Is Ray Leonard top 10 p4p in the last 100 years?

I never really understand this thinking. Giving Hagler the unofficial verdict over Leonard doesn’t change the actual verdict or Leonard’s achievement of beating Hagler for the title, which was nothing short of astonishing.

To penalise Leonard for that seems bizarre, just like when people say Hagler hadn’t fought for a year and was past his best but fail to acknowledge that Leonard hadn’t fought for 3 years and only once in 5 years previously.

I’m not debating the outcome and everyone is free to judge that decision as they believe but it makes no sense to penalise the winner who was making his first visit to middleweight and fighting for the first time in years as if Hagler was at some sort of disadvantage, which he absolutely wasn’t.

 

Sneaks in at 10 for me

 

Not the biggest Leonard fan but I've definitely come around a bit. Didn't care for him when he fought but have come to appreciate and respect his skills. That being said I would have him in my top ten. Not many men are beating Ray at his best. Not many at all.

 

There is a very strong argument he is the top P4P for the second half of
the 20th Century so work off that ... his only question mark is number of fights due to his eye issues .. I can't name another welter other than Robinson that beats him ever ...

 

Ray Leonard was a fantastic, real boxer and fighter. He passes the eye test in every way. I wish I could find some of his missing fights early in his career as I would like to have all of them. One of the greatest ever to lace them up.

 

He has the right wins to make a case but probably not enough fights overall. And I love Leonard

 

Agree. It was seen as a huge win back then especially for Leonard’s inactivity and how many feared for him. No matter who people thought won that fight it was too close to be a clear victory either way. A draw would have sucked for the fans but it probably would have been a fair verdict

 

He'd likely slide into the bottom segment.

 

makes perfect sense. If we view a bad decision, do we award the actual loser and give importance to an incompetent simply because he was placed in his position? This would be making an excuse "but the judge said!..."

If that's the case, I should say that JC Chavez actually deserved his draw with Whitaker

Also, its not so astonishing an accomplishment if the opponent no longer has speed, reflexes, legs no longer having the form he once had in his prime. That in itself is looking for a reason to say "he actually beat Hagler! wink wink"

It's not penalizing Leonard but rather making sure we dont give him more credit than is due him.

I dont underestimate him and I dont overestimate him for the sake of pleasing his fans. He was great, but not quite that great

 

Watched a lot of Leonard in his prime. He was best I ever saw P4P with possible exception of Roy Jones. Mayweather is the other possibility but honestly didn’t see much of him and none of his prime fights when they happened.
Then there is Ray Robinson who the oldtimeys swear was greatest. In one fight P4P if my life depended on it I’m picking Leonard ocer anyone.

 

I don't do lists, but I can't see too many guys beating prime Leonard

 

Ray Sugar Robinson, Michael Jynx Spinks, Rocky Marciano, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Carlos Monzon...maybe even Joe Calzaghe
By the end I will find 10 boxers, to knock SRL out of the top 10, and if you help me - together we will find it for sure.

 

Of that list only Robinson is better than Ray

 

All day long.

 

Why is Michael Jynx Spinks not P4P over SRL?