Much of it will depend on how Leonard can still show up at 154. I’ll give him a close points win but reluctantly. I won’t dispute anyone picking McCallum
If Leonard still has the same form he had vs Hagler at 154 then I'd pick Leonard he would be too fast of hand and footspeed just like Kalambay was vs McCallum.
The way Sumbu Kalambay managed to move around and give McCallum all sorts of trouble doesn't bode well for Mike's chances against Leonard, IMO. I just watched the first Kalambay-McCallum fight again the other day. I think Mike would be following Leonard around all night.
Donald Curry was doing pretty well against him before he landed that left hook that laid him out. So yeah, McCallum can be outboxed for sure
I think it's Leonard wins a dec but it's not a popular one. McCallum would have been well up for this match and at his best.
I think McCallum would take this in the particular time frame specified. McCallum was peaking, and, at his best weight. I think Leonard would have his hands full.
Leonard could easily steal this one as he did vs Hagler. A past it Hagler was still a better boxer than McCallum .. especially in the lateral movement dept. Mike wasnt a mover and Ray's footwork could force Mike to stay on the outside more .. McCallum would need to take a chance and walk thru early and put his strenght on SRL all fight. I would agree here with doublechin , SRL was just a clear level above Mike McCallum in the footwork, handspeed, and skill dept ..
Honestly, if we’re talking 1986 Leonard, it’s a much closer fight than people might think. Leonard was still elite coming back, but he wasn’t the same fighter who tore through welterweights in 1980–81. His legs weren’t as consistent, he fought in bursts instead of controlling the pace the full way, and he was definitely a little more hittable. Against a guy like McCallum, patient, brutal body puncher, brilliant at closing distance without rushing, that’s dangerous. Prime McCallum at 154 would absolutely make Leonard work. Ray could still outbox him early, use his speed and angles to pick off points, but he wouldn’t be able to just dance away for 12 straight. He’d get dragged into exchanges here and there, and that’s where McCallum could start landing real body work and slowing him down. If it’s 12 rounds, I’d still slightly lean Leonard edging a razor-close decision based on his faster hands, ability to steal rounds with flurries, and overall big-fight experience. But McCallum is live in this, if he gets to Ray’s body consistently by the middle rounds, he could absolutely take over down the stretch. 7–5 either way. No blowout, no dominance. Just a brutal, high-level chess match with moments for both guys.
The Leonard camp would have never taken the bout at anytime. They had as much freedom of choice as anyone in the sport at the time. So risk vs reward was a big issue and McCallum was just not a big enough reward. Not even close for the amount of $$$ to get the Leonard management to sign a contract. And McCallum would get paid chump change and he would not let the other guy get $20 million and he gets table scraps. Contract negotitations fall apart quick.
If Leonard can into the same kind of shape he did for Hagler, I'd take Leonard. It's hard to speculate on whether he'd get to that point or not against McCallum though, but if he doesn't, I think he might actually get stopped.
As unlikely as it is that Leonard would come out of retirement to fight a Mike Mccallum in 1986 ( many fantasy fights are unlikely!) I would assume the version that appears is the same one who fought Hagler so motivated and ready. Leonard was swifter of hand and foot than Kalambay and less faded than the version of Don Curry who was handily boxing Mccallum before he imploded. And here's the crunch Leonard hits far harder than either Curry or Kalambay. My opinion may offend but I see pretty much a shut out over 15 with Leonard hurting Mccallum a few times as Mike trails behind him all night. It is an extreme opinion granted. Mccallum was a tremendous boxer with very respectable power,a tough chin,stamina, and no obvious major weaknesses. But I just see Ray being mobile and quick like he was versus Duran in 1989 but the 86 version would like the Hagler version be focused and not prone to knockdowns. According to his own autobiography Ray's partying and alcohol and drug abuse really took a hold after the Hagler fight. If they had met in 1991 by than Mccallum had fully matured and Ray was seriously on the slide it would be a different fight and result. Ray of 1976-1981 was a once in a lifetime fighter.
