James Toney vs Sugar Ray Leonard

A world where Ray Leonard beat Marvin Hagler while James Toney got whipped by Dave Tiberi and went life and death with Reggie Johnson.

It's called reality.

 

Indeed they would

 

in a world where he had to wait 5 years for a champion to run dry, then shoot for a disputed decision over a shell and failed to make one title defense and ran scared of any LIVE competition at 160

I sure didnt see Ray Leonard take on Nunn when he had the chance

James Toney did the trick. Leonard didnt

neither did I see leonard in with the likes of Johnson

who should I give credit to; the guy who DID or the guy who didnt?

 

You really do hate Ray.

 

Leonard was a fantastic fighter whereas Toney was very good but could be inconsistent, i would pick Leonard.

 

Leonard picked a pocket that night, smoke, mirrors and a rabbit outa hat. He didn't beat Hagler, and not beating that version of Hagler speaks volumes about what would have happened with peak, prime, focused Hagler. And yet, he got the 'w', but sometimes history doesn't give is the full picture...

 

A lot of posters have that opnion.
Personally I don't agree.
I believe Leonard would beat Hagler prime vs prime.
And my opnion was believed by No less of an authority than the legendary Roberto Duran who told Leonard he'd beat Hagler right after he fought him.
Hagler could be taken out of his game and out foxed.
Even in his prime, he could be confused by certain styles, especially against slick counter punchers, which Duran demonstrated in his fight against him.
Duran confused Hagler and made him hesitant.
Though Hagler Rightfully won the fight, he didn't dominate against the smaller Duran the way he was expected too.
I believe Leonard would've done even better and got the victory as early as 1982, when they were originally were set to fight.
Hagler would destroy most of the great middleweights in history. Aggressive, powerful, middleweights that came at him allowed him to do what he did best in his prime, that was feast off of there aggression. He countered expertly.
But force him to adjust to an opponents counters usually made him overthink .
Leonard had that ability.

 

Very good post