There have been many great fighters since 1980, each decade has had more than 1 outstanding fighter that can put forward an argument so I did a list of the `likely` candidates, if you dont think its any of those names then vote `other`... its that simple. For me, Sugar Ray Leonard was the best p4p fighter of the last 3 decades, he had everything. Great jab, phenomenal speed, excellent combination puncher, very good power in either hand (especially the left hook), amazing footwork, bags of heart, great chin, good defence, very versatile, good stamina, a dynamite finisher when he had a man hurt & amazing athletic ability.... all in all, just a very complete fighter, one of the very best that ever lived. Also... he beat Hagler, Duran, Hearns & Benitez... stopping all but Hagler... simply amazing fighter. Leonard is my pick as best fighter in the last 3 decades. :smoke
SRL was lucky enough to be blessed with the talent only few have enjoyed in this sport, coupled with being apart of one of the most talent rich and compeitive era boxing has ever seen. Guys like Hagler, hearns, Duran and leonard all competiting at the same time during the prime of their years......Ray was a lucky SOB! only b/c he came out of the Fab 4 beating ALL of those guys. And all of those fights were classics! Gotta give it up to Sugar Ray Leonard.
Cheers. I was gonna include Hearns but since he lost prime vs prime fights to both Hagler & Leonard I thought it would be pointless, few will vote Hearns ahead of those 2 for those reasons even tho I have no doubt he was definitely in their class as a boxer.
I scored it for Leonard - I thought he was brilliant in that fight - but even if you think Hagler edged it, surely Leonard being a natural WW beating/running very close a full fledged MW gives him the edge as a better p4p fighter, no ? :think