Ray was a serial killer hidden behind that babyface smile. Emmanuel Steward later acknowledged that that one body blow that nearly broke Thomas Hearns in half was the decisive punch in that fight. I love this one because it’s two greats at their peaks who are playing chess but with hand grenades — so many great adjustments and adjustments to adjustments in this one. The boxer becomes puncher … because he has to. The puncher becomes boxer … because he has to. And they just keep making the other one step it up in a different way. This is one of my desert island fights for sure.
And boxed Ray’s ears off. NOBODY outboxes prime Leonard like that, but then again, nobody EVER outboxed Thomas Hearns.
Hearns's length and reach was bothering him. I don't remember Hearns on the backfoot like that. Should have employed that strategy against Marvin.
When was Leonard ever a runner ? He was the definition of a pure boxer/puncher and often planted his feet and had some vicious KOs see Lalonde, Green, as evidence of that.
I agree he was a boxer-puncher. I literally just finished watching his first fight with Hearns. He was really on his bicycle the first five rounds, then he came off his toes in the sixth and seventh round and had Tommy in serious trouble and then Tommy got on his bicycle. I'm watching the rematch now. Ray is thicker and more flat footed. Call it running, dancing, moving, he did a ton of it against Marvin. BTW I thought he beat Marvin
Good stuff Saintpat. And yes I'd share that desert island with you if this masterpiece of a fight was the feature... Two PRIME all time greats in the ring. Same weight class, same time frame. The God's blessed us with this one, and really many other fights during that one of a kind era.
I'm watching Leonard-Hagler now. Leonard is moving a lot but he's also tying up Marvin and frustrating him.
Leonard was such a complete fighter - the scything body shots he hit Hearns with nearly broke Tommy in half. He launched perfectly timed, sizzling head and body attacks with extremely bad intentions behind them. Killer instinct personified. I don’t know that Hearns outboxed Ray so much as he did simply hold substantial height and reach advantages over Ray - the defining advantages as I saw it. It was nigh impossible for Ray, boxing with due caution, to get inside for a good number of rounds - but when he did bite the bullet to get in close, he absolutely made the most out of it. We saw Ray pick his moments, flying in via high risk “sorties” which ultimately paid off. Atop the skills, incredible tenacity and sheer will to win on display - crucially important intangibles. Ray’s unwavering concentration and focus during this fight was also very apparent - watching Tommy’s every move, trying to figure it all out, which he ultimately did. Tommy also clocked Ray good on several occasions but then Ray also upheld an outstanding beard and the ability to remain un-flustered under serious fire. Ray left little to ask for in a fighter.
I'm watching the Hagler fight. What he did after a three year hiatus, to get in the ring with an atg at a weight the atg was most successful in, and do enough to win. Just incredible.
Nice post mate, with a lot of bang on takes and points. I will argue that Tommy's physical advantages/intangibles do make up part of his overall makeup with regards to outboxing Ray. Some tall skinny guys don't have the explosive power allied to the jab to keep a great boxer back. Your point is well understood, and taken tho.
I will also add that Tommy was setting better traps than Ray after using his lateral movement in the later rounds. He caught him with flush shots that would have send any fighter without an ATG chin on the canvas.
After watching their 26 rounds I'm of the belief that if Ray came out and blitzed Tommy the way Marvin did he could have gotten him out of there. He looked that good whrn he the aggressor.
Tommy literally dropped Leonard twice in the rematch. Leonard's chin was great but it wasn't like Haggler
