LEONARD IS A SKIN CRAWLING SCUMBAG

Op is talking about this. @Indefatigable is right.

“I can’t believe I’m saying it, but it’s true: If my win from April 6, 1987 at Caesars Palace could be reversed to bring him back now, I would give it away. That’s how much…”

https://www.ringtv.com/619284-sugar...ersed-to-bring-him-back-i-would-give-it-away/

 

So he’s a scumbag for saying he’d give up his crowning achievement — or one of them — to have back a guy he didn’t particularly get along with and who resented him for his entire life?

That sounds to me like respect.

Geez, pay your respect to Marvin for what he was instead of obsessing on Leonard.

 

I remember that interview. I was shocked he admitted that! Many fighters can get a blatant gift and strut around as if they're king of the world refusing to admit they didn't deserve it.

I have no idea why he's so polarizing. It was before my era but I did go back and watch many of the biggest fights of the fab 4. Leonard has a great resume in both the amateurs and pros and beats some top notch quality guys. He could box and look fancy or he could drag you into deep waters and have a dog fight. What more could you ask for in a boxer?

 

He really was the complete package and for whatever reason he’s been under appreciated. Some who dislike him say it’s because he’s arrogant or cocky.. But was a really more loud or flamboyant than Muhammad Ali or Hector Camacho or Mike Tyson ??

 

Some hotly dispute the fight with Hagler...to this day I rank it as a robbery. No offense to SRL fans, I happen to be one, but he ran and threw mostly arm punches that fight. Never once did he actually hurt Marvin. Hagler was the aggressor throughout and landed easily the best punches. But that's just me...I admit it was no blow out for Hagler, far from it. Ray made it through the whole fight and won several rounds, mostly by staying a bit busier as he ran.

 

Great point.

 

But with all due respect, there was only one Muhammad Ali, and he even copied his gimmick from pro wrestler Gorgeous George from the late 1950's. Is it not better to be your own person than be an imitation of someone else? That is what is wrong in boxing today, nobody wants to be themselves, to me that means a lack of self pride and self confidence. As children, many of us wanted to be fictional characters in the movies, but we are speaking of adult athletes. Guys like Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Carlos Monzon, Roberto Duran, and Alexis Arguello just had the pride in being themselves, and that is just very adult like And yes it is rather childish to want to be like someone else.

 

He is arguably less brash and loud mouthed than any of the fighters you mentioned.

In my limited but layered life experience, I have discovered that people across all ages and nationalities can praise one person for doing something and then dog someone out for doing the same thing simply because they dislike them. It is one of the strangest forms of hypocrisy because it's so transparent. And in many cases the reasons they dislike certain individuals are rather shallow, misinformed, or (in some cases) frankly, stupid. They will either make a mountain out of a mole hill looking for a reason to be upset or they will straight up make something up while completely overlooking the elephant sized faults of someone they like.

It isn't just boxing or sports, but that is how some people are. But as far as boxing is concerned, some fighters can do no wrong. Some are almost universally despised. Then there's the 3rd category: those like Leonard who are often extremely polarizing with views leaning from one extreme to the other for whatever reason and I honestly have no idea why.

 

I have watched every fight of Ray Leanord s career, I have the complete DVD set which includes plenty TV of post fight interviews...
At no point did I ever feel SRL was trying to copy Cassius Clay, aside from may be a very occasional foot shuffle.
Ray most certainly had his own style, and exuded far more class and respect for his opponents then the aforementioned Clay ever did, who was so full of himself he probably enjoyed the smell of his own feces

 

The fighter of the 80's was Mike Tyson fellas. So let's put that baby to rest.
#2 goes to SRL and #3 goes to The Marvelous One.

I think it was the 2nd tweet about giving Hagler the win and trading that for him to come back to life. When I read that I thought it was a little fuggin weird for my taste. But SRL is SRL. He did do coke a lot...

 

Oh, don't bother Saintpat, he's new and wants to make a big noise in the first few days.

 

Even though this immense hatred you display against Muhammad Ali, who you refuse to call him by his legally changed name. Ali was not a junkie like Leonard was and Ali had guts to not fight in a war generated by a warmongering president. Why this hatred against Ali and not against a junkie like Leonard? Did you go to Vietnam? Or were you old enough to go?

 

No disrespect Richard as i really like you.

Now i am not one to bang on about fighters crimes and the like unless it is pertinent to the thread topic. As a matter of fact i have launched a tirade or two at people trying to shove it down our throat that we can't admire or enjoy, lets say a murderers career and successes in the ring.

Now on one you are obviously outraged at Leonard and hurling insults at him for being a junkie and making what you deem/interpret to be disrespectful comments above Marvin. Now on the other hand you are thrusting forward Carlos Monzon (one of your idols) as some sort or role model in adulthood when he bashed women and eventually murdered one. I'm a little bemused.

Again, i don't bang on about Monzon and his crimes and have actually defended him against someone who wanted to bracket the man and his boxing as one. I have no drama with you and enjoy you a lot on the board but i feel the urge to comment on this one, and others shortly.

 

The flipside of this Ed is that Ring rated SRL the top fighter of the 80's. You can argue either.

I also can't recall seeing Marvin ahead of Ray on any all time lists. Matt has him 16 to Marvin's 34. Ring in their Greatest 80 of the last 80 years had Ray #9 to Marv's #17.

Whether one loves him or hates him Leonard reached heights in the ring few has gotten close to or reached.

Absolutely Marvin did it the hard way and Ray had the backing from the time he entered the pro ranks. Many others had this and failed however. When push came to shove Leonard had no problem digging deep and getting the job done.