At 147? Leonard wins every round and destroys him. Wide decision. Too much speed, size, boxing ability on the outside, movement, combinations...Leonard could hit too...Chavez gets cut up and pummeled
This is not a plausible matchup. Leonard started at Welter and went to Super Middle. Chavez had basically one fight at Welterweight (and lost). Leonard too big.
Yep..and despite all the huge Pernell Whitaker fans on this forum, SRL was clearly the greater fighter
Not a fair matchup due to size, but even if they were, im still picking Leonard by decision in their primes. Chavez was great, but Leonard better, and 1979-82 Leonard is one of the best fighters ever filmed.
Chavez was a better combo puncher on the inside and his body attack would be very effective, even if Ray won he wouldn`t win every round because for large parts of fights he went without throwing any punches and Chavez had a brilliant defense anyway, Chavez would counter Ray`s jab well with his fast counter right as he jabbed because Ray use to leave his lead hands low after jabbing and was open like Taylor was when he jabbed in the early rounds of his bout v Julio and started getting countered with the right so had to stay on the inside afterwards.
Yeah, I'll go with the concensus here...SRL was way too fast, fresh, strong and dynamic a puncher for Julio...bad matchup that wouldn't, on the other hand, diminish Chavez as a fighter, however...it would just have been a physical mismatch.
I agree with basically all of what's been said - should have been clearer with my question: I'm assuming a p4p matchup, since otherwise the advantage for Leonard would be too much. I think the poster is right above when he says 79-82 Leonard was one of the best ever captured on film. I'd say pound-for-pound Leonard shades it - but a very close fight.
Who cares...SRL was the much better offensive fighter, much more clutch fighter, much more productive fighter SRL beat great fighters in their primes in historic fashion. Whitaker never did
Leonard would destroy Chavez in a actual fight, and also much better P4P having beaten much better competition.
Chavez too small, but at WW SRL really hadn't peaked in viciousness yet. Chavez is competitive early, but gets cut up by rds 8-9, and loses by TKO.
Chavez defence was porous against a faster slicker Meldrick Taylor...a bigger faster & slicker SRL would take more outta JCC and bash him up bigga!