More skilled: Pernell Whitaker or Sugar Ray Leonard

I'm not saying he has an all time great jab. He didn't use it as often as Whitaker, since he was more of a combination puncher. But even if Pernell's jab was indeed better, though I honestly tend to disagree, it wasn't that much better, like you say it was.

 

My gut reaction is to go with Pea. He was definitely defesenviely better than Leonard. The way Leonard could turn into a killer makes me hesitate, though. Don't know exactly how much that was down to speed and power compared to Whitaker, but the fact that Ray could box Duran and Hagler as well as walk down Hearns, Kalule and Mayweather etc speaks extremely highly of his versatility and ability to adapt. (He wasn't particularily aestethically pleasing to look ut when he was in pure box mode, though.)

If I have to choose, then I'll choose Pea. As for now, at least.

 

I'd say Pea was more skilled by maybe a small smidgeon but Leonard was the better fighter due to superior speed, power, and killer instinct. Its just I wouldn't consider any of those three attributes to be "skills" per se.

 

Pick 'em IMO.

 

Leonard IMO

 

Pea was awesome but Leonard could literally do everything and is one of the most complete fighters ever so he takes this definitely.

 

Ray had more complete facets in boxing.. Pernell probably had better defense, but Ray had more offense which meant he could use that to win at the top top level at times when he needed that where I think Pernell might have come out short against Hearns.. But Pernell would have done well with all the others. Benitez? That would have been a very interesting fight. Some people might call it boring. Pernell more skilled defensively since I don't think many guys can match that, but I think Ray more overall boxing skilled. Hard to put into words.

 

Pea's greatest strengths (anticipation / reflexes, defence, jab, footwork etc.) were perhaps more comparatively dominant than Leonard's, but Leonard was the better all-rounder and probably a more complete fighter in that sense. Whitaker was off the charts in certain areas and was the best defensive fighter of his time, and maximised those strengths, but was perhaps only solid or serviceable in other areas (in relative terms only, of course). On the other hand, Leonard wasn't necessarily THE very best in any one area during his career (although he'd be close in certain aspects), but he was good at everything and scored solidly right across the spectrum - power, speed, endurance, toughness, ring IQ, defence, footwork, inside fighting, punch variety etc. Hence he was a little more adaptable than Whitaker and won at the highest level in so many different ways: he outslicked Benitez; outbrawled and outwilled Hearns; outthought Duran and Hagler; and mixed all of these together to beat guys like Green, Kalule and Lalonde.

That's not to say that Whitaker couldn't adapt when the chips were down (under serious pressure he abandoned all pretence to style and went full-on slugger to turn the tide against Hurtado, of course), but he was a little more set in his ways, particularly at Welter and his short stay at Light-Middle. He really trimmed down his attacking arsenal at those weights (McGirt II was a beautiful exception to that rule!) and was often content to simply win fights with the jab and movement, as opposed to the 135 / 140 lb Whitaker who threw a lot more, loved to punish the body and spoiled less.

So I guess it depends what you like - the guy who is 9 or 10 out of 10 in two or three key areas which means he can afford to be a 5 or 6 in the others, or the guy who scores solid 7s or 8s (at least) all the way across the board. Personally, much as I love Whitaker, I feel that Leonard was better-equipped to win under absolutely any circumstances due to his particular blend of athleticism and skill, and if I were in there I'd take his gifts over Whitaker's. Sometimes it's fashionable to slate Leonard, but he really was an unbelievable all-rounder and would have been special in any era.

 

Prime vs prime he destroys every single one. Not one of the fighters you named would go the distance, most he stops within 8rds.

 

I'd say Whitaker was more gifted, and did things that just can't be tought. Leonard was more skilled, and was more complete because of his power and ability to seriously hurt opponents.

 

Leonard was even more physically gifted .. faster and a better P4P puncher w either hand but Ray could load up and be a bit wild at times to be flashy .. Whitaker was more controlled and mathematical ..