Prime Leonard vs todays Mayweather

Mayweather had some success because Leonard was being totally casual and gave him zero respect. If you watch the fight you'll see, it's like Leonard can't even be bothered fighting. He basically wears Mayweather out with occasional lethargic punching and then turns the engine on in the later rounds and puts him away. It was never a close fight. It would be like raising Mayweather's early struggles with Jesus Chavez as evidence for this one.

Yes, because Duran was really at his best for those fights

 

I like this match up.
If I had to compare Mayweather to a boxer from the past Ray Leonard would be my first choice.
It is not that they have the same style, and they are by no means of the same build.
What they both bring is a vast skill set, the abillity to adapat and adjust. As well as an ability to win. I would call this more of a mental assit than a physical one.
I give Leonard the advantage in the above, and in most if not all physical catagories. However he dose not have a bigenough lead that Mayweather can't overcome them.
I see this as being a tactical fight with both boxers displaying their mastery of the sport at times. It will also be more agresive and exciting than some might think it will be.
When the skills of two boxers are comparable to each other, and I belive they are. I tend to go with bigger is better. In this case I'd favor Leonard.
They both can be slow starters. Mayweather fights in a 12 round eara while Leonard fights in a 15 round one. I'm going to go against convintial wisdom and say that Mayweather has an advantage hear. He has less rounds to give away. This means he has to pick up the pace sooner. I don't thint stanama with Mayweather is going to be an issue even in a 15 round bout.
I think this is a very good and competive match up.
I like Leonard by decision in a close fight.

 

ripcity, how do you think Mayweather would do against Sugar Ray Robinson?

 

Really great match up, but mayweather is just too slick and skillful for the slow, primitive robinson. He dodges triple left hooks, sways, shoulder rolls his way to a UD. Maybe even a TKO!

:nut

 

I give the edge to Robinson, but I'm not 100% convinced on this one.
Robinson has the physical advantages in terms of skills and size. He;s a lot taller but only has a half inch in reach. I was suprised about this.
I think Robinson is better offensively. I think Mayweather is better defensively.
Robinson's speed is more aparanet than Mayweather who has sneeky speed.
Mayweather has a way of sucking oppoents into the fight he wants to fight. I think it comes down to this.
Robinson would be smart to stay back and make Mayweather come to him. While he dose not hold a great advantage in reach his skills and speed should make up for it.
Mayweather needs to suck Robinson into fighting as opposed to boxing. Giving Mayweather Countering oppertunites.
The result is dependent on who can impose their will on the other guy.
I lean towards towards Robinson but I would not count Mayweather out.

 

Interesting thoughts.

What about Mayweather vs. Joe Louis? Prime for prime.

 

....

 

Peak Leonard beats a 2010 version of Mayweather... Prime for prime, it could go either way.

 

Mayweather's potshotting tactics won't work in this one. Leonard shuts down the philly shell defense and wins by late stoppage.

 

Louis has no chin. Even Mayweather with his feather fists konocks him out in one round. (This is sarcasism. A form of humor that dose not translate very well to to written word.)
Do you realy expect me to give a seroious answer to this?

 

Now you're getting over the top. Robinson even at WW had problems with fighters that weren't ATGs. To completely discount that Mayweather could give him a fight is quite silly.

 

I would

 

Brief glimpes of prime SRR at welterweight are awe inspiring. Nobody beats that guy IMO.

 

this thread

 

Leonard big.