I used to think Leonard, but I've changed it to Duran, but it's possible I may change it again, but not likely
Leonard beat ATG fighters and Duran did not. Duran only beat Ray who was ATG and Ray reversed that two times. Duran had a longer career and a legendary career, but if the key is who showed higher levels of skill Leonard beats Duran out and think easily.
I'm just curious but is there another fighter with more significant, ATG wins than Leonard? Duran, Hearns, Hagler and Benitez? And all of them were pretty much at their peak outside of Hagler.
Very few. Ezzard Charles is 6-0 against Archie Moore, Charley Burley, and Joe Louis, all of whom can be argued among the top 20 of all time, Louis the only one not in his prime. There's a whole issue of newspaper decisions and all that, but Sam Langford's resume is filled with ATG's from Lightweight to Heavy: Joe Gans, Stanley Ketchel, Harry Wills, Joe Jeanette, etc. Pretty much the same goes for Greb. Tunney, Walker, Loughran, Gibbons, etc. There's a couple more, but yeah, Leonard's top wins are among the greatest ever.
ATG's they fought: SRL, Duran, Hagler, Hearns, Benitez Sugar Ray Leonard: 5 - 1 - 1 Roberto Duran: 1 - 5 - 0 Losses: Sugar Ray Leonard: Duran, Camacho, Norris Roberto Duran: De Jesus, Leonard x2, Benitez, Laing?, Hagler, Hearns, Sims?, Lawlor?, Pazienza x2, Camacho x2, Castro?, Joppy, Gonzalez? Mentions in non-said fighter-specific threads: Sugar Ray Leonard: 0.4/10 Roberto Duran: 9.6/10 make of it what you will
Leonard for me. He beat better fighters than Duran did, and more importantly, he showed strong character in his losses. Duran didn't.
why? that is the truth. Leonard beat ATG fighters numerous times and Duran did not. The question is who ranks higher? If you don't like to discuss the actual criteria, why even comment or post?
Leonard showed glimpses of greatness but he didn't have a great career. He was on the top for what? 3 years or so? From beating benitez till his eye injury he was great but it didn't last long enough... He then had a victory over hagler but did fuk all after it. Duran is the best lightweight in history and had some great performances above his prime weight also. Less knowledgeable people usually pick leonard. But digging deeper it is apparent that duran is greater.
I mean can't one argue that Leonard's win over Hearns, Duran and Hagler are 3 of the top 30-40 wins in boxing history? Maybe even higher?