Is Sugar Ray Leonard overrated?

[VG_Addict]

Your talking out your ass son..mayweather would give up reach..he would give up his natural speed advantage and he would give up every physical advantages including height...his power would not trouble Leonard ...Judah touched mayweather all night...maidana out jabbed Floyd and so did Oscar...what the hell you talking about...a 130lb midget in mayweather who's only attribute is to shoulder roll and avoid punches beating a natural 147 ATG who has already gave his papa a good old beating ... Mayweather would not survive what Leonard would unload on him

Floyd's shoulder roll isn't his only attribute.

[Joe Beamish]

I'm pretty sure SRL did coke and possibly other drugs, and booze, that would have made him age faster. So his prime was shorter than some people's. But his prime included an unsurpassed resume.

Unsurpassed. He beat Benitez, Duran and Hearns. And later, Hagler. Very few fighters have defeated such great competition even against one opponent -- and most of these guys were themselves in their own prime when Leonard beat them.

Incredible.

[jvsnypes]

even if he beat Floyd it wouldn't be a destruction, nobody just destroys a great boxer like that. this is what im talking about right here, Ray leonard struggled with lesser boxers but he will just DESTROY Floyd one of the greatest technical boxers of all time? this is what im talking about right here

Lets put the love for our favorite fighters aside and go off of straight logic. Floyd vs Ray is just like comparing Ray vs Roy, its just not realistic. As much as I love Ray as a fighter and with all of his abilities and resume, he simply would be too small for the naturally bigger and gifted Roy Jones. Now that holds for Floyd as well. Yes, he is one of the best skilled technicians to ever do it, but he is naturally the smaller fighter and was actually not as good at 147. The version of Floyd that would have given Ray problems was at 130 and 135. That was when he put it all together defensively as well as offensively. That's when he threw way more punches and many in combinations. At 147, he was defensive minded and a pot shotter. That honestly can't be disputed by the most die hard Mayweather fan.

Now you are talking about a natural lightweight with brittle hands all his career fighting a big welterweight who walked down a brutal knockout artist in Hearns. So...if Hearns and a i54lber like Kalule couldn't keep that pitbull off of them, you mean to tell me a defense first, brittle handed, blown up welterweight could??? Its just not logical. What punch would be effective for Floyd? The check hook??? The jab to the stomach??? The straight right??? Ray walked through monster punchers like Duran, Hagler, and Hearns but would get slowed down by Floyd??? It just doesn't make sense. And...I think we get caught up in the hype. Defense wins championships in team sports, not boxing. What you witnessed with Floyd is a great throwback technical fighter competing in an era where the fundamental skills were absent. That is why Floyd, Hopkins, Toney, and Roy are still fighting. This generation is full of talent and ability,but lack the skill set to retire these older fighters in the ring. Ray was battered by Norris because Terry was an old school fighter. Ali was battered by Holmes because Larry came from the old school of boxing and mastered the basic fundamentals of the sweet science. That threat was never there for Floyd and he made that clear every time he made the statement that he was ROBBING THE BANK. He meant that he was making record setting amounts of money by beating marketable names with less skill set. Floyd is a throwback and that is why he is so great in this era. Put him in Leonard's era and he would need more than just skills to beat the greats of that generation. "Skills pay the bills" in this current era. In those days, that just was not the case. If Ray couldn't outbox you, then he would man up and out fight you. That just was a different era of boxing compared to today. So yes, in a 15 round fight at 147, I truly do think Ray stops Floyd, especially if it was on the big stage where both were elite fighters fighting to prove who was the best. Now...if they both were just up and coming and not yet elite a 12 round fight, and the stakes weren't as high, I see it going the distance, but still Ray winning. At 147, Floyd would have absolutely no advantages over Ray. And personality wise, Floyd has the mentality to hit and not get hit, while Ray would take the necessary risks to get to him. Floyd Mayweather is a future hall of famer and an all time great fighter. But its still not realistic to put him in the ring with Sugar Ray Leonard and think he would be successful. There is absolutely no one on his resume to prove otherwise. Put Floyd in the ring with Hearns, Duran, Hagler, Benetiz, Kalule, and even Bonds and there are many question marks. I don't see him winning the majority of those fights. Put Ray in the ring with every fighter that Floyd has fought, and in all honesty, what do you think the results would be??? I can't think of even one of his opponents that would hear the final bell.

