed p4p king, cash cow, and the most recent and probably the next fighter of the decade if he was in his prime in this era.

[The Big Dunn]

Floyd would undoubtedly beat most fighters out there today as well but he doesn't fight everyone...who's to day Ray wouldn't follow in the same path

if Ray era was filled with a bunch of Robert Guerreros and Victor Ortizes with $30mil purses next to them, who's to say he still goes life and death with the Hearsns, Haglers and Durans of his era? hell, that diva had his own pouty retirements and even waited for Marvin to slip before he fought him

Imagine had ray pulled that press conference bull**** in 2013?

[BUNGALOWS]

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?

But that's the thing. He wouldn't have to. He could save his body for the top dogs.

Let's put this into simple terms. All he really needs to do is beat a Manny, Floyd, Cotto, Oscar or a Canelo, and it's over. He really only needs to beat one of those guys, and it's all simple after that.

Who do you think Haymon, Arum, Top Rank, or Golden Boy push to be boxing's mega star? Depending on promoters.

If they all know he's the best fighter in this era, and he's most likely the favorite against every boxer in or around his weight classes, why not push him to be boxing's best, and set him up to be the money guy.

And you can't use the GGG theory. Ray's handsome, African American, well spoken, and can speak English. Night and day.

Trust me. He'd get the biggest push in boxing. By far.

[The Big Dunn]

But that's the thing. He wouldn't have to. He could save his body for the top dogs.

Let's put this into simple terms. All he really needs to do is beat a Manny, Floyd, Cotto, Oscar or a Canelo, and it's over. He really only needs to beat one of those guys, and it's all simple after that.

Who do you think Haymon, Arum, Top Rank, or Golden Boy push to be boxing's mega star? Depending on promoters.

If they all know he's the best fighter in this era, and he's most likely the favorite against every boxer in or around his weight classes, why not push him to be boxing's best, and set him up to be the money guy.

And you can't use the GGG theory. Ray's handsome, African American, well spoken, and can speak English. Night and day.

Trust me. He'd get the biggest push in boxing. By far.

Respectfully, you are assuming ray comes into the sport with as much noterity as he did in 1976, which he wouldn't. Then you are assuming without this noteriety he would be able to get all these fights, which he wouldn't.

If your point is Ray in this era is the same as ray in 1976-then yes he would likely be the biggest star. But that can't possibly happen.

Ray was headlining Ceasars and was the house fighter before he was even NABF ww champ. who has done that in this era?

[CubanGuyNYC]

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.

In this age of "reality TV," a guy like Mayweather and his ***********al family are perfect for public consumption. But Leonard is genuinely charismatic, while Floyd is not. Ray's 24/7 episodes would've had a wholly different flavor. Maybe it wouldn't have translated as well, but I think it would've worked.

[BUNGALOWS]

Respectfully, you are assuming ray comes into the sport with as much noterity as he did in 1976, which he wouldn't. Then you are assuming without this noteriety he would be able to get all these fights, which he wouldn't.

If your point is Ray in this era is the same as ray in 1976-then yes he would likely be the biggest star. But that can't possibly happen.

Ray was headlining Ceasars and was the house fighter before he was even NABF ww champ. who has done that in this era?

I stated this on the first page. Broner, before the audience knew he was a show boating clown, got a huge push by Haymon and Golden Boy, BECAUSE of his amateur pedigree, and PERCEIVED skills.

Now what do you think a Sugar Ray Leonard, fresh off an Olympic gold medal would get? A pat on the back, and a high five?

Nah. He'd get an even bigger push than Floyd or Broner from jump street.

And he'd lose to no one. He'd be boxing's biggest star.

[Kingjames6Flee]

He wouldn't put up better numbers than floyd. Probably around the same but I'd doubt he'd surpass floyd.

[BUNGALOWS]

Floyd would undoubtedly beat most fighters out there today as well but he doesn't fight everyone...who's to day Ray wouldn't follow in the same path

if Ray era was filled with a bunch of Robert Guerreros and Victor Ortizes with $30mil purses next to them, who's to say he still goes life and death with the Hearsns, Haglers and Durans of his era? hell, that diva had his own pouty retirements and even waited for Marvin to slip before he fought him

That's the thing. He had the confidence to take on the Hgaler, Hearns, Duran's. So you're point is moot. Like you said. Today's boxing IS filled with some sub par "elite" fighters.

That's why I said, you really think Ray's worried about anyone in today's era? Think about it. He had the confidence to take on Hearns. Nuff said.

And you're thing about, he could get paid $30 million to fight the Guerrero's of the world. Of course, but that's after he lets it be known that's he's the #1 P4P king, without dispute. After beating Floyd and Manny.

[BUNGALOWS]

He wouldn't put up better numbers than floyd. Probably around the same but I'd doubt he'd surpass floyd.

If he beat Manny or Floyd he would. And he could undoubtedly do both those things.

And if you come back with, "but what if they never fight him? They're the headliner/money makers." By the time it got to that point, there's no doubt in my mind Ray would be on their level as well, except he'd be the one that the boxing public would acknowledge that would beat both guys.