HE did win the jr. middleweight title. He beat a Korean I think and lost to another one in his first defense. He wouldn't have beaten Kalule thought. Ray barely did. Watch it on YOUTUBE. Great fight.
Roger had a slim chance of beating Kalue, but could possibly do the trick if he fought a couple of top tenners to prepare him.
Roger Leonard did not win any part of a Junior-Middleweight Title. His primary job, was to be brother Ray's sparring partner, along with Steve Gregory (another Junior-Middleweight). He was a pretty good boxer, with an OK right hand for power.
Roger 'The Dodger' Leonard,,, Turned professional on September 8, 1978. Older brother of Ray Leonard, and taller at 6' 0". Had the the same style, boxer-puncher with quick hands. Roger didn't have the power that Ray had, but he was pretty tough in the ring. Had a couple of good early career wins, over Sean Mannion (W Dec 6) and Steve Delgado (TKO 5). Decisioned faded-veterans Rudy Robles {W Spilt Dec 8}and Johnny Gant {W Dec 8} while building up his record. Scored his first big win, by winning a controversial split-decision (W Split Dec 10) over veteran Clyde Gray on the Leonard-Duran I fight in Montreal, June 1980. That victory brought him to 14-0-0 (7 KO's), and earned him a #10 WBA rating in the 154 lb. Junior-Middleweight Division. Fought on the Duran-Leonard II card at the Superdome in November 1980, and decisioned veteran journeyman Melvin Dennis (W Dec 10). It was his 15th win in a row. January 1980, was bumped up to #8 WBA, and was in-line for a shot at WBA Junior-Middleweight Champion, Ayub Kalule, with a bout set for March 5, 1981 in Denmark. Took what he considered a light tune-up bout on February 9, 1981 at Hartford Civic Center. His opponent, 20 year-old Mario Maldonado, a mediocre Junior Middleweight with a record of 10-7-1 (6 KO's). Maldonado had lost 4 of his last 6 bouts, and did not appear to be a dangerous fighter. Roger Leonard fought his typical box and punch style over the first 6 rounds, scoring without too much retaliation from Maldonado. Things were going to plan, until Maldonado started fighting back in Round 7. Maldonado shook Leonard several times, and had him on unsteady pins. Rounds 8 and 9, Maldonado kept the pressure on with solid left hooks and long-range right hands which stunned Leonard several times. Late in Round 9, a booming right hand from Maldonado had Leonard out on his feet. He survived the last 20-seconds of the round on instinct alone. Entering Round 10, Roger Leonard was still ahead on the Scorecards, but he was in bad shape from the punch he took in the 9th Round. Maldonado came out for the 10th Round like he was shot-out-from-a-cannon, and went after the still stunned Leonard with reckless abandon, and pummeled him back into the corner where he unloaded with booming right hands, forcing the referee to rescue a defenseless Roger Leonard.
If Roger Leonard fought Ayub Kalule in Denmark (proposed date March 1981) he would been out-boxed badly over the second-half of the bout. Not sure Kalule would have the power to knock him out, but he may have stopped him by a late TKO. Roger Leonard would have battled Kalule on even grounds through 8, but thats about as far as he could go, before fading.
finally analyses , predictions and opinions from Pepe' , along with a few hypothetical matches and non heavyweight replies and threads , combined with his rich informative sources , Pepe' has now become a complete poster . In order 2 become a perfect poster , 1 also needs 2 prove himself in hypothetical betting and a yet broader range of expertise , not that i m a perfect poster myself yet .
