ATG: Sugar Ray Leonard or Pernell Whitaker

Leonard

 

There`s not a world of difference in boxing talent between these 2 but Leonard had the greater power, speed, versatility & beat the better fighters.

 

Hagler & Benitez too :good

 

Both true greats, but Leonard rates higher. Both are amongst my top 15 all-time pound for pound.

 

I guess I'll be the lone ******* and make a case for Pea here. Though it's close as hell either way.

There's one big mark against Leonard that hasn't been mentioned yet, and that's his inactivity.

He may possibly have the bigger single achievements than Pea (namely his comeback win over Hagler), but Pea continually took on all comers all through his career. Leonard spent half his career inactive, then sporadically coming back, grabbing a title, and then disappearing back into retirement.

I also happen to think Pea as a lightweight was one of the most complete fighters I've ever seen, perhaps every bit as much as Ray. Ray probably had more natural talent, but Pea was a much better technician IMO. He even could punch pretty good at that weight.

 

Leonard. I'd have him at roughly 11 and Sweat Pea at around 15, two great great fighters.

 

Bert Sugar's rankings were a joke.

 

Leonard.

 

Looks like Leonard gets the nod here then.
I have SRL at no6 & Pea at no9 as there are still a few older fighters that I havent learned enough about or seen enough of.

 

I'd like to see you slow down these threads. You're drowning everything else out. And some of these threads could be good ones if there was less of them.

You're flooding the market.

 

Exactly what I said a few hours ago.

 

Leonard for sure. Skillwise, evenly matched, but Ray was a bigger man and had the more impressive wins. Even if Tommy Hearns was pre-peak at 147, I sure don't see Whitaker beating him.

 

****in ThinBlack you...



What the hell? :blood

 

I like whitaker way more than leonard, but leonard has to get the edge because he fought better fighters. Although it would be an interesting debate if hagler was given the decision over leonard and whitaker was given the decision over oscar.

I firmly believe Whitaker could have been up there with duran if he really wanted to. All he would have to do is fight meldrick, quartey, and beat terry norris at 154, and I would easily consider him top 10 all time. For some reason or another, those fights didnt happen and he wont get credit for it. Ray Leonard fought junior middles while he was a welterweight, so i don't buy the 'different divisions' garbage excuse for why he never faced either meldrick or camacho from 1989-1992. If leonard can fight kalule at 154 while hes welterweight champ, pernell could have fought either meldrick or camacho, but i guess lou duva didnt want to do it.