Sugar Ray Leonard - Great fighter.

[Dave's Top Ten]

Otherwise it's just a nuthugging thread, which is a bit drab dont you think?

[Addie]

Originally Posted by Dave's Top Ten

Im not sure how you can say it's garbage. I don't see that I'm saying anything outrageous or obviously false. It's called having a balanced view.

Sugar Ray Leonard's greatness isn't overrated. He is usually placed outside of the top 15 on most P4P all time lists, which is where he arguably belongs. I'd argue that he is top 15 easily, with his signature wins and overall skillset.

[Addie]

Originally Posted by Dave's Top Ten

Otherwise it's just a nuthugging thread, which is a bit drab dont you think?

Drab perhaps, but we're talking Boxing. If you want to discredit Sugar Ray, let's discuss how sometimes he would hold his hands to low, or how he went on far to long like most the great fighters of the past.

I think all of that shit outside of the ring is bullshit, and I clearly stated in the opening post, that if you want to discuss that, leave it for another thread. There are plenty to choose from.

[natonic]

Originally Posted by Dave's Top Ten

Somewhat overated in the greatness stakes, but naturally enough seeing as he was so well loved, charismatic and manipulative of the sport and it's participants.

If Leonard manipulated the sport and his opponents, it's because he could. He had the smarts and savvy to do so. It was good to see somebody not get screwed over by Don King. I don't hold that against him, nor do I hold your opinions against you .

[Dave's Top Ten]

Originally Posted by selfkill

Drab perhaps, but we're talking Boxing. If you want to discredit Sugar Ray, let's discuss how sometimes he would hold his hands to low, or how he went on far to long like most the great fighters of the past.

I think all of that shit outside of the ring is bullshit, and I clearly stated in the opening post, that if you want to discuss that, leave it for another thread. There are plenty to choose from.

Deepest apologies mate. Enjoy your nuthugging !!

[Dave's Top Ten]

Originally Posted by natonic

If Leonard manipulated the sport and his opponents, it's because he could. He had the smarts and savvy to do so. It was good to see somebody not get screwed over by Don King. I don't hold that against him, nor do I hold your opinions against you .

I agree, more boxers should be like Leonard - controlling their careers and making the most of it while they can. My point is, as much as I admire Leonards skills and tenacity (he is one of the most determined fighters I think I've seen) I find it very hard to rate his greatness as there were a number of fights he should have had at certain times, and for one reason or another, he didn't. After he retired he had a certain standing in boxing history. After his exploits from '87 onward he seems to have risen to even greater heights which I think is wrong as all he did was take on boxers who should have been retired already.


I better keep quiet now or I'll get in trouble with Selfkill. Peace

[JohnThomas1]

Greatest fighter of his era even with the breaks. Second greatest fighter of the Fab 4 historically and obviously the top dog H2H in their series.

He'd prolly make 10-15 for me with Duran 5 - 10.

[mr. magoo]

This thread is probably the equivilant of the stink bait that I used to lure cat fish last weekend, when hunting and trapping the north American Red Rooster.

[Sweet Pea]

I hate it when people whine about Leonard ducking certain fighters. Seriously, you can make this claim about almost any fighter, and his top wins are as impressive if not moreso than pretty much any boxer in the history of the sport.

Yes, the man had his flaws outside of the ring, but inside the ring he was without question one of the most complete boxers there's ever been.

[JohnThomas1]

Originally Posted by mr. magoo

This thread is probably the equivilant of the stink bait that I used to lure cat fish last weekend, when hunting and trapping the north American Red Rooster.

Not exactly difficult for either catch i'm sure you'd agree

[natonic]

Originally Posted by Sweet Pea

I hate it when people whine about Leonard ducking certain fighters. Seriously, you can make this claim about almost any fighter, and his top wins are as impressive if not moreso than pretty much any boxer in the history of the sport.

Yes, the man had his flaws outside of the ring, but inside the ring he was without question one of the most complete boxers there's ever been.

Agreed. Leonard fought Benitez, Duran twice, and Hearns within a span of 2 years. I think we'd be hard pressed to find a tougher 2 year span for any fighter in history. People sometimes forget that he had a legitimate injury (torn retina) which ended careers. They also forget that there was concern for his eye and his health in general when he took the Hagler fight. Whatever side you fall on as to who won the fight, doesn't change the remarkable effort he gave as a huge underdog.

[Azania]

I'm one of Tommy Hearns all-time fans...but even I gotta admit,Sugar Ray Leonard was special as a fighter.The guy had it all....Up to this day,I still can't get the perfomance he put up against Hagler...regardless of who you think won...that perfomance IMO,sealed Ray's legacy as an ATG...The man had heart...power...chin steel balls....flashy skills..all combined.

A true ATG.I concur..he's mos def top 15ish P4P in my book.Great fighter.

[Bill Butcher]

1 of the most complete fighters ever... best boxer of the 80s.... super versatile.... excellent finisher... beat some of the ATGs of boxing... made Duran quit... stopped Hearns... stopped benitez... outboxed Hagler.... top 5 p4p in my personal book as far as opponents beaten & pure ability.
SRL doesnt need to pad his record with another 20 meaningless wins to pass as 1 of the top 10 best ever boxers, 40 fights is enough to see how special he was... 1 of the very best in history without question.

[The Predator]

Sugar Ray Leonard is the second best ever for me (Ali nr 1). That fight against Hagler is the fight I can watch over and over again and still find new teqniqual stuff that no other fighter has done. He might have hold his hands lover than anyone else (apart from Ali then) but with those reflexes he had you can get away with it, and obviously he and Ali did.
In my opinion Sugar Ray Leonard and Ali IS how boxing should be. Flashy classy and full of showmanship.
All the best
The Predator

[carras]

one of the best to ever lace them up.