a little more analysis please other than bigger is better Ray was bigger than Howard and look at the trouble he had. Ray was only 27 Ray was bigger than Duran and lost Ray was bigger than Camacho and lost that too clearly, size is not an issue aomng the better quality fighters
I've already got two books on the subject (Sorcery at Caesars & the Marvin Hagler story) which is probably more updated than Kimball's book (where u get all your ideas) besides, I have numerous articles from the 1980s. what do I need Kimball's book for and why havent u responded about the commentary in which Ryan quotes Leonard? are u ever planning to reply or are u going to keep changing the subject? what about Alex Wallau's comments re the punishment Hagler took in the Mugabi fight "hagler took the worst beating of his career" what about the numerous sources going back to 1984 from all the columnists calling Hagler "slow" & "hittable" what about the magazines labelling Hagler a "dinosaur" before the start of his fight with Hearns? there's only so much Kimball's book mentions
If Floyd were a natural Welter AND in his prime, I might give him a chance.. But he isn't.. Leonard was prime at that weight.. Floyd started in a much lower class and didn't ascend to that level until he was already in his thirties.
I don't consider Hagler ever took a bad beating. Hagler was in front on all cards at the time of the stoppage against Mugabi. Hagler had gone back a bit when he fought Leonard but was the reigning champion who had not lost in 11 years ,defending against a natural welter who had not fought in 3 years. Hagler's corner did a crap job of motivating him in that fight ,and the single biggest mistake they made was the concession of agreeing to a 12 round fight. No one called Hagler a dinosaur after the Hearns fight.
I like Ray over 15, less sure at 12 rounds. Leonard had a super engine and his stamina and ability to push on late, even if behind is extraordinary. (Hearns, Benitez) He couldn't quite get over the line against Duran, but learned his lesson for fight 2. The Hagler fight was over 12 and controversial but I think not a good pointer to a Mayweather bout. Ray has late knockout power that I think would tell towards the end. Close fights I believe are won in the stretch and SRL was good there.
what a load of crap "Camacho had the makings of a great champion until he ran into Rosario" Hector BEAT Rosario then went on for another 4 years unbeaten. i dont understand what u have rolling around up there in your head but it sure aint brains! as for Leonard stopping Duran, he sure didnt stop him with his fists! no, his stupid antics & unprofessionalism did that seriously, what did Ray do in that fight that stopped Duran, mugging, shuffling? that fite was a load of crap like all the rest of his fights until Norris showed him the true way to box u dont LIKE it? I get the same story when I bringup the 3 gift decisions Pedroza got in his title fights U say u dont care becuz then u wouldnt be able to make the claim he had himself 19 actual defenses and u call me absurd! what's wrong boy? U dont like the way Norris dominated the fite from start to finish, hurt him ten different occasions, knocked him to the floor, knocked his tooth out, and retired him? NOT CLOSE ENOUGH FOR YOU? maybe u dont like the fact that Ray struck Terry his best shots but couldnt make "glass chinned" Terry blink? what's wrong now, his jaw wasnt WEAK enough for you? its not FAIR u say? after all, Terry was as big an undedog Ray was in the Hagler fite now for the really bad part: Ray was unbeaten for the last 11 years! If Ray were half the fighter people like u say he was, he'd have had no problem with Norris that nite. instead he just fed fuel to his critics who claim his sucess depended on handpicked opponents and remember, Ray may have been 34 but Floyd is 38 and still without a loss that's why u have to declare Floyd the better p4p fighter AND welterweight
there's a lot u dont know obviously. In an article by jeff Ryan (pre hearns)comparing Holmes & Hagler, both were viewed as great fighters but on their way out and described as dinosaurs I know there's a lot of things u dont like to accept Mcvey; that Pedroza didnt make 19 LEGITIMATE def. u said u didnt care u also said Ali beat Jimmy Young which we all know he didnt come close u also dont like the fact that Norris employed the style needed to reduce Leonard from sweet to sour and that Floyd at 38 is still unbeaten while Leonard fell from grace at age 34 (to who else? Norris!) but as they say, such is life and we must accept even those things we find hard to accept
baloney. "I dont consider Hagler taking a bad beating" that's becuz youre in a constant state of denial which u prove to me every time u post look at his face after the Mugabi fight "SO WHAT if his face was bruised & PURPLE! I dont CARE! HE WAS AHEAD!!" "I dont care if his Doctor said he was pissing blood, he shouldnt have signed to meet Leonard for 12 rounds. that's poor judgement on the part of the Petronellis!" I can see you're obviously a big Ali & Leonard fan which clouds your judgement and cant face facts, especially coming from me but as they say in England, "such is life" Norris beat him with his speed. painted him up N down , up & down, up & down, until his masterpiece was complete with masterful strokes not unlike a Picasso, a Monet, a Devinchi, he painted, and he painted some more. he painted ray leonard until he had him on the floor, until his tooth came out, until he doubed him over with hooks to the ribcage, until he had both Leonard & Dr. Pacheco in tears How do u spell greatness? F-L-O-Y-D M-A-Y-W-E-A-T-H-E-R
Careful now. No one is allowed to point out facts or statistics to Mc ( I know everything ) Vey. He doesn't like his worthless opinions challenged. Bit of a legend in his own lunchtime is the joker from the great garden of England,known as Kunt. He'll claim Leonards wins over Hearns, Duran, and Benitez guarantees ATG status, but conveniently doesn't mention the defeat to Duran, the gifted draw with Hearns that any sane person knows was a defeat, so that just leaves Benitez, and a well past his prime Hagler for the ATG status. This guy just likes to read his own drivel, whilst claiming to have professorial knowledge. Everyone knows that Leonard was an exceptional fighter, but much like Tyson his accomplishments have been exaggerated to mythical proportions.
that's the usual defense with leonard fans - "he beat Benitez, Duran, Hearns, Hagler. this cements his claim to greatness. Top five for me!" He does the same with Pedroza. sure 19 defenses looks great on paper until you find out he actually LOST to Bernard Taylor in 1982 (was lucky to get a draw) did u ever see that? Bernard won ten rounds easy. Eusebio was never the fast guy out ther and couldnt really punch either (like Mcguigan) and was outslicked that nite not to mention the fact, he lost to Lockridge in 1980 so there is NO WAY this man has 19 defenses Mcvey also cant come to terms that Ali got beat by Young, claiming that "well, Jimmy just couldnt go that extra mile" which I dont understand how got mixed with the scoring of the fight as Jimmy kept drilling Ali with right hands and made "Thee greatest!" miss all night long some people just like to keep myths going
better than leonard did, that's for sure Ray's weakness was trying to cope with fast boxers. I saw it in the first Hearns fight and when I found out he signed to fight Norris, I knew he was ripe for a devestating defeat. I made a mint on that fight becuz everyone thought Ray was going to win, and put that chinny chinned Norris out on a stretcher