Even from me, this is a "are you serious???" Leonard by complete and utter domination. Pacquiao is not a true welter, and Leonard is probably the 2nd best welter of all-time. Watch Benitez v SRL, SRL v Duran I and II, Hearns v Leonard I. Do you really believe Pac could overcome the size difference against that fighter? I don't even consider it a possibility.
This is the reasonable position at this point. Manny is doing some amazing things right now. The way he darts in and out, throwing punches with tremendous power and speed from all angles with either hand. It's a difficult package to open. We all saw the beating Leonard took from Duran. And we all saw how befuddled he was against Hearns. Leonard would definitely have his hands full against Pac.
I'd just like to say Duran wasn't much bigger than Pacquiao, actually about the same height and reach. Maybe 7 or 8 pounds heavier in natural weight. Significant, but not severe. And Pacquaio's added weight looks all good. I'm not saying Pacquiao beats Leonard, or anything like that. But I dont find the "bigger" arguments very convincing. Pacquiao deserves not to be written of completely. And if the "he's not a real welterweight" even meant anything, Cotto would have beaten him. They say the same about Mayweather, "he's not a real welterweight". Well, they are real enough AT THAT WEIGHT for us to being calling them the two best fighters in the world, POUND-FOR-POUND. So, do the math.
I favor Leonard even if the two were the same size. Pacquiao is great, but Ray was greater. Some people have been smoking some serious **** in this thread. The only question is how many rounds would Pacquiao endure.
Forget about the bigger arguments, although Leonard was easily bigger than Pacquiao. 4 inches taller, and sporting a significant reach advantage. That said, even if the two were the same size, Leonard does everything better. Nah..Pacquiao is being written off in abundance in this mythical match-up. Leonard whoops on him for as long as Pacquiao can endure it. I don't give him much chance at seeing out the 6th, personally. If Pacquiao flurries, he's opening to swift counters with either hand. Ray hit hard enough to stop Benitez, and Hearns, and decimate decent opposition in Green and Price. If Pacquiao wants to box, he has already shown he gets hit by a good fast jab at will. Leonard does everything better...just a better fighter, and that coupled with a size advantage spells knockout in my estimation.
I have always found it noteworthy that, whereas very few people criticize claims that put Ali at the top of the heavyweights, Robinson at the top of the welterweights and indeed the top of the boxing world, Ezzard Charles unique ability at light heavyweight, or claims concerning Armstrong's singular greatness, a significant proportion of the boxing public is skeptical of the opinion that puts Leonard in such a exalted place as if being seen here by a few people in this thread. And the more learned boxing fans become about Leonard's actual record and abilities, the more skeptical they become about the legend that his fans say fits him. Sometimes hype fades slowly. The claim that Leonard does everything better than Leonard will be recognized by many learned observers as hyperbole issuing more from wishful desire than actual observation. Leonard did not do better than Manny in darting in and out and landing combinations from different angles with shocking knockdown power. Leonard did not bust up the faces of his opponents the way Manny does. His opponents look like they have been through meatgrinders, and his work is even more impressive in the higher weight classes. Manny is not only fast, but has heavy hands. Yes, it's incredible that a former flyweight titlist could hit that hard, but if he had always been a welterweight we would still be impressed by the combination of his speed and power. The way Manny's punches come out of nowhere with a long punch after forcing his opponent to break and run is something one only sees from fighters of the caliber of Robinson or Jones. Leonard is not on that level. Had he been, then Duran wouldn't have dominated him over 15 rounds and Hearns wouldn't have had him baffled for 12. The proof is in the reality of the ring. All you have to do is watch and learn. Leonard is good theater, though. And the media has supported him in this because good theater sells papers. It's just that there has been too much water under the bridge. Time wounds all heels.
He completely dominated Ross, even more so than Duran dominated Leonard. Leonard would be in real trouble against Armstrong.
So Pacman beats three welterweights, who had all lost in the prior 18 months and now he can take SRL? Leonard beat both Hearns & Benitez who were undefeated at the time. He also defeated Duran at welterweight who had not lost in 8 years. It's a lot harder to beat a fighter who has never lost. That's why Norris does not got the same credit for beating Mugabi & Meldrick Taylor as Hagler and Chavez do
Whats forgotting, is Ross was a lightweight also, He jump up in weight to the Welterweight crown, so it was not that big of a gap between Ross and Armstrong. I also think Ross was winded down at that point, the guy had wars with Canzi, McLarin, and others. So it was not relly prime Ross imo. I saw Ross's handspeed drop compare to say Canzi a few years early.
There you have it guys, Leonard was just good theater. It's not like he beat world class all-time great, hall of famers multiple times or anything. What does Pacquiao do better than Leonard, Marvel? Dart in and out? Why would Ray do that, he was far more effective offensively and defensively than Pacquiao by simply measuring distance. How does Pacquiao beat Leonard? ...Don't give us a long overdrawn explanation as to why Leonard was, in your mind, theater first, great second, just give us a decent enough analysis to take you seriously.