Leonard-LaLonde: Underrated or Overrated?

Just rewatched this fight from '88. It gets a lot of criticism for a number of reasons.

-Both the WBC SuperMiddleweight & Lightheavyweight belts being on the line, even though the fight was contested @ 168.

-This being the fight that made SRL a LHW 175 lb champion & a 5 division world champion. Even though he never ever ventures up to 175 for a fight in his career...politics.

-Lalonde being weight drained bc he was technically a true LHV...and the 168 limit was taxing on him.

But putting those 3 points aside....I wonder how many people agree with me that this fight ended up being way better than it had any right to be. Re watching it I wonder if it doesn't get it's just due for being a great fight?

LaLonde really hurts and controls Leonard through the 1st 4 or 5 rds...working a super stiff jab....and landing flush bombs. He even drops Leonard in the 4th.

In return SRL hardly dances in this fight and comes forward with speed, accuracy, and combos in a way I've never seen in any of his fights. His chin & heart are really on display against a stronger/bigger opponent. And he puts Lalonde to sleep I. A dramatic 9th rd...

Even in that rd LaLonde begins to rally back and hurts SRL just before he gets KO'd. Maybe I'm in the minority here but to me...this is fight of the year 1988 far & away over everything else that year produced.

But maybe this is just me...what are your guys' thoughts? Overrated or underrated?

 

I should of made a 4th poll option as...Completely Indifferent. Lol

 

Oh I agree 100% that that may have been the case. LaLonde wasn't an overly big LHW. Could have been very comfortable @ 168? Certainly carried power down there...and didn't necessarily show signs of fatigue...ie slowing down later. Did however opt to brawl as opposed to throwing the jab after rd. 4.

I just meant that a lot of people have that perception. Or that it's usually stated that that was in fact the case. Whether it's true or not I couldn't say. He certainly didn't seem bothered by the weight. But then again could you imagine SRL fighting a full blown 175 lbr? Wonder how the fight may have played out in that case....

 

It's definitely up there with Hearns 1 & Hagler. Although LaLonde wasn't an ATG...it's quite an accomplishment when a career welterweight comes up in only his third fight, in what like 6 or 7 years, and puts a LIghtheavyweight to sleep. Pretty amazing. Reminds me of Pacquiao coming up against guys like DLH, Cotto, & Margarito.

 

Really? What are his top 5 then?

 

Benitez
Duran
Hearns
Kalule
Hagler
&
LaLonde...
I'd make the case that LaLonde was 4th out of those 6.

 

True. Nice list. Yeah just saw Duran-Barkley for the 1st time amazing stuff.
I'd still rate LaLonde as at least 5 above Kalule & the 3rd Duran fight. But not by much...all significant wins for Sugar. Nice list.