Why did Sugar Ray Leonard have so few fights?

X2

 

Leonard had a minimum of five "Superfights". Most go thru their career not having one.

Leonard would have beaten all those four you put together. The Duran that beat Moore would have been comprehensively outsped.

 

It's because he earned so much money for the big fights. He didn't need to fight as often

 

this is pure trash, something that only SaintPat would appreciate

everyone knows Leonard was running from a rematch by the time of this interview. that's why Tim Ryan felt he had to put him on the spot. as we all saw

The lopsidedness of that fight highlighted his limitations and confirmed what we all knew; Leonard cant handle speed

even so, he could have salvaged his reputation somewhat by agreeing to an earlier Hagler rematch

how much damage could an over the hill could Hagler cause him? I really think Leonard feared the vengeance of Hagler and cheated the public by ducking out of the rematch.

This, along with his performances v. Norris, Camacho, dropped him considerably in my estimation and should never be mentioned in the same breath as Mayweather

 

^ Mayweather won many big fights in HIS later years, something Leonard failed at badly

It pains me to say this but whatever Leonard did, Floyd did better.

 

I can really sense your anguish.

 

‘Leonard can’t handle speed’ is a demonstrable falsehood.

Benitez was as quick and slick as they come and Leonard handled him perfectly. He also found a way to win against a Thomas Hearns who held obvious physical advantages over him and was extremely quick too.

What Leonard couldn’t handle was ageing six years between his last two fights. He was done in 1991 at 35 and then made a silly mistake of listening to his ego to come back at 41.

He’d have handled Norris and Camacho in his welterweight prime. Neither of those fighters was better than who he beat in the late 70s/early 80s when he was in his prime. You vastly underrate a true ATG, a top 20 all-time in many people’s eyes, which Leonard was and Norris and Camacho weren’t.

And Leonard is frequently mentioned in the same breath as Mayweather… as in, ‘Sugar Ray Leonard was greater than Floyd Mayweather’ by better and more knowledgable posters than you.

It was tiresome when you posted this guff as Red Rooster and it’s no less tiresome now.

 

I started to rewatch the rematch (Leonard - Hearns) made it through the first four rounds so far and have it three to one so far for Hearns ( plus the knockdown) so at the 1/3rd mark Hearns is certainly well ahead ... will circle back on it .. interesting note, on the telecast version I was watching Hagler was one of the commentators and his venom of Leonard was barely masked ... he also time and again referred to Hearns as having a "weak chin" ...

 

I clearly had a bit of foggy memory on that fight and have started to rewatch it for the first time in about twenty five years and will circle back. I could certainly be off ... TBD.

 

At one point Hagler openly cheered Hearns on

 

the problem is that speed is relative

what may be considered as fast by 1970s standards, would be considered as slow by 1980s, 1990s standards

I'm sure that Camacho, Terry Norris, Roy Jones, would attest to this

which is the reason Benitez lost his contest with Ray whereas Norris & Camacho emerged utterly victorious and left Leonard in shambles, a smoldering wreck

Those with superior speed, and maneuverability, often make fools of their slower opponent

if this concept of relative speed has never entered your mind, try taking a physics course. Your instructor will set you straight

 

Clearly this guys a troll, right ?

 

SRR was prime in the late 40's. Watching film of him when he was past prime, I'm not sure I've seen a p4p faster boxer since. Maybe RJJ, for exploding out of a crouch with a single punch. But, not whilst retaining balance to throw in combination. Patterson in the early 60's is the other obvious contender, in that regard.

Hearns, Hagler, Duran and Benitez were all clearly greater than Camacho and Norris. Just as Hopkins and Toney were clearly greater than Tarver and Glenn Johnson.

 

Great upper body movement, but he wasn't really moving around Leonard. Since Benitez lacked firepower Leonard could let his hands go.

 

I'd assume so. It's difficult to believe anyone could genuinely be that.....well, I'll be polite and not finish that sentence.