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

Okay, but would Leonard have allowed Cuevas to use that superior strength in a fight? To do so would have required Pipino operating at close quarters, and I cannot picture SRL allowing an in-fight to materialize. Remember, SRL had a considerable advantage over Cuevas in foot speed, hand speed, boxing ability and upper body movement/fluidity.

Just watch Cuevas's fifth round kayo over Harold Volbrecht (spring, 1980) to get an idea of what kind of trouble he would have had with a smooth boxing, hard-hitting operator like SRL. Cuevas was actually being outboxed by Volbrecht before connecting with the kayo punch.

I don't anyone would have completely dismissed Cuevas's chances against SRL. Cuevas always had a puncher's chance against anyone.

 

The argument posited here is simply that Duran seemed to be the more sensible choice for Leonard in terms of risk. For the full argument, please read the thread.

 

I think you are arguing a little more than that.

 

How so?

 

i reckon that this fight would be like de la hoya trinidad in 1999. no classic but a great exhibition of boxing excellence on the part of leonard (like oscar in 99)

 

I won't answer that question, but I will admit that you are correct in stating that Cuevas may have been perceived as being more dangerous that Duran in 1980. I believed so myself at the time.

When I heard that Leonard had signed to fight Duran, I was convinced that Duran was too old and too heavy (fighting above his natural weight) to trouble SRL. I expected Leonard to win decisively, and by stoppage, too.

Even thought I knew Cuevas had weaknesses when he was champion, I never expected that he would eventually collapse to Hearns, Roger Stafford and Duran. That really surprised me.

 

Well, okay. Cuevas deserved this thread... and the recognition he got from us now and probably from Leonard's camp then for being a dangerous man.

 

Leonard and Duran were on a different level than Cuevas. Sure, Cuevas would've always had a punchers chance against anyone but Leonard was much too fast for him. Leonard by mid-round stoppage.

 

Ray would've possibly taken Pipino in anywhere from 5 to seven rounds.Cuevas always had a punchers' chance but Leonard had that chin, and those skills, and after a couple of rounds, would be in deep water with Leonard.

 

I don't think Leonard would have stood his ground near as much as he did vs. Duran.

He clearly, and foolishly, thought he could break down and outpunch a smaller man, and got outboxed and beaten up trying to do it.

Cuevas wouldn't be outboxing anything.


Against Cuevas, he'd be on his bike, popping the jab, and Pipino simply wasn't good enough to do anything about it.

Leonard UD15.

 

This.

Cuevas had ATG level power. He literally broke bones. However, I see him being overwhelmed and outclassed by the total package of Leonard's skillset. For all the nonsense spewed today about being a featherfist and what not, from June '79 up to the Lalonde fight in '88, there wasnt a fighter Leonard faced in the ring that he didnt stop with the exception of Hagler. And lets face it, nobody stops MMH @ 160. He had a top tier ATG chin. Leonard - having fought only once in five years prior and never before at middleweight - beat Hagler in the only possible way he ever could of. Frankly, I dont think he deserves half the criticism he gets for that fight. However much Hagler had slowed is offset by the factors listed above. And even Outside of the fact SRL beat him head-to-head, Hagler's not on the same ledger. Twice the bitterness.

 

Leonard would have outclassed Pipino

 

Leonard's chin was made in a forge by Zeus.

 

Very good point;

Let's remeber that when Hearns-Cuevas finally clashed, many predicted an easy Pipino's win by demolition using that fearsome punching power on a young, unseasoned, unexperienced pretender...

It was Tommy the one labelled as the underdog, ironic, isn't it? :yep

 

Doesnt seem very unknown. He's already garnering nicknames fron Sports Illustrated and known for the right hand. Within 13 months after some warm-up title defenses, he'd be favored against Leonard. The one who'd already put Benitez, Duran and Kalule on his mantle.