Bad style match up for Buddy. I'd say something around a 10th round TKO. Had it not been for Ray's power it would have been a good contest.
Buddy takes a whipping and a TKO loss. He has nothing going for him here except his technical skill, and that would be overshadowed by Leonard's physical ability.
I agree with GreatA. In terms of boxing skills, Buddy may actually have an edge, but Leonard was very, very adept at using what he possessed, and what that would amount to in this match up is a physical avalanche in Leonard's favor. There is quite literally nothing McGirt's body does that is near on par with Leonard's. Sugar Ray hit much, much hard, moved much quicker, had better reflexes, and had almost preternatural physical conditioning. One could argue Buddy would make it interesting by making it a chess match, but his mind wasn't fast enough to keep up with Meldrick Taylor, and he was soundly whipped. Add Leonard's size and big punch to the speed equation, and James has nowhere to run. Leonard KO in 8 or less.
McGirt was not a great fighter. He was overrated, and when he didn't perform well with good fighters he had the left rotator cuff excuse. Leonard outmatches him in everything. He stops McGirt in 8 rounds or so.
Would probably be quite similar to the kalule fight. McGirt could take a punch okay, but he wouldn't be able to stand in there swapping combos etc with Leonard because of the disparity in physical ability.Most notably strength and stamina.
Leonard just the better and bigger man. McGirt is really good. But still, against Ray he has little or no chance. Sorry.
Leonard would stop Mcgirt in about 9rds. Look at the beating Whitaker gave Mcgirt in their 2nd fight & Ray was a stronger force than Pernell at WW, probably the best ever at the weight outside of his namesake Robinson.... the man TKO`d a prime Hearns ffs.
The 1st fight was pretty competitive but it was Pea`s 1st fight at the weight, the rematch seen Pea fill into the division a bit more & he dominated Mcgirt while STILL being the smaller man... Leonard would be the bigger man vs Mcgirt & is of Whitaker type quality WITH MUCH BETTER POWER. Mcgirt would get dominated & stopped.
