A little bit of both. Was he that good? I say yes. I rank him in my top 5 of all time welters. I don't believe he was a media creation but I never liked they way he was pandered to. I believe he was given the benefit of the doubt in the Hagler fight and the second Hearns fight. Both fights I scored for Hagler and Hearns. I didn't like the way the timekeeper suddenly came up with a case of amnesia in the Kalule fight. It was not stopped at 2:59 of the 9th as many outlets reported. It was 3:06. Kalule had just had his best round in the 8th and was only slightly behind. Leonard threw a blazing 6 or 7 punch combo to finally drop Kalule. A combo that Leonard said he put absolutely everything into to drop him. And the timekeeper suddenly forgets to ring the bell. Convenient. Realistically, I saw Leonard on his way to a 15 round win without the 'help'. Lastly, the Benitez fight. I had Leonard comfortably ahead in a very good fight, which some may think closer than I had it. In the 15th Leonard drops Benitez late, Benitez gets up, takes the count and Leonard throws a 3 punch combo, which Benitez ducks. No punches land on him and with 6 seconds left the ref stops the fight. My point is that Leonard didn't need help, and I always hate seeing one guy get a leg up on another.
Second best fighter ever. Go and watch Sugar Ray Leonard vs Wilfred Benitez and you'll realise why he was 'that good'
He was indeed that good. A hypejob wouldn't have beaten that Hearns or Benitez or Duran or Hagler. Hypejobs, if they have the nuts to hang around long enough, are eventually shown for what they are. So are true greats. You don't have to be a boxing historian to know he was the goods. A quick glance at his list of scalps tells all anyone needs to know.
Well...the man did retire aged 25...:think Just playing devil's advocate really, but having ticked off an impressive list of achievements in a brief career he basically did decide not to "hang around" Post 1982 he picked and chose his fights very carefully, retired every time the wind changed, and his inactivity was always a ready made excuse if things didn't work out. The guy was only 30 against Hagler ffs. He was a young man making himself out to be an old man for kudos. No doubt he was still a fantastic ATG who eventually took on and beat all of the main challengers of his era. Just saying that a guy who initially didn't even want to turn pro and who then decides to only box when it suits him after age 25 could arguably be accused of not "hanging around".
You're better than this... how on god's green earth you even metion Duran 3 is beyond me. Honestly, you should be ashamed PP
All the more credit to Ray, then, for getting the job done early in his career. The point being, he walked the walk. Early or late, he fought the tough guys. In spite of what his critics would lament.
http://www.boxingforum24.com/showthread.php?t=359876 Leonard was good, but nowhere as good as advertised . N Xtremely over8ed fighter. He does not make my top 60 restricted 2 fighters born not b4 1940 . Not HOF worthy. If 1 cares 2 check in2 his resume carefully , then that 1 finds that Leonard was not really tested . D 1st and gr8est catchw8 king ever .