Mickey Walker vs Sugar Ray Leonard

I think this one will be similar to Duran-Leonard I. Just that the toy bulldog would be less experienced but in turn bigger and even more tenacious. Leonard would have a bit more success of staying awake I think but on the other hand would be in more danger close and if Duran hurt him Walker has a serious chance of putting Leonard away - don´t think it would happen though. Walker won´t cruise the last round but Leonard would win more of the copetative rounds. IMO this one will be something like 9-6 to 8-7 for Walker.

 

Walker was great, but not as skilled or athletic as SRL...... If Ray utilizes his speed and skills, Walker has a long night chasing and hitting at the air...... If Ray get manly and fights, well, he could lose to Walker........ I pick a smart SRL boxing.......

MR.BILL

 

Walker fought better in ring, was better all around, and competition is out of Leonards league. Look at Leonard Hagler, ray demanded and got every concession he wanted, from ring size to type of gloves. Walker took on anyone, including top light heavyweights and heavyweights. In his prime his experience was way over any modern fighters level.

 

Got to give it to Leonard. He just had that extra gear he'd need, and was the more talented fighter.

Could definitely see a pre-Montreal Ray taking a butt whupping, though.

 

Did Leonard have the extra gear to go on and get considered as a Top3 hw of his time like Walker did? :think

 

Walker would have no problem beating Leonard at any weight over 200 lbs. We're talking 147. Leonard, UD.

Greatness at other weights doesn't preclude lower weight invincibility.

 

I never said that. What I am doing is criticising your judgement that Leonard had "that extra gear" that Walker didn´t have. If Walker wouldn´t have had that he wouldn´t have been able to hang in with lhws and hws. If anything Walker proved more that he had it than Leonard. I also don´t think Leonard was more talented than Walker. Differently talented but not more.

 

Oh, Walker had that extra gear. Definitely.

I think Leonard having it too allows him to come out over it, on top of his other advantages. There is no way he'd get away with not having to reach deep, deep down to pull it off.

I was saying, he could. And I think his chin can survive some of what he would cop, and his own lightning blend of box punching would see him land more and better.

I concede pre-Duran I because Ray learned in that fight that fighting smart is sometimes the discretion that is the better part of valor, and thats a lesson he might damn well need in this match up.

Miscommunication.

 

Fair enough. :thumbsup

 

The footage we have of Walker is limited, in terms of skillset though he doesn't look on the level of a Duran. Walker also likely wasn't in his prime at 147, his form there isn't as good as it becomes from 160-175, he has losses to a 38yo Britton (going 1-1), Latzo (going 1-1) and Dundee. I don't think any of those are on the level of a WW Leonard. HE seems to perform worse against boxer movers, technicians and quicker fighters - Greb, Loughran, Britton, Latzo. So all in all considering the style, form at the weight and primeness you have to favour Leonard

 

You may favor Leonard by decision but Walker would be a terrific opponent for him ... his terrific strength, stamina, power and chin would make it a very tough match up ... a very tough , interesting fight ..

 

nobody is disputing that, Leonard for me

 

I think Leonard would take a UD. His boxing ability paired with his durability make him a nightmare for anyone at WW.

 

Mickey did deck and dethrone Britton in their rematch, and this after Jack was reportedly finally getting the better of Benny Leonard in their rematch before the controversial fight ending DQ. In Mickey's first WW defense, he decked Pete Latzo twice to take a clear 12 round NWS. Also defended succesfully against Tendler, and beat the hell out of reigning LHW Champion McTigue in a title challenge during his own WW reign he could only win by knockout. Recently minted IBHOFer Dave Shade was another successful WW defense. Between his 1922 dethroning of Britton and his 1932 losses to Risko and Schmeling, beating him required Greb, a peaking Loughran (by SD), severe weight draining in his WW Title loss rematch to former victim Latzo, and getting head butted into submission by Joe Dundee. (When did Ray significantly butt anybody aside from the accidental clash of heads with Benitez?)

Granted, it's a judgment call on my part, but I believe Mickey was already competent enough as WW Champion to take the UD over Ray. It must be acknowledged though that we never got to discover how good a WW SRL might have become, thanks to that detached retina causing him to take a hiatus at just 25 after Bruce Finch.

No great issues with those favoring Ray here. My supposition is that Mickey would be able to go through his power and attack SRL's body with abandon without letup. Ask me tomorrow for an alternative view. (Maybe I'll use one of my ten dozen alternate accounts to make a case for Ray later, so people don't think I'm the severe schizophrenic I am.silly)