Benny Leonard v Floyd Mayweather @135

Other site. I'll let them know. Although everyone seemed really impressed with Orlando...

 

Actually I always liked Orlando myself, and find him a slight notch above Gaby. Jeff always said that Gaby took him places that no other boxer had been able to. I still think Jeff would beat Orlando as well....but would expect a very closely contested fight.....Ooooopppppssss....sorry....back to the original thread

 

It would be interesting to see how Mayweather would deal with an opponent so fleet of foot. Brilliant as he is, I do think Floyd's virtuoso air has been heightened by the fact he hasn't faced that many real quality boxers; his best wins have come against fighters who plod about.

Leonard on the other hand got the better of real craftsmen like Johnny Dundee and Freddie Welsh. Another thing Benny has going for him is his punching power which was always a surprise; he didn't just sting but cracked.

Considering Benny's standard of opposition, contemporary opinion, and the fact he looks pretty swish on film, it feels like a safer bet going with him. I do think Mayweather would look good in spots, landing a few leads and the occasional hook, but that pensive look there was in Castillo I would reappear as Money is shown a mirror and comes to know what it feels like to be the one playing catch-up.

A competitive but clear decision for the Ghetto Wizard. His tactics would always be fresher, and he had a knack for staying in the driver's seat.

 

Benny Leonard without a doubt h2h, and in addition their resumes are not even close.

 

I`d have to go with Mayweather. Not saying he was greater but head to head I have to go with the devil I know. Floyd is slippery as hell and his strength is underated.

Benny does look quick on film. It would be nice there was more film of his in his prime.

 

120-108 to Mayweather. Style wise it suits him down to the ground. A smaller, weaker, slower pure boxer who he has large reach and height advantages over looking to box him.

 

Seriously?

 

Yep for the reasons I stated, Benny has no advantages he can press here.

 

I may be in the minority but I think Mayweather is one of the very best ever. The only lingering question on him is how tough is he?

The best way to beat Mayweather is to track him down, and force a lot of exchanges. That was not Leonard's forte. As such Maywather would out point Leonard in a 9-6 type of card, thanks to Mayweather's all world accuracy and reflexes.

 

This would be a tactical fight between two great boxers. Both have an underrated physicality in how they control opponents through positioning and hand placement. Both would be smiling as they attempt to knock down the other's lead left. Leonard would attempt to spin Mayweather out of position, Floyd would attempt to draw and counter Leonard. Two masters.

 

Dude...you blew my mind with this. Freaked me out...thought I was dyslexic (sp?) for awhile...damn.

 

It's not sacrilege picking Floyd over Benny, if that's how you're inclined, but the bare bones of this fight suggest there's a bigger leap of faith involved in picking Floyd than vice versa.

It's comparable to Roy Jones Jr vs. Ezzard Charles; another superb talent with a stellar career vs. another great, though far more proven.

Leonard, who danced around what was very probably the most competitive era in lightweight history vs. Floyd, a superb talent in a (comparatively) mediocre era.

I can think of crazier predictions than Mayweather over Leonard, but, on what basis could you pick him? Is it not fair to say Floyd's talent as a boxer has been somewhat accentuated due to his limited opposition? His last opponents read Canelo, Guerrero, Cotto, Ortiz...not the hardest fighters to clock.

Freddie Welsh and Johnny Dundee were both tip-top boxers with good defences. Floyd has fought nobody like B. Leonard.

I do believe if Leonard's career was laid bare on film opinions would differ, but I'm open to a counter-argument.

 

I like Benny hear especially at 135, Benny had power, boxing ability, legs and Floyd has the best defensive game these days and a hit and not be hit game....Benny was a large level above any of Floyds opponents at 135 and would be bringing something of a different level to the game....Benny wins convincingly but the lesson may improve Floyd as a fighter

 

Is the reverse true as well?