More Skilled: Sugar Ray Leonard or Bernard Hopkins ???

Hopkins got craftier with age now being something of an old master of the sport. I think Leonard had more natural ability with his speed, reflexes and footwork, which showed in some of the amazing combinations that really only he and Ali could pull off. You could arguably put the young Roy Jones Jr right beside them when talking about pure speed and reflexes.

4 or more alternating repeated uppercuts, triple or quadruple left hooks, double and sometimes triple straights rights, mixed in with quick pivoting feet in and out, side to side, sometimes not in traditiontal boxing stance. They could get away with stuff trainers would tell you never, ever to do. Need I say the evidence is clear as day with regards to the decline of Jones Jr. He doesn't have nowhere near the speed and reflexes to be fighting the way he did when he was young which is why he gets hurt a lot more now.

Hopkins the more harder puncher but slower hands and feet than Ray, became excellent at placing his shots, working off the jab, countering, moving, and preying on his opponents mistakes. Hopkins was more about "The Executioner" in his youth, but now he's more "The Educator" in old age. More to do with going to school and dishing out a boxing lesson.

Excuses aside, Ray's performance in the rematch against Duran is one of his shining moments of boxing skill at it's best. Which one of Hopkins performances compares to that schooling? Pavlik? Tarver? Jones Jr II?

Ray more sensational, Hopkins might be a better pure boxer now.

 

I'd have to go with leonard on this one. Blinding speed trumps the ATG skills of Hopkins. Jones Jr and Joe Cal dazzled in their wins over hop.

 

He's got a much more disciplined guard. Holding his hands up and always one hand at his chin when punching. Also using his left shoulder more for protection and keeping his chin down at all times. That is not a small thing at all.

Hopkins does have technical flaws that Leonard didn't, though. Primarily it's how he falls in behind his right hand lead, and has done his whole career. Also how he at times (especially the old version) keeps his head too low when coming in on an opponent.

All in all I think Leonard's flaws were bigger than Hopkins', though.

 

Funny how he hasn't corrected that flaw so much as augmented it. Nowadays it's a lead-butt-grab move.

 

Offensively, Leonard is more skilled. Better combination punch, better punch variety. If he wanted to, he could grind in the trenches, or he could circle and jab and wait for counter punching opportunities.

Defensively, Hopkins might have the edge, but SRL did out-defend Benitez when they fought. And even though he took a few unnecessary rights from Hearns, he rolled with most of those rights pretty well the first time around.

On the whole, I give the edge to SRL. His speed blinds many to the fact that there was real substance beneath the style. :deal

 

If you took Hearns away from Leonard's list and replaced him with a Pavlik or replaced Duran or Hagler and put an ODLH and Trinidad...would SRL seem more like a diabolical, focused, crafty master than he does?

 

Yeah, nowadays it's really bad. But he's a clever *******, and dirty enough to use it to his advantage, as you say.

 

I thought Leonard looked plenty crafty as it is against Hagler, but apparently that was just flash. Good to know these things, so one doesn't get mistaken.

 

Pretty much agree with Drew, SRL was the more skilful - unless stage managing the latter portion of your career is regarded as a skill.

 

Ray Leonard was one of the ten or fifteen best fighters of the 20th Century. Hopkins, let's keep some perspective, o.k. ?

 

:yep

 

I find Hopkins a bit overated myself. He was a rough grappler type fighter but lets face it, what elite fighters did he take apart in their prime? Noone really. Leonard had to show a lot more stuff against elite pressure fighters and boxers. I say Leonard.

 

Leonard. Hopkins could find someone's weakness the best and all that,but he never would be a prime Leonard.

 

Leonard is the more skilled

 

Leonard. Hopkins had a size advantage throughout the bulk of his career.