Sugar Ray Leonard circa 1986 v Floyd Mayweather 2007

Mike was still well within his reasonably assessed prime. He chilled The Truth in his last fight prior to - the essential Mike. No qualms. More rds into a fight, Tyson became that much less destructive - even with Rooney on board. Mike didn’t suddenly lose all that was already trained into him for years when Rooney left.

His weight was fine for Tokyo - his conditioning allowed him to fight and absorb a beating for nearly 10 rds - the 8th rd uppercut that decked Buster was an absolute ATG shot. A distinctly aggressive Buster simply took the play away from Mike straight after opening bell - assessing Mike in his own right thereafter ignores what Douglas was doing from the outset and the mounting punishment being laid on Tyson.

 

Yes, I’ve read that also and it’s a very good point to raise and factor in for consideration.

Then again, WHO wouldn’t have issues with big guys that can move? Kind of a generic issue for all fighters. LOL.

Anyway, that observation is not to bang on Mike at all - it’s STILL a wonder at just 5’10 1/2” height and 71” reach how Mike did ultimately prevail (often emphatically so) over the many guys who had so much more reach and height in their favour.

For as brief as it was Carl Williams was doing some nice things in there based on his height/reach adv. but then Mike produced the “negator” - an absolute peach of a left hook part come uppercut I think , from underneath that caught Carl flush and cold. Great punch.

 

The opposite is more likely.

 

Duran was far better than Floyd and more his size, Leonard was a natural welter and one of the most dangerous fighters in the world when Duran went toe to toe with him, Floyd wouldn`t have the power to keep Duran off.

 

P4P prime Mike with Rooney in his corner was far better than Douglas and a welter version of Tyson would have been quicker than Floyd and a middleweight version would be quicker than Leonard at middle in 86 or 87, Tyson ws something special.

 

Tyson would never be far better than the Douglas that fronted in Tokyo - arguably, that Douglas beats Mike most times if not all.

If Tyson appeared that much more “special” otherwise, then look to opposition that was that much less than Buster on the night. Interesting that in his wins, the quality of Mike’s opp. wasn’t so considerately addressed as Mike’s own quality was upon his first and, devastating as it was, defeat.

Douglas, a BIG guy that could box, move, punch hard and fight to win - it wasn’t as if, even well before Tokyo, that wasn’t the very TYPE of fighter calculated to have a very good chance of beating Mike. And so Buster did.

 

Yeah, that was a strong takeaway from Montreal - Duran at his absolute possible best, fighting his way, - yet Ray still did great, made it close fighting Duran’s fight. Otherwise, if Ray had taken a more evasive approach, we might never have seen such sublime fighting off the ropes as Ray did.

I have to wonder how Duran felt about that fight and it’s implications for the future - even if Ray chose to engage Roberto the same way second time around - could Roberto hope to replicate his own, acutely special performance ?

We talk about how emotion might fuelled Frazier in FOTC and though Duran could be a frenetic animal as a matter of course, he appeared that bit more “possessed” vs his then, arch rival, Leonard.

Duran would’ve rejoiced in his victory but I don’t think he had necessarily expected Ray to survive the onslaught and fight back as he did. Ray possibly gained the greatest credit any fighter could in a fight they lost.

 

Funny! you say the funniest things. First it was "Norris wasnt even sure Ray could go still 12 rounds" after having just gone 12 rounds

what the hell is rocket surgery anyways!

Regarding the knockout of Leonard in sparring
It's not alleged and in fact, they tried to cover it up. His chin just wasnt very good. that's why he took the Hagler fight so late, delaying his retirement otherwise, he'd have been knocked out too easily

Just look at the easy time Norris had with him

i'm sure Leonard felt his chin and/or stamina would let him down had he tried to make a defense at middlewight

Who are we kidding; Tate or Nunn would have had a field day with Ray Leonard

that's why I categorize Leonard as semi great. He is the PIONEER of semi greatness

 

Duran was a lightweight. So was Camacho. Why didnt Ray beat him?

 

Here’s the article in which Norris CLEARLY notes Ray’s deterioration and the comment re going 12 rds - 3rd paragraph from the bottom - so, as you have it, already old Ray vs old slow Roberto 14 months prior was Leonard having “just gone” 12 rds. relative to the date he fought Norris? Now that IS funny.

Disclaimer re article below: If you get a hernia from laughing at the facts contained therein, I’m not to blame, there’s no accounting for your “sense” of humour.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/arch...-notice/f6f2b375-9544-4522-a2ab-162deccc2f1b/

 

I’m feeling generous today - here’s an article in which Leonard describes EXACTLY what went down in that sparring session - I figure you had no details yourself because you have NEVER given a description beyond “Ray, sparring, KO’d” - good enough intel to be getting on with to blindly and unjustly denigrate Leonard I guess.


https://amp.elpasotimes.com/amp/100094938