Let's Hear It For Sugar Ray Leonard.

You mean like Duran and Leonard?

 

His accomplishments, while impressive, are hardly of the highest calibre. Think about it. If any other welterweight but Leonard won the title in a close affair, lost it to the lightweight champion, regained it in a fight that disappointed everybody, received a severe beating from an up-and-coming welterweight, refused to give that up-and-comer a rematch, and otherwise posted a mere three title defenses against inferior opposition, people would hardly be talking about an all-time great welterweight. There are many welterweights who accomplished more than this, and we don't say their accomplishments in the ring "are of the highest calibre." That's because in those cases we aren't blinded by the light.

If that same welterweight won the middleweight title from an fading champion in an extremely controversial fight, refused to give the long-time champion a rematch, won the light heavyweight title from an unremarkable fighter whom he made lose down to 168 pounds for the fight, was awarded a draw in a fight he himself knew he lost, received a severe beating from an up-and-coming junior middleweight, and then was knocked out inside of five rounds by an old former lightweight title claimant, people would hardly be talking about an all-time great fighter. They would regard his comeback as ordinary and full of gifts.

If they were objective, they would note that everything this fighter did was manipulated to his advantage, that he received numerous gifts from referees and judges and matchmakers, that he lost to a lightweight in his prime and at his end, and especially that he was knocked down 7 times in his last 7 fights. And all the while he complained that everybody was against him. His paranoia was extreme (and shared by his manager), belied by the fact that everywhere in public he was adored.

Without the illusion created by hype, Leonard would be seen as a fighter who was competitive, a tough hombre, but hardly a fighter who achieved feats of the highest calibre. He never dominated any division. He was not a fighting champion. He never demonstrated a committment to taking on the best opponents in their primes. He never demonstrated a willingness to give rematches to those who proved the potential of beating him. In fact, much of his behavior was shameful and a detriment to the sport of boxing.

Leonard came along when the media needed a replacement for Ali. A good looking fellow, articulate and knowing how to play to a camera and an audience, Leonard played the American public like a harp. So good was his performance that people today still go on about his greatness as if he deserved to be in the upper echelon of the welterweight division and the all time pound for pound ratings. It's more illusion reality, more style than substance.

 

That's actually a pretty good post. But when one considers the welter he beat for the title was one of boxing's pound-for-pound best; the lightweight that defeated him and he beat in rematch was boxing's pound-for-pound best; the welter he unified against was probably the pound-for-pound hardest hitter in boxing and fighter of the year for 1980; the middleweight champ, while faded, was still considered to be boxing #1 pound-for-pounder. He also picked up a 154 strap against a fine light-middleweight. That's one decent fighter, baby. :good


I agree that the post-Hagler version was a twat. No doubts there. His ego got the better of him after that fight.

 

But he was faded (if you want to be truthful, shot). Hagler was boxing's best p4p for years. Why couldn't he face him a few years sooner? :smoke

 

Why didn't Hagler, in 1987, say: "You want my title? Earn a ranking first, peanut head"?



Maybe he thought Hagler was too strong in 1982, probably did. It's likely that he changed his mind after he saw Marv in with Duran.

 

Epic trolling in this thread

 

There's no doubt that Leonard is one of the greatest ever,pound for pound. His legacy would have been enhanced if his career had n't have been interrupted in 1982 because of his eye operation. At the time,I marvelled at his skills,but was slightly put off by his personna. Maybe because no real character seemed to emerge. I've since warmed to him more.

His first fight with Hearns and the Benitez bout were the best PRIME Leonard performances and victories. And of course that comeback one over Hagler warrants a mention. He displayed true grit in his losing bout against Roberto Duran too.

 

No gift !!

Leonard won that one. No doubt. Hagler blew it himself. Was a close one though.

 

You dropped an A-bomb man, IIRC I had the fight about even but I would've given the dec. to Hagler due to his aggression and Leonard making majority of the clinches and refusing to engage.

 

True about the post Hagler version. I look upon the Hagler fight as his last 'legacy' bout.

 

Hagler blew the first four rounds or so. Coming out cautiously and orthodox too...??? He would have done himself a far bigger favour by charging out and disrupting the ring rusty Ray's rhythm and roughing him up.

 

Ali lacked those qualities too, yet he's adored(????)

 

I think it's because Ali presented a more well rounded personna. He sometimes got things spot on,and at other times messed up. He was human,whereas Ray put over this very calculated image all the time.

 

What really annoys me is that some use the excuse that Hagler was shot,in order to detract from Ray's achievement. Bull**** ! Marvin was definitely passed his best,but in no way was he shot. There's no doubt in my mind that the shaven headed one could still have beaten plenty of top middleweights in 1987.