Sugar Ray Robinson vs Donny Lalonde

Robinson wrecks him especially at 168lbs.

Edit: For some reason, I feel like he’d be able to stand up to LaLonde better and I also don’t see him getting rocked or dropped the way Leonard did.

Another thing, Robinson got more extension on his backhand and even the lead hand to a degree, so he could hit LaLonde from further away without having to duck and weave into range and risk getting clipped as much. Robinson was much more versatile with the lead hand than Leonard, it was more fluid and he could go up and down with it and I see him using that against LaLonde who was relatively stiff with his hands and body.

Robinson jabs up and down, jabs to the body and fires a sharp right over the top and connects on the stiff LaLonde and is generally able to tee off with combinations head and body.

 

Robinson KTFO

way less trouble than Leonard had

 

If Leonard fought as much as Robinson did he
would've had an easier time with Lalonde too,
he was just as talented.
Robinson stops Lalonde in about 7-8 rds.
He wouldn't suffer any knockdowns.

 

Of course Lalonde was bigger.
But Leonard wasn't badly hurt by him when he was knocked down, he was off balance, Lalonde actually landed better, and cleaner right hands through out that fight than the one that knocked Leonard Down.
The balance issue also showed itself again against Hearns 2nd fight.
I believe it was the long periods of inactivity that caused those issues.
Which is probably the reason Leonard doesn't talk anything like Hearns who's barely understandable.
So in retrospect, all those long lay-off's did benefit him in terms of his health.
But it cheated us out of so many great fights that we missed.

 

Above 100 degrees, Lalonde wins by late KO because we know Ray couldn’t take the heat.

Below 40 degrees, Lalonde wins a decision because he came up playing hockey in Canada.

In between, Robinson by stoppage.

 

Robinson would take out Lalonde a lot faster than Leonard did, and with less trouble.