I have him down as the number two welterweight of all time,just behind the original Sugar,like most others do. He was an awesome fighting machine,but I was never really a fan. I admired his primetime work in the boxing ring,but he seemed to cut such an extremely calculating figure,above everything else,that I could never warm to him as a person. He could have had an even better legacy,had he not retired in 1982,and given rematches to Hearns,Benitez et al.
I ****ing HAAAAAATE Leonard.Having written that,he's the best welterweight I've ever seen and one of the best fighters I've ever seen.Having said that,**** HIM!!!!!
He was obviously very good, but his career path was hugely managed, i don't have him top five welter..
Ray Leonard was an exceptional fighter. One of the top twenty pound for pound fighters of the 20th Century ... anyone questions his toughness needs to rvisit the first Duran fight,coming from behind with a closed eye v.s. Hearns or his going the distance while absorbing a terrible beating against a prime Norris ...
I think his fight against Benitez is an absolute treat. He shows some tremendous skills in that one. Often he could look somewhat lackluster, feeling a bit too superior and knowing that his superior abilities would tell at some point (Kalule, Bonds, Finch etc), but against Benitez he was sharp all the way. Vintage Leonard.
leonard had the bigger wins at welter imo. leonard gives robinson hell at 147. i think this would be a pick 'em fight.
He beat Benitez, Duran, Hearns and Hagler ( very disputed). But, to pull off what he did against Hagler is unbelieveable. The reality is that MMH should have blown him right out of there ! MMH naturally bigger and SRL coming off a three year layoff ! All of the mentioned fighters are Hall of famers. Leonard rose to the occasion for the big events. He could box, had incredible hand speed, very solid chin, and could overcome adversity to come back and win. Even when he lost to Duran, he came on at the end and made it damn close and that was fighting Duran`s fight. Prime SRL never lost to less than fighters, losing thisclose to Duran is ceratinly no disgrace. At welter, just below the p4p king SRR. PRIME SRL only lost to Duran and look at who he fought...
Green fight was great ! Before the fight Green has said he was going to hit SRL with his muckraker (whatever that is) or words to that effect. The Hearns fight was good too. Hearns obviously no slouch, and a very underated boxer. SRL had so suck it up come back and win...
BTW, Joe Wolcott (the original) Barbados Joe as he was known . A truly great fighter from the very early days. Only know what I`ve read about him. I remember reading an article about Jersey Joe ( who he took the name from as he was originally Arnold Cream )he said that the original Joe came up to him tugging on his shirt. Jersey Joe tried to shake him off ( as he was semi-toothless and looking scraggly), and the original Joe introduced himself as the original Joe Wolcott...