Ray Leonard vs. Michael Nunn in 1988

Nunn was the better box and was too long for Leonard at that time.

 

Leonard by late stoppage.

 

In 1988 I'd give the edge to Nunn at Middleweight. Sugar Ray managed to dredge one last great performance out of the well the previous year against an over the hill,but still dangerous Marvin Hagler. After Hagler,Ray never quite managed to reach those heights again. He was still capable of beating or drawing against past prime greats like Thomas Hearns or Roberto Duran,but a peak Nunn was slightly beyond him at this stage.


Nunn by fairly close points verdict.

 

I wanted this fight to happen. It would have been a whole lot different job for Ray to solve southpaw Nunn than it was solving hand at his kneecap LaLonde. Lalonde left a wide open window at all times for a right hand and Leonard would have had to create his openings against a defense like Nunn's. Much different puzzle to solve and the other guy was never a puzzle--which explains why 1 guy got the fight and the other did not.

And Ray had never been the old guy taking on youthful reflexes and that was another thing I wanted to see Leonard handle. He sure didn't handle that well against Norris when it was time to.

I think Nunn slaps him around easily for the lopsided win. Much along the same lines we saw Terry Norris do later on. As a matter of fact, a youthful undefeated Toney would have been a handful for Ray back then, as would guys like Kalambay. But what Leonard had started doing as a jr middle and middle was to lean to one side a lot and become right hand happy. Far less leg movement and angles and too much leaning 1 way at the waist. I think that plays right into the hands of a lanky southpaw and Nunn had those fast combos and was a shoeshiner of the highest order for a while. I think he flurries Ray to death in there and Leonard does not get off and would be trying to counter off landed punches instead of countering punches that hit air. So, he'd be the one hitting air, not his opponent.

I also think Nunn and those youthful reflexes would have shoeshined Marvelous Marvin at that time as well, if he hadn't stayed retired. Just a step behind all night type fight. I'm glad that didn't take place because I was thinking it could be a lopsided type bout and I did not want to see Hagler sticking around the game and picking up losses like other old fighters. Especially to a negative type style guy like a Nunn.

 

:deal

I agree, I remember after one of Leonard's fights he was asked 'do you want a piece of Nunn?' and Ray wisely ignored the question. At their respective points of their careers Nunn would have been too much for Ray and would have beaten him quite soundly for a wide points decision. The Nunn that beat Tate and Kalambay was a beast.

 

Nunn too peaked, young, tall, big in '88 at 160 for Leonard......

MR.BILL

 

Nunn easy at that time ... too fast, big, young and a smaller, old Ray ...

 

zadfrak that is a quality post and you've swayed me.

 

Leonard's hope would be to tag Nunn late, similar to Toney, but my money would be on Nunn winning on points. Too fast and too big for Ray at this stage.

 

Nunn was at his peak & Leonard was past his prime in 1988, Nunn was bigger into the bargain... Nunn beats him on points.

 

Nunn would of won, just.

As mentioned Nunn was primed. But the Leonard 'mystic' was still going strong in 88. After the 'Hagler miracle', many well respected commentators of the sport would be picking Leonard to do it again.

Thus I think Micheal would be very respectful of Leonard, and would leave it late to turn on the dazzle to gain the decision, possibly flooring his sweetness to confirm the victory.

 

Nunn as his peak was a tall ordeal for anyone.

Too much for past prime Leonard for sure.

 

Nunn would've been too much for Ray, plain and simple. He had every conceivable advantage here at 160, most esp. speed.

 

I think a lot depends on how Nunn fought, he could be very negative. He may just show Leonard too much respect.