In A HypotheticaL Matchup At 147, How Do You Think SRR Would Deal With/Adapt To SRL's Speed Advantage? Robinson At His Peak At 147 Was Lightning Quick, But Leonard Was Faster. How Much Would This Be An Advantage For SRL and WHat Tactics Would SRR use To Overcome It?
The reverse could be asked too. I think Leonard would struggle to adapt to an opponent as fast as he is more than would Robinson.
Robinson would use the jab to attempt to establish and maintain a distance he felt comfortable with...and Robinson is the more physical fighter.
If Roberto Duran could get inside Ray Leonard's head, think of what Robinson would do to him.When it's all over, he'll be looking for Johnny Gill to console him.
SRR fought his toughest opponents more than once each and always had a great ability to alter his strategy in order to defeat his opponents. For speed, hitting power, defense, footwork, and adaptability, nobody could equal SRR.
I don't get that point, Robinson was nothing like the aggressive Duran who screamed obscenities at every opportunity, what would get to Leonard is his boxing skills.
Leonard is on the receiving end of a methodical beat down from the master, Leonard will be permanently on the back foot, Duran nearly KO'd him in the 2nd in Montreal, Leonard's just gonna have to stand there in front of the real Sugar Ray & take his licks and hope he get's knocked out quick!
With a few solid raps to the breadbasket. Those would slow any speedster in history down. SRL would still give him a good fight though.
It would have been a great fight but I feel Robinson had that bit more fire in his belly when the going got tough.
Leonard would push him though, I feel. No easy fight. Leonard matches well with SRR is several key areas. Essentially you have two top 5 guys (or thereabouts) at the weight so it's no easy fight.