RJJ Or SRL?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Fergy, Oct 3, 2022.


  1. mark ant

    mark ant Canelo was never athletic Full Member

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    Both simialr great athletes without true boxing fundamentals, neither is amoung the top 10 of all-time P4P. It would have been interesting if they had met the same opponents at the same age, though Hearns was better at welter than at 160, as was Duran, Hagler would have been an interesting opponent for Roy but they`s have to be the same age for it to be a fair fight. Benitez and all the others under 160 wouldn`t have gone the distance with the much bigger Jones, Benitez was too small at 160. McCallum was a better opponent that Lalonde at 175 despite being 39 when Roy beat him.
     
  2. mark ant

    mark ant Canelo was never athletic Full Member

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    His resume wasn`t.
     
  3. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    Roy was better.
     
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  4. Hannibal Barca

    Hannibal Barca Active Member Full Member

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    Roy Jones may be the ultimate eye test atg, but eye tests can only go so far. If greatness was about eye tests, where would Marciano and Monzon rate? Would we rate them below Meldrick Taylor?

    With Leonard there are zero such reservations.

    The commercialized media darling aced the eye test during the 1976 Olympics and in his run to the championship as a pro with his dazzling hand speed. He then proceeded to validate this acclaim by going to war twice with the generally considered top lightweight of all time and fighter of the decade for the 1970's when Duran was 71-1.

    Leonard then knocked out the most feared welterweight of all time, a man generally considered among the top 3 all time in that division, and held in such regard that most people on this forum favor Hearns over Floyd Mayweather with little reservation. He did this while behind on the cards and with one eye damaged by going to the trenches and digging deep for arguably the best win in Welterweight history.

    Leonard then came out of retirement to defeat one of the three best middleweights of all time to end Hagler's decade long undefeated streak, a man who was arguably second (behind Leonard) as fighter of the decade for the 1980s.

    Give the man his due. Leonard, and it's not particularly close.
     
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  5. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    Leonard beat Benitez and Hearns @147
    Roy beat Hopkins at 160 and Toney at 168
    —These are not worlds apart

    Leonard lost to Duran in Montreal and beat him in New Orleans, after he bizarrely quit early in a fight that he wasn’t even losing badly or getting beaten up in.
    Roy narrowly beat a prime Tarver while having an off night and got knocked out in the rematch.
    —Not that far apart

    Leonard edged a fading Hagler while two weightclasses above where he started.
    Roy won wide against Ruiz while five weightclasses above where he started.
    —Closer than it sounds on the surface

    Leonard beat Kalule, Lalonde, Green, Ranzany, Chiaverini, and old as dirt Duran.
    Roy beat Gonzalez, Woods, Harding, Hill, Griffin, Reggie Johnson, Lou Del Valle, McCallum, Tate, Malinga, Castro, and Paz.
    —Roy has a much better supporting cast

    Leonard had more hype surrounding his big fights.
     
  6. JunlongXiFan

    JunlongXiFan 45-6 in Kirks Chmpionshp Boxing Predictions 2022 Full Member

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    How is this even a question?

    Best divisions:

    RJJ: 11-5 at LHW vs contenders with 6 KOs

    Best win at LHW: Maybe "Antonio Tarver"? The guy's best win is famous for beating him. At least he got revenge on Montell Griffin (XD)

    I don't want to say "hypejob", but RJJ was taking journeymen like David Telesco the distance (IN HIS PRIME) and being applauded for "dominating him", what can I say? What other term can I possibly use when I just saw somebody call RJJ the greatest fighter since RJJ?
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    SRL: 7-1 at WW vs contenders with 7 KOs

    Best win at WW:

    Either Duran or Hearns, both multi division champs, with Duran generally being regarded as the best LW of all time.
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    Their overall careers warrant even less discussion.
     
  7. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    You weren't around for Roy Jones' prime, confirmed.

    P.S. Ray Leonard's career also ended with him getting his ass kicked.