Because Ray shut every other great fighter he fou--- Oh wait... He was 36-3 with just 25 kos (despite his vaunted devaststing power) and should've been 35-5. He got bs stoppages against Duran and Benitez. He got ****ed up by Hearns and nearly lost an eye, after losing to a lightweight. He got a gift draw vs Hearns in a rematch (delayed eight years) and played the con man against Hagler and stole the fight. ... But Floyd Mayweather Jr. couldn't possibly hang with him. Get real.
It was. Ray was slightly better, scored a couple of flash knockdowns, and got rewarded with a horrible stoppage. Benitez deserves lots of credit for making this a good, competitive fight. It certainly wasn't what the OP described.
Man.... you emotional "Floyd--he the best eva YO!" millennial super-fans are so psychologically fragile that you cannot tolerate even the mere suggestion that someone might be better than your unhealthy man-love. So consider this a public service announcement: Floyd ain't the best eva YO and had he fought Duran twice, Hagler, and Hearns...guess what... that "0" that you irrational, emotional Floyd groupies hug tighter than a teddy bear would look a whole lot more crooked, if you get my drift. You know it and I know it, and that's what burns your ass. But what's truly entertaining, though, is that you actually believe you're offering up some novel analysis, as if I haven't heard all of this warmed over, rehashed bullsh*t for years.
As a fully formed MW, and a top five all-time at the weight, he'd ****in' better be able to beat dudes that won their first pro titles at 112 and 130 respectively. And as for Benitez / Leonard, are you sure that you watched that fight ?