I rate both fighters tremendously, but I don't think many will be picking Leonard. I haven't seen Robbie as a Welterweight, but his record is fantastic. I remember Leonard and thought he was great. Maybe someone like Burt could offer a valid comparison?
Theres not much ( if any) film of Robinson at welterweight but both Sugar Rays were at their peak at this weight
There is footage of a 147 SRR on youtube. Essentially a faster version of his middleweight self. I think Leonard runs him close, honestly.
I don't think this is close at all, SRL had no chance. Everything he had, SRR had more of. SRR kos SRL by the 9th round. If Duran can whip Leonard at above his best weight over 15 rds. SRR would ko him , SRR was a naturally bigger fighter, and would just overpower Leonard eventually.
Duran didn't whip Leonard and SRR had a very different style than Duran anyway. I think it would probably be a fairly boring fight, as they each mostly jab and circle each other while Leonard jumps away from his punches. Leonard probably had faster hands but Robinson hit harder and would probably take more rounds by doing more damage.
The RING magazine did a whole issue on the 50 Greatest match-ups we never saw. They saw this fight exactly as you have said it here. A close nip and tuck batlle with a jab duel for the early rounds. Two excellent defenses mostly cancelling out each other with SRR pulling away in the later rounds with the cleaner punches to win clearly on points but still a competitive fight.
Duran not only whipped Leonard, he had him hurt several times, most notably the 2nd round. This is from an ATG in Duran yes, but Duran was a lightweight that came up. SRR was able to bulk up and fill out, fighting at MUCH higher weights than Duran was able to. He was naturally a bigger man and stronger puncher than Duran. If Duran could hurt him, Robinsons masterful and powerful combinations would knock SRL down and out. Good fight for about 4-5 rounds then SRR lowers the boom. SRL might get up and last awhile longer. But not much. SRR KO
rib, yes these old eyes of mine was lucky to see Ray Robinson several times ringside as a welterweight...And hands down he was the greatest fighter I ever saw...He had everything a great fighter needed to possess...You name it, SRR had it in spades. And he had unusual height for a welterweight as he was almost 6ft in height...This gave him an advantage over his shorter opponents. Ray Leonard was also a terrific welterweight who had a much shorter prime than SRR. The main difference between the two was that SRR was a "killer" between the ropes and every punch he threw was with bad intentions...Robinson hit much harder than Leonard did ,could flatten a man even going backwards and considered himself royalty in the ring...He had the greatest "ego" any fighter ever had as shown by a fight I saw against Randy Turpin at the Polo Grounds when Robinson's eye was badly cut in the 9th round and the referee was looking at the eye closely. Well in the 10th round Robby ,fearful of a stoppage went all out in a do or die assault on Turpin hitting the brave Turpin with every punch in the book until the referee stopped the fight. After the fight I saw Robinson's seconds dragging him in the aisles ,and I who was in the 15th row by the aisle watched a completely exhausted Robinson gasping for air as they rushed him to the dressing room...He used up every bit of energy to go for broke...That scene I will never forget...The best "all" around fighter ever...
Kudos bein! The ATG greatest fighter. I'm the 'eras' guy but everyone who doesn't think SRR is da man ignores that. We only saw a few of Ray's rounds at welter. He had retired, came back, and still (as a faded relic of his former self) kicked Middleweight butt. Lastly, did Leonard fight 12 times a year for 10 straight years. I'll guarantee he's have a few (more) losses here and there if he did. I'm sick of the arguments. Robinson is THE greatest fighter that ever stepped thru the ropes! 131-1 after dispatching LaMotta in on St. Valentine's Day. LaMotta beat him in the early forties outweighing him by 16 pounds...and...Ray won virtually every round three weeks later! A prime Ray Robinson in 2000? Line 'em up and stuff 'em in body bags. A prime Ray
