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

[croz]

About the same as most guys today. Leonard is on the same level of popularity as Manny/Floyd/Tyson. Tyson was the numero uno PPV draw but his highest was 1.7 million buys. Floyd has cracked 2 million buys twice, something which is much harder to do today than it was back then due to all the different forms of media which can distract people. Back in the day if you wanted attention all you needed was to get a spot on one of the six or so TV networks. These days you need Twitter, Facebook, HBO, ESPN, Showtime, marketing on major networks, Instagram and advertisements in the streets just to attract the same amount of attention than one TV station would have given you in the past.

[The Big Dunn]

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.

In an era where a gold medals mean nothing?

Notice The gold medal winner with the great resume-ward- is a smaller star then the guy who didn't win a medal and has far less skills-broner.

Maybe you're wrong on this.

[BUNGALOWS]

About the same as most guys today. Leonard is on the same level of popularity as Manny/Floyd/Tyson. Tyson was the numero uno PPV draw but his highest was 1.7 million buys. Floyd has cracked 2 million buys twice, something which is much harder to do today than it was back then due to all the different forms of media which can distract people. Back in the day if you wanted attention all you needed was to get a spot on one of the six or so TV networks. These days you need Twitter, Facebook, HBO, ESPN, Showtime, marketing on major networks, Instagram and advertisements in the streets just to attract the same amount of attention than one TV station would have given you in the past.

Numbers are inflated nowadays, because of what you just pointed out.

[soul_survivor]

I think he would eclipse any other star. That warm smile. That slickness. Prizefighting for real. Dude would get 10 million buys in the US

He'd be huge, I highly doubt the 10 mill figure, not even Tyson could pull that but he'd be bigger than Floyd and Manny.

Leonard was made for modern day PPV, fighting once or twice a year and as long as he was assisted with great adversaries, he'd be the biggest star in the sport since Ali.

Now imagine what Ali could do in the modern boxing TV landscape

[BUNGALOWS]

In an era where a gold medals mean nothing?

Notice The gold medal winner with the great resume-ward- is a smaller star then the guy who didn't win a medal and has far less skills-broner.

Maybe you're wrong on this.

I don't think you read my previous post where I said Ward and Wlad don't count, because of their opponent choices.

Ray is in a different ball park, because of said potential opponents. It's common sense. That's an even bigger reason why Ray would be the top dog today. He can fight all the money makers.

And you didn't even respond to my point. I said, Broner and Floyd were hyped up due to their amateur backgrounds, and the fact that they were clearly talented.

Now add an Olympic Gold medal for a handsome guy that's very well spoken, fighting in the hottest division in boxing, and it's a no brainer. The push he'd get from Haymon or Arum would be insanity.

[croz]

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

Half of Leonard's record is full of guys worse than Guerrero.

[way2strong]

How many PPV's would a Leonard-Mayweather fight do? Good guy versus bad? Oh man...

there wouldn't be a mayweather if srl was around today now imagine a srl-pac man ppv

[American Dream]

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.

I find it amusing when people state how loved Ali was..when in fact during his era he WAS NOT. Joe Frazier was loved more than he was in their era, hence why Ali coined him a "Tom"..of course now, decades later everyone loves and appreciates him, but then that was not the majority emotions..

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.

If you actually knew your history, you'd know that he "retired"..watched and waited for the perfect time to fight Hagler..and you'd also know that he ducked Pryor..also, you bring up hearns, Duran, and hagler as if that sort of talent pool exist in this era..well, it does not..so what names would he fight that would garner him to be a PPV star IN THIS ERA?

as to the questions..NO. he wouldnt be a huge star in this era..because what his star power was based off of in his era, during those prize fighting days no longer exists. He is Roy Jones Jr. in this era..the amazing talent, charisma, flashy in the ring, crowd pleasing style..but thats where it ends. sadly for RJJ, he came out in a time where he had a lack-luster pool..SRL would be no different. The nostalgia doesnt just carry over like that..you cant take the fighter and place them in this era, because it has more to do with the timing of how boxing/prize fighting was that made SRL a star, than it does his talent/charisma..would he be as talented and skilled in this era? ABSOLUTELY.
but...a PPV star? I doubt..

[TBear]

Half of Leonard's record is full of guys worse than Guerrero.

That is silly, look again. I don't recall Leonard fighting any featherweight titlists that went up to welterweight to fight him.

[croz]

Numbers are inflated nowadays, because of what you just pointed out.

No. Social media and scores of new networks make it difficult to focus peoples' attention on one thing. Even because of this TV ratings on all networks have declined since the past. For example if you got a mention on the evening news in the 70s you might be watched by 30 million people. These days you're more likely to be seen by 5 million people in that same slot. So in the past you could put Leonard on the daily news and by the end he'd be introduced to 30 million people, these days if you put Floyd on the news he'd be introduced to far fewer people purely because TV viewerships have fallen substantially.