Is sugar Ray Leonard the greatest welterweight?

[TheSouthpaw]

[quote=Hands of Iron;13959088][/quote/

Its true and you know it.

[TheSouthpaw]

Originally Posted by DrBanzai

Ray would beat Robinson, both would easily destroy Floyd.

Robinson woulda murdered both of them within 8 rounds or less. He'd probably have gayweather outa there in the 1st.

[hernanday]

I was thinking of SRR more as the middleweight when I made the thread. And the reason why I'd love to see SRL vs Pryor was because Pryor was good at beating tall guys, only had 1 lost, and it was when he was past prime. But Leonard was really damn good. Probably a living legend. And short of Pryor I doubt there has been any other welter who could beat him in a series. He had such good endurance that even if you were beating him, he had time to run and figure you out.

To be honest I have not seen enough of SRR to know how good he is or how he really behaved in a fight to determine if he could beat srl.

[hernanday]

Originally Posted by Longhhorn71

Armstrong, Barney Ross, Mickey Walker, and other fighters at welter could beat SRL.

Many great fighters at 147.

I've watched some armstrong fights, guy can fight like hell, rams his head into your chest, looks at your feet, never takes a step backwards and punches like hell. Use to hammer down railroads which is like chopping wood. I suspect SRL would try to knock his head off when he tries to come in.

[hernanday]

Who do you guys think would win Pryor or SRL, I can't decide, both look so damn good.

[PhillyPhan69]

Originally Posted by hernanday

Who do you guys think would win Pryor or SRL, I can't decide, both look so damn good.

I always wished this would have happened. I felt that Pryor's intensity would be to much and he would smother Ray not allowing him to get comfortable and get off the way he wants to. I would cheer for the Hawk and that bias could likely make my scenerio while a possibility but also not the most likely outcome. Ray would deservedly be the favorite going into this....I like the Hawk in an upset, but now years later wouldn't wager a dime on it.

[MAG1965]

Originally Posted by Bokaj

Much rather see him against Curry. Pryor was way to open to come good against a larger sharp shooter like Leonard, but Curry matches Leonard for speed, eclipse him in terms of technique and perhaps in power as well. Leonard would have to rely on smarts and guts, which he had as much of as any fighter ever, in this one.

I agree. Curry was solid at the weight unlike Pryor, and in 1985 when Curry fought McCrory, a Leonard from 1981 fight is a great fight. I still see Ray winning, but a close decision in a grueling fight where the fight starts off with both guys look for opening and not finding many.

[MAG1965]

Originally Posted by hernanday

Who do you guys think would win Pryor or SRL, I can't decide, both look so damn good.

Leonard was a big welterweight. I think he could stop Pryor in the mid rounds. Ray fought so many great fighters, to think he could have fought Pryor added onto Hearns,Duran,Benitez in that time frame?

[ETM]

Pryor was a beast but he was also basically a lightweight. He moved to `140 because he couldnt get a title shot at `35. He could put on fierce pressure but I dont think he had the defense moving into Ray Leonard that he would need.

I think Leonard may struggle with him for 5 or 6 rounds but he eventually catches him coming in and ends the fight.

[hernanday]

So the consesus is he pressures ray heavily until he tires a bit an ray slowly overwhelms him. Sounds quiet plausible, especially in a 15 rounder.

[Hands of Iron]

He'd likely be stopped dead in his tracks coming at Leonard that wide open.

[dogcatcher]

Pryor was closer to Lw than WW imo and I would rather have seen him vs Duran than Leonard.

I hate mismatches due to size disparity.

Robinson and Leonard is the best matchup to be made at welter in the history of the sport, at least from 1943 onward.

[Senor Pepe']

Sugar Ray Robinson,,,

A 'super prime' Ray Leonard had a hard time keeping 'light-punching' Wilfred Benitez
off of him, in a battle of 'brilliant boxers'.

Ray Robinson takes command in Round 9, and puts the 'hammer down' in Round 11.

[dyna]

Originally Posted by TheSouthpaw

Robinson woulda murdered both of them within 8 rounds or less. He'd probably have gayweather outa there in the 1st.

You're an idiot to think Robinson would KO Mayweather in 1 round...
Health comes first and you know it.

[Clinton]

Originally Posted by hernanday

I was thinking of SRR more as the middleweight when I made the thread. And the reason why I'd love to see SRL vs Pryor was because Pryor was good at beating tall guys, only had 1 lost, and it was when he was past prime. But Leonard was really damn good. Probably a living legend. And short of Pryor I doubt there has been any other welter who could beat him in a series. He had such good endurance that even if you were beating him, he had time to run and figure you out.

To be honest I have not seen enough of SRR to know how good he is or how he really behaved in a fight to determine if he could beat srl.

Personally, I believe Leonard would have handled Pryor convincingly. Pryor's only advantage over Leonard is workrate, and Leonard had great stamina himself.