Who Would Beat A Prime Leonard At Welterweight?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Joeywill, Mar 22, 2022.


  1. Joeywill

    Joeywill Boxing Addict Full Member

    3,380
    2,263
    Aug 2, 2021
    Not who's resume and accomplishments were better but who would you pick to beat Sugar Ray Leonard in his prime at Welterweight? Remember styles make fights.
     
  2. Young Terror

    Young Terror ★ Griselda ★ Full Member

    7,471
    7,245
    May 9, 2012
  3. Joeywill

    Joeywill Boxing Addict Full Member

    3,380
    2,263
    Aug 2, 2021
    But would you pick him to do it? He beat Duran in the rematch easily (save the excuses). So if they fought would you bet on it? Cause I wouldn't
     
  4. cslb

    cslb Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    18,542
    9,690
    Jan 27, 2014
    Robinson over 12 and 15 and Hearns over 12 and maybe over 15 with next day weigh-in.
     
    Last edited: Mar 22, 2022
  5. Dynamicpuncher

    Dynamicpuncher Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    15,219
    31,559
    Jan 14, 2022
    Jose Napoles
    Sugar Ray Robinson
    Thomas Hearns 12 rounds

    Possibly Henry Armstrong with his relentless pressure.
     
    Joeywill, Smoochie, Levook and 3 others like this.
  6. mark ant

    mark ant Canelo was never athletic Full Member

    36,654
    16,558
    May 4, 2017
    Robinson and Hearns were far better than Leonard despite Tommy`s chin letting him down as was Duran who completely out-classe Ray in Montreal, however Ray`s size and speed were too much for Duran in their rematch despite Ray not actually landed that much in that figt, so I`d say if both fighters were at their best (Duran was a small welter) it would be 50/50. Mayweather jr would have beaten Ray and Crawford, his switch-hitting would be too much, I don`t rate Leonard as an all-time great despite him being a great athlete and being one of the most dangerous fighters of his era, I`d say Ray was about the same level that Spence is at now.
     
  7. LoadedGlove

    LoadedGlove Boxing Addict Full Member

    3,527
    4,283
    Dec 6, 2019
    Aside from Duran, Robinson and Armstrong.
     
    Smoochie, Levook, Clinton and 2 others like this.
  8. Kell Macabe

    Kell Macabe I don’t know s*** about boxing Full Member

    617
    763
    Nov 20, 2021
  9. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

    50,879
    24,664
    Jan 3, 2007
    I wouldn’t favor Felix Trinidad to beat Leonard but I’d sure like to see that fight. Tito was awesome at welter
     
  10. Mike Cannon

    Mike Cannon Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,054
    7,217
    Apr 29, 2020
    In with a chance, on the night:
    Mickey Walker
    Jose Napoles
    Ted " Kid " Lewis
    Basilio ( 30 with SRR and very close 2nd fight )
    Armstrong
    The Keed
    stay safe guys.
     
  11. LoadedGlove

    LoadedGlove Boxing Addict Full Member

    3,527
    4,283
    Dec 6, 2019
    I thought about Walker but he was at his best at Middle.
     
  12. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

    52,554
    43,831
    Apr 27, 2005
    You've regressed on this one Mark.

    The guy has wins over Benitez, Duran, Hearns and Hagler not to mention a heap of wins over legitimate top 10 contenders in various divisions and he's not an all time great? Get a grip mate.

    Hearns simply cannot be "far better" when he didn't beat him at 147.

    I'm not even going to address Mayweather let alone Crawford.

    Not personmally liking someones style doesn't affect their actual achievements and ATG rating.

    As for the thread the only guy i'd overly take over an immediate post Hearns SRL would be SRR and even that would be extremely competitive.
     
    Smoochie, META5, Rope-a-Dope and 15 others like this.
  13. Mike Cannon

    Mike Cannon Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,054
    7,217
    Apr 29, 2020
    Totally agree, was taken aback when first saw the post, Ray is top 1/3 WW any way you care to look at it, to say otherwise is blasphemous. stay safe guys.
     
  14. Fogger

    Fogger Father, grandfather and big sports fan. Full Member

    8,230
    13,149
    Aug 9, 2021
    Anytime I see a thread with this kind of question I think of it more as a who would win more often question. There are a reasonable amount of men could beat Leonard at 147 on a given night. For me it is more of a best of 5 type question. The only man who I think would beat Leonard more than Leonard beat him is Sugar Ray Robinson.
     
    META5, Levook, Greg Price99 and 9 others like this.
  15. ThatOne

    ThatOne Boxing Addict Full Member

    6,068
    8,353
    Jan 13, 2022
    I heartily endorse this post and if the two Sugar Rays fought six times like Robinson fought LaMotta they would be tied. Ray Leonard was that good.