Kid Gavilan vs Sugar Ray Leonard

SRL was extremly talented but I would not say Galavan would be the same calibur of opponent Ray beat easily. Galavan was a high level of experience and his era was deep so tough fight for Ray

 

you have no choice. you hit a dead end once I made reference to that quote

discussion over

 

Leonard would've destroyed Pryor and it wouldn't have been pretty or long . Pryor is one of the 3 top Jr.welters in history. Probably would've been a top 5 light weight in history if he wasn't avoided and forced to move up to jr.welter. But he had a small man's frame, (Not like say Duran who had the shoulders and walked around around at 150-160 while at lightweight) was only 5'6". All of Pryors strength's like his aggression would play right into a strength of the bigger,stronger faster Leonard. He would rush into Leonard like he rushed into Arguello and quickly learn before he's ko'ed that his style,and defensive lapses he got away with at the lighter weights would quickly and savagely get him put on his ass. And he would remain on his ass for the count.

 

I was going to leave it but this is too good to miss...

Remind me who The Ring nominated as Fighter of the Year 1985.

 

Perhaps, but only if we're looking at resume and longevity as the only components of an All Time ranking. Based on h2h ability and talent, you're serious underrating SRL if he's not in your top 3.

 

He wasn`t all-time great in his 30`s fighting out of his natual weight class.

 

I've already posted a rebuttal to how the boxing world viewed Hagler in 85 so I'll address your comments by the commentators. Seeing as you have put so much store in the words of Gil Clancy, I trust you recall how Gil referred to Leonard at the end of the fight. 'The miracle man'. Clancy's words, not mine, Go and check it out. It's all there at the end.

So my question to you Mr ROOSTER is why did Gil use such convoluted praise for Ray when he had only beaten a 'shot, four round fighter', a fighter whose glaring faults had been highlighted so memorably by Gil himself?

Look, I'm not saying it was the greatest win ever. But, under the circumstances (1 fight in 5 years and a decent sized drug habit), it was a remarkable performance and, when added to the manner in which he won, regained and unified the welterweight title, helps constitute a pretty strong CV. I'm hardly sticking my neck out, here.

 

Roosters personal dislike of Leonard is legendary on this site. Almost as bad as mine for Mayweather jr. But I'm reasonable and rational lol. Rooster allows his to cloud the judgment of the fighters skills and greatness. It's a loss cause to write about Leonard s greatness with him.

 

Gavilan UD - Would be too tough for Leonard.

 

Anyone here miss red rooster? No, me neither.

 

Leonard SD. Gavilan would put hurt on him up close though.

 

It can go either way. SRL most likely edges it more times in a series but Gavilan would have given SRL one of his toughest fights. Gavilan's handspeed and combos were almost as quick and could also fight at a ferocious pace while showing cute defense like Duran.

 

Leonard by close but clear decision. I rate Gavilan very highly but Leonard,in my mind,is the second best welter of all time. He's even faster than Gavilan and has as tough a chin. Punch power similar.

 

Hi Stevie.
I am also leaning towards Leonard by decision , but I foresee a closer affair Gavilans combos and punch rate would make this very competitive, not sure I share your opinion on their punch power being similar, for me Ray hit much harder, even in some cases a one punch KO, plus he fought and dropped bigger fighters, so I would favour Ray as having more power.
stay safe buddy, chat soon.

 

Obviously very close like everyone has more or less said.

Leonard 's game at his best where he generally best took hold of a fight was to sophisticatedly impose his speed, variety and offensive timing with aggressive finesse to beat his opponent to the draw. He was excellent defensively in terms of slipping punches when focusing more particularly on that part of things, and had good lateral/peripheral movement, but wasn't quite at his best slipping and countering with intent on the slow burning retreat like Robinson was imo, which is what Robinson had to do at mid to long range in order to eventually take the ball out of Gavilans hands in a very tough fight by all accounts in their title fight.

Gavilan was horrible to beat if you were going to take the play to him and try to win via an exchange of fast-handed slugging or a generally aggressively minded approach. Ray was a lot more than a fast slugger obviously, but anyone trying to press Gavilan and get off first, however skilled, is going to be in for a long night, Leonard included imo. It's very rare that I'd consider him to be on the wrong end of things styleswise, so complete that he generally was. But maybe here.