Who Would Beat A Prime Leonard At Welterweight?

Not who's resume and accomplishments were better but who would you pick to beat Sugar Ray Leonard in his prime at Welterweight? Remember styles make fights.

 

Duran did it.

 

But would you pick him to do it? He beat Duran in the rematch easily (save the excuses). So if they fought would you bet on it? Cause I wouldn't

 

Robinson over 12 and 15 and Hearns over 12 and maybe over 15 with next day weigh-in.

 

Jose Napoles
Sugar Ray Robinson
Thomas Hearns 12 rounds

Possibly Henry Armstrong with his relentless pressure.

 

Robinson and Hearns were far better than Leonard despite Tommy`s chin letting him down as was Duran who completely out-classe Ray in Montreal, however Ray`s size and speed were too much for Duran in their rematch despite Ray not actually landed that much in that figt, so I`d say if both fighters were at their best (Duran was a small welter) it would be 50/50. Mayweather jr would have beaten Ray and Crawford, his switch-hitting would be too much, I don`t rate Leonard as an all-time great despite him being a great athlete and being one of the most dangerous fighters of his era, I`d say Ray was about the same level that Spence is at now.

 

Aside from Duran, Robinson and Armstrong.

 

Robinson and Duran

 

I wouldn’t favor Felix Trinidad to beat Leonard but I’d sure like to see that fight. Tito was awesome at welter

 

In with a chance, on the night:
Mickey Walker
Jose Napoles
Ted " Kid " Lewis
Basilio ( 30 with SRR and very close 2nd fight )
Armstrong
The Keed
stay safe guys.

 

I thought about Walker but he was at his best at Middle.

 

You've regressed on this one Mark.

The guy has wins over Benitez, Duran, Hearns and Hagler not to mention a heap of wins over legitimate top 10 contenders in various divisions and he's not an all time great? Get a grip mate.

Hearns simply cannot be "far better" when he didn't beat him at 147.

I'm not even going to address Mayweather let alone Crawford.

Not personmally liking someones style doesn't affect their actual achievements and ATG rating.

As for the thread the only guy i'd overly take over an immediate post Hearns SRL would be SRR and even that would be extremely competitive.

 

Totally agree, was taken aback when first saw the post, Ray is top 1/3 WW any way you care to look at it, to say otherwise is blasphemous. stay safe guys.

 

Anytime I see a thread with this kind of question I think of it more as a who would win more often question. There are a reasonable amount of men could beat Leonard at 147 on a given night. For me it is more of a best of 5 type question. The only man who I think would beat Leonard more than Leonard beat him is Sugar Ray Robinson.

 

I heartily endorse this post and if the two Sugar Rays fought six times like Robinson fought LaMotta they would be tied. Ray Leonard was that good.