Mayweather vs SR Leonard reevaluated

Well for starters Ray Leonard is actually a fully fledged Welterweight, Hatton isn't. Floyd also came from well down in the weights. Kudo's to Floyd tho, he's earned the right to go against the likes of SRL and all others down to 130 in mythical matchups. He's a great fighter.

 

Floyd has better defence than SRL ... Floyd, IMO, has better footwork, but SRL is faster of foot and handspeed and carries the bigger punch ... in this match up, the bigger man wins, IMO.

However, Floyd is one of the most technically astute fighters I've had the pleasure of studying on film.

 

Leonard would win.

A lot of people seem to bash Mayweather by comparing him to the great welterweights whom he probably would lose to, because that's where he fights right now, but Floyd is a smaller guy. It's sort of like comparing Whitaker to the great welterweights or even Leonard to the great middleweights.

 

I'll still take SRL by decision (always have). Last night did not change my mind on that... I like Leonard's power against Mayweather Jr.
Floyd showed adaptability along with the usual speed...give credit where it is due....Mayweather is a great fighter!

 

lightning speed and KO power. lightning combos, guts, heart, desire, Sugar Ray is on a different level. At his best he was one of the best I ever saw.
Had he fought Hatton in his prime go look at Davey Boy Green vs Sugar thats what would have happened.

 

Leonard and Mayweather are two of the fastest ever in terms of hand speed ,and they both can have many similarities at times , I do think however that in their elements Mayweather is a defensive fighter and Leonard an offensive fighter. Both are superb all-rounders , but Leonard wold probably have the edge in offense and Mayweather in defense.

The main thing here is the wight though , the fight would be at welter , and Leonard I believe would win , Leonard I think is faster aswell and more powerful with his single shot left hooks and clubbing rights. Mayweather always seems to adjust and find a rythm against every1 then operates briliantly.

Still I think Leonard.

 

Leonard would have brutally destroyed Hatton whenever he wanted, possibly in a round or two if he came out with all guns blazing like he did against kalule.

So i don't see Mayweather beating Ricky having any impact on a potential fight between the two.

 

Who cares the truth is we will never know however we know that it would be competitive. I am not a fan of SRL and I am big fan of PBF I might give the edge to SRL as the naturally bigger man. A fight likes this comes to more than natural talent but it would be more difficult for SRL than Benitez and that is saying something.

 

Funny that this thread should come up, because I just noticed that Sugar himself has made a comment about Mayweather after the Hatton fight:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/7134985.stm

 

Leonard doesn't have Mayweather's skills or reflexes. Mayweather rarely gets hit, much less gets hit cleanly. It impressive how a natural lightweight like Mayweather does so exceptionally well at welterweight. It's a testament to his natural abilities. Mayweather should be recognized as one of the best ever, as well as one of the top welterweights ever. Leonard is well below Mayweather on both those lists.

 

Good big man normally beat good little man and I think this would he the case Leonard beat Duran, Hearns and Benitez at this weight so there is no shame in getting beat by him.

 

Mayweather doesn't have Leonard's pure athleticism. Mayweather is more technically skilled than Leonard ... but, Leonard's athleticism, combined with his talent, as well as his skill and head to head ability means that he trumps Mayweather at welter ... no questions asked in my book. Leonard beating Benitez and Hearns at welter trumps Mayweather's whole tenure at both 140 and 147, IMO.

There is no way in the normal world that Leonard is "well below" Mayweather on a welterweight all time list and on a "best to ever do it" list. If we're talking pure technique, Mayweather betters Leonard ... if we're talking competition on paper i.e. the best of the very best that they both faced and beat ... there can only be one winner.

 

Yep, spot on sentiments. Mayweather is a fantastic fighter and gives most greats at WW a very tough fight, he'd win his fair share against all but perhaps the most absolute elite in the divisions history. I'd favour SRL, Robinson, Hearns and Chavez all to defeat him head-to-head (amongst others).

Infact I think Hearns is an utterly horrible matchup for Floyd. Tommy would be too big, strong, powerful and mean. You ain't outboxing him easily either. :good