[VG_Addict]

Lets put the love for our favorite fighters aside and go off of straight logic. Floyd vs Ray is just like comparing Ray vs Roy, its just not realistic. As much as I love Ray as a fighter and with all of his abilities and resume, he simply would be too small for the naturally bigger and gifted Roy Jones. Now that holds for Floyd as well. Yes, he is one of the best skilled technicians to ever do it, but he is naturally the smaller fighter and was actually not as good at 147. The version of Floyd that would have given Ray problems was at 130 and 135. That was when he put it all together defensively as well as offensively. That's when he threw way more punches and many in combinations. At 147, he was defensive minded and a pot shotter. That honestly can't be disputed by the most die hard Mayweather fan.

Now you are talking about a natural lightweight with brittle hands all his career fighting a big welterweight who walked down a brutal knockout artist in Hearns. So...if Hearns and a i54lber like Kalule couldn't keep that pitbull off of them, you mean to tell me a defense first, brittle handed, blown up welterweight could??? Its just not logical. What punch would be effective for Floyd? The check hook??? The jab to the stomach??? The straight right??? Ray walked through monster punchers like Duran, Hagler, and Hearns but would get slowed down by Floyd??? It just doesn't make sense. And...I think we get caught up in the hype. Defense wins championships in team sports, not boxing. What you witnessed with Floyd is a great throwback technical fighter competing in an era where the fundamental skills were absent. That is why Floyd, Hopkins, Toney, and Roy are still fighting. This generation is full of talent and ability,but lack the skill set to retire these older fighters in the ring. Ray was battered by Norris because Terry was an old school fighter. Ali was battered by Holmes because Larry came from the old school of boxing and mastered the basic fundamentals of the sweet science. That threat was never there for Floyd and he made that clear every time he made the statement that he was ROBBING THE BANK. He meant that he was making record setting amounts of money by beating marketable names with less skill set. Floyd is a throwback and that is why he is so great in this era. Put him in Leonard's era and he would need more than just skills to beat the greats of that generation. "Skills pay the bills" in this current era. In those days, that just was not the case. If Ray couldn't outbox you, then he would man up and out fight you. That just was a different era of boxing compared to today. So yes, in a 15 round fight at 147, I truly do think Ray stops Floyd, especially if it was on the big stage where both were elite fighters fighting to prove who was the best. Now...if they both were just up and coming and not yet elite a 12 round fight, and the stakes weren't as high, I see it going the distance, but still Ray winning. At 147, Floyd would have absolutely no advantages over Ray. And personality wise, Floyd has the mentality to hit and not get hit, while Ray would take the necessary risks to get to him. Floyd Mayweather is a future hall of famer and an all time great fighter. But its still not realistic to put him in the ring with Sugar Ray Leonard and think he would be successful. There is absolutely no one on his resume to prove otherwise. Put Floyd in the ring with Hearns, Duran, Hagler, Benetiz, Kalule, and even Bonds and there are many question marks. I don't see him winning the majority of those fights. Put Ray in the ring with every fighter that Floyd has fought, and in all honesty, what do you think the results would be??? I can't think of even one of his opponents that would hear the final bell.

Would you say skills have decreased in the modern era?

[MurkaMan]

This is down right one of the dumbest post in recent times and just exposed you as a big time fan boy... Who doesn't know sh** about boxing or history of the sport. I myself didn't grow up with Leonard but I've seen enough tape to say, Leonard would be Mayweathers greatest test which he very well could have lost or been KO'ed. Leonard didn't just posses Speed, Technique, Footwork, And a great Boxing IQ but also possessed great power for his size.

SRL is just another opponent to Floyd! Floyd has a style to where everything you do, he slips, counters, steps to the side, do all these small movements in between YOUR movements!

His reflexes are catlike, and almost cartoonic! He melts in between everything you do!

The only fighter in history he cant do that against, is Pacman! Pac is too fast, awkward, smaller, quicker, volume puncher, southpaw with excellent angles!

