Ray Leonard: P4P Rating over last 50 Years?

Srl, duran, ali

 

whew.

 

'Whew' is right. Stream of consciousness-ed it up. I'm James Joyce, only better.

Also less Irishy.

 

not top five. he ALWAYS fought with the advantage, be it ring size, timing of the fight, weight, glove size, etc. He NEVER gave a rematch. Once he lost a iota of speed he was a very average fighter.

 

:rofl

Its really just bladerunner and his alts (diamond eye, callete negro) that follow me around just because I owned him in a Floyd/Pac thread awhile back

 

Hi Hands of Iron. Great thread topic and great posts from you.
I have to put Ray Leonard among the very top in terms of ability,accomplishments, desire and overall skill level.
He obviously had two very controversial decisions against the great Marvin Hagler and the great Tommy Hearns(2nd fight) I just want to talk about that second fight and in regards to the heart of Sugar Ray.

That 2nd fight was between two aging ATG'S past their primes and they both went to war against each other in a way they never did during their peak days. Leonard was hit by so many Hearns right hands it was shocking to see him still coming out. He took that barrage in the 11th and went down. You could see in his eyes and you could tell by his facial expression that he was for the first time in his life at rock bottom. There was still around 2 minutes left in the round (I think) and you could literally feel Sugar Ray's will sap out with that knock down. Yet, he pulled himself up and what does he do? He swings right back at Hearns and hit him with a left. That one moment of discouragement from a fading fighter who was on his last legs was pushed down almost immediately by his heart, will and sheer determination.


At the end of the 12th Round Larry Merchant shockingly delivered a great quote. (shocking because normally his level of intelligence is not capable of delivering anything more than ramblings)

As Leonard and Hearns swing at each other with the final seconds ticking away Merchant said

"" They are coming across the finish line with nothing left, they given every ounce of their hearts and they have big hearts"

 

Ray Leonard was awesome but Marvin Hagler, Roberto Duran, Pernell Whitaker and Mike Tyson were better.

I thought Hagler beat Leonard without even breaking a sweat.

 

Tyson better than Leonard.
Are you serious? :huh
Even Whitaker doesn't quite rank above him.
And BTW Hands,you know how I feel about Mike,but what's right is right.:-(

 

I know mate.Just didn't want it to look like I'm shitting on Mike.
It was just a fairly ludicrous suggestion.

 

Roberto Duran is GREATER than Sugar Ray Leonard P4P, but Sugar Ray Leonard is BETTER than Roberto Duran in my honest view.

 

Heavyweights not included, P4P greatest:
1. Roberto Duran
2. Ray Leonard
3. Marvin Hagler
4. Carlos Monzon
5. Bernard Hopkins
6. Thomas Hearns
7. Antonio Cervantes (Why is there not enough mention of this man?)
8. Julio Cesar Chavez
9. Salvador Sanchez
10. Floyd Mayweather vs Pernell Whitaker or Oscar De La Hoya (Don't underestimate him, wins over Trinidad, Mosley, Leija, Ruelas, Camacho, a pretty good Chavez, Quartey, Gonzalez, Hernandez, Vargas and in my opinion a slight win over Whittaker) - He has a greater career than almost all!) Cannot choose between them. I say Mayweather is a *better* fighter than say, Oscar, but I think Oscar is at least just as *great* as Floyd.