Let's say if Leon drops down to cruiserweight after losing to Ali and has a Holyfield like mentality. Does he become ATG great at cruiser?
No. He is a rise to the occasion type champion. He is not the type to string together a bunch of title defenses. He'd be hard pressed to make say 4 defenses before the wheels would come off.
No, Leon didn't have what it takes , Leon was at the right place and time when Ali got old, nothing more
Well, he certainly had the opportunities to become an all-time great cruiserweight. He fought many of the same champs Holyfield fought at cruiserweight, but Leon lost badly. So, you have to say no. He fought great that night against Ali. But Leon didn't have the discipline to be an all-time great pro. The stories about him before the Qawi fight are like the most drugged out, partying rock star before he walks up to the mic stand and takes a nosedive off the stage. Leon's pro career was one brilliant night punctuated by a years long car crash.
There are only two ATG cruiserweights - Holyfield and Usyk. Even at his best, Leon wasn't in the same class. A fired up, clean motivated Leon could certainly have won a cruiserweight title at some point and had a nice reign; he was better than a lot of guys who made their mark at cruiser. He was never going to clean out the division though in the way that Holyfield and Usyk did.
I think Leon was a good product but never was disciplined and that definitely hurt him. He could have competed as Cruiserweight but remember Mike Tyson fought in the 200 - weight division in the amateurs - I don’t think Leon would be a star in any division just somewhat competitive - remember KO by Coetzee in 1 Holmes in 2 etc. - Michael Spinks May have been a ATG cruiserweight but today the top 3 - 4 in that division is insane
No. His defense was not good enough. I think 1980 Carlos Deleon would have beaten even a focused Leon.
I like Leon but he was a self-destructive alcoholic and addict. He was never going to stay disciplined enough to have any kind of serious run.
