1980: If SRL had fought Cuevas instead of Duran....

At the time, given history and the fact that it had been 50 years since a LW champ dethroned a WW champ, and given Leonard's performance in outboxing Benitez, stopping Price, Green and Ranzany, Duran seemed the wiser choice. Remember that Duran was not overly impressive as a WW aside from Palomino (a fight that looks better now than it did then when everyone expected Duran to stop Carlos). Leonard rightly felt that he was bigger, stronger, faster, and younger.

Cuevas on the other hand was bigger, stronger, and younger than Leonard -and he had the kind of shot that can finalize matters at any second.

 

Great contribution and a good memory!

 

I'd actually classify Cuevas as the much more dangerous opponent (percieved) at the time tho. Leonard was peak or just about to hgit peak when Pryor was on his list. I'll actually go so far as to disagree on Pryor. Pryor was a decent money average risk opponent IMO and Leonard knew it.

Tho Leonard was aiming up in weight instead of down i actually produced an article here eons ago stating Ray had signed to fight Pryor after his defense vs Stafford which never came about due to eye drama.

Leonard was never going to take for granted or get overconfident vs an opponent moving up ever again. Ironically Aaron's greatest ever win vs Arguello showed he would be solidly taken by Leonard IMO.

 

I am glad Cuevas is getting some recognition in this discussion....no matter what your opinion is.

The original Big 4 was Cuevas, Leonard, Duran, & Benitez.....Hagler was added later when he took on Hearns, Duran & Leonard at a higher weight than 147 lbs.

 

Taken for granted?

From what Mr. Gordon mentioned in his article, Leonard did anything but take him for granted. "What do you think. Do you think he can hurt me?"

 

Cuevas and Napoles left a much greater impression on me than those flash in the pans Curry and Leonard.

 

"Flash in the pan" as used to discribe Leonard....Really Red, How? & Why?

 

Leonard is a fake from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet. Good looking guy, cute smile and all of that and even has a gold medal. A nice talent but nothing more really.

Curry looked good too for a while until my man Lloyd came and swallowed him up

Cuevas and Napoles were the real thing, all substance. And forget the smooth butter talk-they all got that from the media publications. Napoles destroyed people all the time.

 

Your opinion of Hearns must be immense

GOAT????

:good

 

Did someone rattle the **** can?

Listen Red, i addressed the Canary, not the **** in the bottom of the cage.....

:good

 

With 3 defenses over 1 year why should it be? Randy Shields is a well known steppingstone. So is Pablo Baez (10 losses) and who the hell is Luis Primera.

That **** was all buildup for suckers like you

 

But, but, but you said Cuevas was "the real thing, all substance."

Newsflash - Hearns decimated him at his peak.....

You are one very very strange hombre :nut

 

Cuevas was suddenly past his prime as Leonard had become in the Norris fight and Benitez in the Hamsho fight

 

Cuevas was not bigger than Leonard by any means. As for age, Cuevas was only 22 in 1980, while Sugar was 25. That is no real difference at all.

I remember 1980 very well. Sugar was at the top of his game and he would have rated a solid -- if not overwhelming -- favorite over Cuevas. People would have been fascinated by the fight because of Cuevas's one punch kayo power. But aside from that, Pipino simply would not have brought much to the table to trouble Leonard.

 

Bigger is irrelevant when you're stronger than the other guy and I'd bet the house that Cuevas would have been the stronger man.

As to his age, the comparison wasn't between Cuevas and Leonard but between Cuevas and Duran, who was pushing 30 and in his 13 year as a pro.

And again, what the public believed doesn't mean anything whatsoever -the public isn't managing the trajectory of a fighter's career. I'd favor Leonard over Cuevas but to dismiss Pipino as a real danger would have been goofy.