Prime GGG vs Sugar Ray Leonard (Hagler fight) MW

Round 4: GGG 10-9; gonna be honest, no idea what I was thinking here when I had that scorecard. First half was competitive with Canelo landing the cleaner single shots, but GGG just scoring with the jab often enough. Then just a good minute of Canelo just chilling on the ropes. While he was chilling, Golovkin was punching and even though they didn't land, they account for more than nothing. End of the round again was cleaner, singular shots by Canelo but more workman like from GGG, which worked well.

Round 5: Canelo 10-9: First half of the round was mostly Canelo and mostly centre-ring. GGG landed some good jabs, but Canelo made GGGs pressure ineffective and showed excellent defence with some very nice counters. He landed some decent shots but none of the squeaky clean ones. Canelo definitely won the centre ring battle imo; but GGG won the battle when Canelo got to the ropes. However, I'd add the caveat that Canelo's defence in this round was beautiful. All of the big, singular shots that Golovkin snook through, were turned away from and negated to a degree.

Round 11: 10-9 Canelo, very close.

This was the hardest of these three to score; Canelo had stretches where he made GGG ineffective with movement, and was picking very nice counters throughout the round. Golovkins more workman-like method of pressuring and more regularly throwing simple but effective combos just wasn't successful enough for long enough to win this one. He did however, show some nice defence and looked like an absolute terror just marching in and forcing Nelo back and to not allowing him to take angles on him, often.

Canelo has a hard style to score in general, which I think is partly why he has so many controversial wins. It's a combination of him being okay at boxing within himself, and doing it often but then coupled with the fact that his defence, timing and athleticism is awesome. So he gets a lot of snappy clean counters in, or has some awesome defensive moments. It tends to come down to what you prefer when scoring, or potentially even down to individual exchanges.

 

I'll rewatch those rounds and give my perspective when I have time but appreciate hearing your thoughts!

 

Thats the reason Taylor took less punishment, because he stucked and moved. Outside of once earlier in his career did you see someone even come close to stopping Ouma? Ouma was ridiculously experienced at the world class level. Golovkin had a very off night, but would have flattend most top middleweights on the night. Ouma was beyond durable.
Oh yeah, Golovkins main game is mid range, he's not Ricky Hatton.

 

When did Taylor become an inside fighter - he was always an outside boxer with a good jab.
Oh GGG had an "off night" was "jet lagged"
Roman beat the hell out of Ouma and he never was the same.

 

Ok

 

Round 4: First min was mostly Canelo with GGG landing some hard jabs and and a good hook to the body. GGG picked up in the second min and mostly won it pretty clearly lot of his shots were blocked but enough landed to win. And Last min was closer but GGG still landed the better shots with some good jabs and right hands while Canelo landed some good body shots but not enough to win the round so we can agree it was a GGG round

Round 5: First min was Golovkin Canelo landed a hard jab and a good body shot but besides that it was mostly GGG imposing himself on him against the ropes and landing some shots (though most were blocked or missed). Second min was mostly even GGG landed more shots but you can argue Canelo's were a bit harder. Third min GGG got probably the best shot of the round with that right overhand which was clean counter afterwards was more even GGG landing more but not as clean while Canelo landing cleaner but not as much but I think that overhand along with GGG other work in the round was more then enough to win it for him.

Round 11: First Min mostly Canelo doing a good job avoiding and countering GGG. Second min mostly GGG Canelo hasn't had as much success with his counters and GGG has been having more success with his jab but he lands some good shots at the end which might be enough to sway it to him. Third min mostly GGG forced him to the ropes and landed some hard shots including a right hand and a hook . Overall close round I can see it for Canelo but I think I overall prefer GGG work.

Overall I think we can acknowledge 4 as a clear GGG round, 11 as a round that can go either way, and 5 as a round we have different takes on I think GGG overall work plus the overhand right which I think was the best punch of the round was enough to swing it his way but you can disagree if you prefer Canelo's sharper counters.

 

Most thought Leonard won the fight, he stole the show and did way better than anybody expected. The difference is, most people thought Golovkin won the fight clearly, but Canelo did way better than expected. In the two fights alone there might have 4 to 6 ringside media combined that gave it to canelo, i think it was maybe two each. In the 2nd fight it was something like 40 thought GGG won, 15 had it a draw and 2 thought GGG won. The first fight ringside media was even worse for Canelo.

 

Yep, and the chances for that happening again were even higher vs GGG. Golovkin was the big threat to Canelo so he gave up his WBC belt to put it off for a year and a half after beating cotto, trying to stall. Everybody knew it. Golovkin was starting to look human and canelo was starting to grow somehow, like for the Chavez fight, things were starting to even out a little.

 

So, have you seen the fight outside of fight night to re judge it, or is that your fight night score only?

 

Nobody needs to make excuses for the Ouma performance, its not necessary, as Golovkin went on to slaughter the middleweight division after that. The Ouma fight is irrelevant. Just saying that Ouma was tough as hell that night.

 

Yes it is the only time i saw it and have no desire to see it again.Anyway we are going off on a tangent here, my original post was in reponse to the question posed. Even if i rewatched the first fight and scored it to GGG i would stand by my answer that Leonard would have beat him .You obviously dont and thats fine but that is my final comment on this subject

 

As for who would win between the middleweight version Sugar Ray Leonard or Golovkin in his prime? I don't know, i would sit back and enjoy the fight to see how it unfolded. A great HOF middleweight vs An all time great 5 division champ Leonard.
If Leonard can use his foot work, flurry and go and not get seriously hurt, he might be able to pull it off.
Or Leonard will get off to a fast start like Brook did then get tracked down and roughed up. Leonard has ridiculous lateral movement and he is not a toothless gazelle, he can fight. Look what he did when he bit down while fighting Donny Lalonde a light heavyweight titlist, he violently got him out of there. He also nearly shut out Duran who's last fight was his win over Iran Barkley.
Golovkin would have his work cut out for him thats for sure.
Ray has a solid chin, but was down twice by Hearns and once by Lalonde, so its possible that GGG might put Ray down as well at some point. This fight is a pickem really.

 

No problem, i was just expressing my opinion about the Two Canelo vs GGG fights. I am from the fabulous four times like you so i get it, and Ray was great. I think it would be a facinating fight that i would love to see. I would order the ppv right now if i could.

 

What happend to the draw choice or the i don't know choice?

 

G...never thought much of Ray at MW. Was already past prime.