Yet like all the rest, Floyd made him look flatfooted and clumsey!

Floyd does it to everyone! No matter what style you have, he gets into your body and makes you look flatfooted, slow, foolish!

I always thought Pac could beat Floyd! Pac looked too small! Now we not go lie and say SRL is more awkward than Pac, because thats asinine! SRL is a taller, bigger, less skilled version of Floyd!

Floyd is just going to capitalize on every single thing he does! And personality wise, SRL is going to take the fight super serious and be all dramatic! Floyd is just going to be calm as if its just another name on his resume!

Stylistically, personality wise, mental toughness(Everyone knows SRL is mentally feeble) Floyd would just mismatch someone like that!

I can imagine SRL trying to outbox Floyd and paying in a one sided way, or getting frustrated, or angry and trying to bully Floyd! I seen Floyd walk down men 15lbs heavier! He would put on a show against someone like SRL!

[MurkaMan]

Your talking out your ass son..mayweather would give up reach..he would give up his natural speed advantage and he would give up every physical advantages including height...his power would not trouble Leonard ...Judah touched mayweather all night...maidana out jabbed Floyd and so did Oscar...what the hell you talking about...a 130lb midget in mayweather who's only attribute is to shoulder roll and avoid punches beating a natural 147 ATG who has already gave his papa a good old beating ... Mayweather would not survive what Leonard would unload on him

Mayweather would give up an azzwhippin thats what he would give up! Mayweather has been the smaller man his entire career! And I dont believe boxrec when they claim his arms are longer than everyone and that he is taller!

Dude is shorter and 15lbs smaller than everyone he faces! He faced Ghost like the smaller man! That fight looked like the Hernandez fight a little! And I dont think SRL is faster than Floyd!

Not only that but Floyd's speed changes gears from fight to fight! I dont compare Floyd to his opponents! He changes so much, I compare THIS version of Floyd, to THAT version of Floyd!

Speed doesnt win fights, Floyd's dramatic skills advantage would win it easily, but the Floyd who faced JMM is ten times faster than the Floyd who faced Judah dude Lol!

If Floyd fought in an outdated era like that, they would be shocked that he even exists!

You talked about Marcos! A guy who I actually feel BEAT Floyd the first fight! He was 17lbs heavier, and Floyd was 37! And if SRL tried to fight like that, he would get it even worse! Due to his personality, the counters would stop him in his tracks, unlike Marcos!

Oscar; Floyd had a handful of fights at 135, handful at 140, handful at 147, and jumped to 154, coming into the ring at 150! The Floyd who faced Canelo would TKO Oscar Lol

See the ONLY time Floyd was ever touched, was when it was a circumstance when he wasnt at his best! The fighters who troubled him arent even good enough to land a punch on his greatest day because he humiliates any and everyone!

And you said his only attribute is the shoulder roll right? Plus minus rating is when we take your landing percentage and subtract your opponent's landing percentage, giving you your rating!

For instance, SRL's plus minus is 15! Floyd, at the peek of his career, was a whopping 30! Which was top 3 in boxing HISTORY! In other words; Mismatch! LOL

[bopbopbbe]

Ray Leonard's run from 1979-1981 is arguably one of the greatest string of fights in history and arguably more impressive than Floyd's entire 15+ year career. So no.

[Joe Beamish]

Ray Leonard's run from 1979-1981 is arguably one of the greatest string of fights in history and arguably more impressive than Floyd's entire 15+ year career. So no.

This. While Leonard DID lose fights -- in his prime, only to Duran -- he defeated incredible competition, when those opponents were either in their prime (Benitez, Duran, Hearns) or still extremely good (Hagler) -- and in some cases bigger and longer opponents.

Floyd seems to have avoided the rangier opponents -- being a shrewd career man.

I don't think it's a coincidence that Floyd didn't fight Margarito or Paul Williams. But SRL took on everyone no matter what and landed some seriously impressive wins.

[SouthPawHitman]

Benitez
Duran
Hearns
Hagler
Lalonde

He beat all of those guys.

Look I'm not the biggest fan of Sugar Gay Leonard but that mother****er could fight.

[Rath]

Floyd's shoulder roll isn't his only attribute.

running and hugging are the rest.