Jake Lamotta vs Ray Leonard

Leonard by decision, especially over 12 rounds.. He was too fast (even at middleweight) too mobile and too smart for Lamotta to beat, not to mention the fact that he himself was tough and had a sturdy chin.

If Lamotta punched a little harder and was a little faster I'd give him more of a chance. He certainly had a high workrate and a cast iron jaw so i couldn't envision ray knocking him out or even stopping him. Also Lamotta, though no defensive genious, had some craftiness and defensive subtilities
that are often overlooked.

It would not be a cakewalk by any means but leonards legs and boxing ability would be the difference.

 

I had had a couple of beers and probably came off to strong. Sorry about that to the board in general.

LaMotta was a very good fighter. Personally I just think he's too slow to beat Ray, but it's up to opinion. I think mostly I'm just so sick and tired of "Hagler did this, should have done that" instead of saying that Ray showed fantastic skills, generalship and determination that night and would be a handful for just about any MW ever.

 

Fair enough. :good

I see Leonard's fight with Hagler as an all-time great performance from Leonard, (even though I scored it one point in Hagler's favour).
Leonard did look tired and fighting in spurts in a 12-rounder though, so it's hard to know if he'd do so well against strong MW pressure fighters across the board.


I actually think a 147 pound Leonard of 1979 - '81 is as good a bet (or better) against ATG middleweights (incl. Hagler) than the 158 pound version of 1987.

 

I'd take LaMotta over 15 against the version that fought Hagler.

What if we put in the Leonard that fought Kalule in with LaMotta

 

LaMotta quite easily. He was bigger, stronger and would give Leonard no rest. Ray would be fighting to survive.

 

I like Leonard. Too skilled to smart and hits hard enough.

 

At middleweight LaMotta would be way too strong ... I like him by decision ...

 

You may have a point. The version with the best chance is probably the Leonard who beat Kalule. He seemed to carry his power and strength quite easily to 154 in that one.

 

Probably Leonard's most underrated performance. Not many talk about that one. Although I was never a fan,in particular,there's no denying his brilliance. Between 1979-82,he was amazing.

 

Top 3 Wins? IMO probably 144lb Robinson, Cerdan and 1 from Holman, Villemain, Lytell, Dauthuille. None imo as good as MW Leonard and ofcourse LEonard against pressure fighters uses plenty of lateral movement. Leonard wasn't a small WW/LMW at 160, he carried the weight fine, not massive but bigger than Robinson, Zivic and probably Holman (at least better than the 34yo version). Leonard's 2 wins over Duran can't be underrated here, Duran is similar but technically better and would give Hagler a close fight and beat Barkley

 

Leonard.....by decision....

 

Guess I don't have a clue then

 

This for me. To the letter:good.

 

leonard on points. close fight.

 

Prime Jake takes him...pressure...pressure...pressure...