Weaknesses in Sugar Ray Leonard

There is no glaring weakness in his game. He was an all around great boxer. Even his punching power can`t be ignored. The inside game is one of Leonard`s strengths. Footwork, defense, ring IQ, its all there. I guess if I wanna reach for something you could say his eye. You would have to apply a great jab like Hearns

 

His only weaknesses were ageing and an ego that made him come back at least two times too many. If he'd stayed retired after the Hagler fight, he'd look untouchable. The fights he took from '88 onwards did nothing to enhance his legacy.

Technical weaknesses? I don't think he really had any.

 

Randy Shields said he slightly telegraphed his punches.I've no idea if this is true,if he did he must have sent them first class because most of them landed!

 

His only weakness that I can see was inexperience. Not really a weakness, and one duly erased after Duran 1. Hell of a boxer.

 

At 147, I would only put Robinson above him.

 

he had better mechanics than say a Terry Norris yet someone like Terry who was inferior beats him every time thru movement and hustle. when you have Terry's speed you can beat him to the punch, then tie him up (much like Monzon! What's he gonna do!)

Ray usually spent too much time looking for openings while Terry would just let her fly, then quickly move out of range

another problem was his chin, evidenced by the Rodriguez fight, the Geraldo fight, Duran 1, K. Howard, Lalonde, especially vulnerable to fast, sharp hitters like Norris & Camacho who ruined him physically and mentally early on their fights

the Hearns fight - fight 1, you'd think his fight with Hearns were emblematic of his entire career (as opposed to anomalous, which it was)

the other glaring weakness was his inability to deal with fast, slick movers, and even mediocre ones with anemic offense (Bonds) 1981. so it makes no difference whether prime or not!

If her were really the fighter some claim, he'd have had no problem with Norris, and wouldnt be hesitant to take matches with better ones - Nunn, Pryor, etc instead of pursuing matches with people like Lalonde whose style played more to his strengths

 

I couldnt see any weaknesses in his game. I tried trust me.
As mentioned by Jel staying around too long was his only mistake. Age caught up with him.

 

Can't stand the *****, but I don't see any weaknesses except for his ego and arrogance. Although those obviously didn't prevent him from being a superb pugilist, probably the best I've ever seen in my lifetime, and I'm 56. I also believe one of his absolute greatest strengths was his very, very high ring IQ.

 

First off, he really did not have a lot of bouts. I think if he had say, another 25 bouts we'd have certainly seen more deterioration with his reflexes. Legs. Knees. Hands. Shoulders. Even the retina thing certainly does not get better. So for a guy not really having to absorb a lot of punishment early on, he sure showed the effects later on.

The other flaw was a judgmental error not keeping Angie Dundee around. He certainly performed much better with Angie than without. And at an older age it became a bigger factor to have Angie around.

But what a competitor. Smart. And man, could he ever pre-scout opponents prior to getting in the ring with them. He always seemed to be the rare breed of guy that forced the other guy into mistakes. Constantly. And he was a world class finisher once he got a guy ready to go.

I also think he was the best guy I saw since Ali to play to the judges and do the things they just loved when they filled out their scorecards. What a skill that is. Just think of all the fighters over the last 35 years who did not have that in their toolchest. How many rounds did he win after about the 2:40 mark with those flashy shoeshine flurries of his? It'd raise him up and seemingly discourage the opponent. A thing of beauty.

 

oh no? I just listed all of them!

 

to the untrained eye. if you look and still cant find them, whilst I can find them w/o half trying, it makes me the professor of boxing and the greatest analyst ever

 

No Rooster, it makes you a troll. Same as you have always been.

 

The guy with the chin problem was Norris!
Who floored Leonard when he was prime?
"Makes no difference not being prime?"
This has to be one of the most obtuse statements I've ever heard on this forum!

Which fast slick movers beat Leonard when he was prime?

 

Listen man your so caught up in ur Terry Norris agenda a blind man can see it.
I don't agree with your post and I don't agree with your Norris assesment. Christ sake look at Terrys record. Besides Duran Leonard didn't lose in his prime. Can u say the same about Norris?
That's all I'm saying on this. Case closed. I'm not here to argue!! I'm here because I enjoy the boxing talk. I don't get paid for being on here to argue. I have other things to do !