Shugar Ray Leonard v Henry Armstrong prime for prime at 147???

Duran is much bigger, stronger, better skilled, better power and better defensively in comparison to Armstrong. And Leonard still didnt do badly despite fighting the wrong fight

Armstrong was shut out and carried by the most similar opponent to LEonard in Robinson, lost to Zivic/Ambers who arent in Leonards class.

Leonard wide UD too big and too good, Armstrong shouldnt be put in with the ATG WWs its not his division

 

Yeah because Armstrong was in his prime when he fought Robinson. Not too mention that Robinson was better than Leonard, especially with his offense. And Zivic and Ambers are quite the style Leonard fought, right?

That´s why he is still the record holder for title defences in that weightclass, right?

Just keep nuthugging Jones and Mayweather and stay out of serious threads. Go away.

 

I have to favour leonard here, though i think it will be close. One thing is for certain and that is armstrong will make sure leonard knows that he has been in a fight. However i see a couple of keys to the fight. I am in the camp that leonard whilst not moving all the time against duran in montreal did attempt to do so at points however duran had the footspeed to keep catching him up, getting inside and forcing the pace.

I expect to see the fight start similar to leonard v duran 1, they will go at it at close quarters, both will land telling blows and leonard will be looking to take armstrong out. Henry will have the advantage though, i then expect leonard to shift it up slightly and move more. Armstrong for me would not have the footspeed to be able to get to leonard when he moves more, not often enough anyway.

It will be a hard fought fight but i think leonard gets the better, just and takes a UD or SD

 

Well of course they're going to ****ing say that! Ever heard of an excuse?

In fact, I have on tape an interview with Leonard pre-Montreal where he explicitly mentions his intention to circle and move more against Duran, and that was just a day before the fight, after all the taunting that supposedly ****ed him up mentally had been done.

 

He didn't go in looking to slug it out with Duran, though. He went in looking to implement his usual gameplan, which was to stand off, box, control the pace, and open up when the opportunity presented itself, or when he was able to open it up. Duran's feinting and footspeed is what confused Leonard and allowed him to close the distance to make it into a brawl. If Leonard fought his usual gameplan I still think he'd have more than enough physically for Armstrong. Bad matchup.

 

This is where I see the difference. I see Leonard beeing more successful in the beginning because of his size advantages and thus reafirming his plan of taking Armstrong out. When Armstrong starts to taking over I don´t think Leonard will have enough energy left to get on his toes an box him due to the high pace from the beginning. In the end this wins Armstrong the fight. The rematch would look different probably.

 

Right that´s why they, Leonard and Dundee, changed their position later on and build up the myth of Leonard fighting the wrong fight.

 

Armstrong is the record holder for defenses because he avoided Burley, Holman Williams, Cocoa Kid. If he fights any of them on his first defense and he might not have any defenses. His title defenses are largely weak and include blown up Featherweights

Armstrong was getting career best wins and only 30 shortly before the Robinson loss, so while past prime

Zivic and Ambers arent in Leonards league thats the point

Armstrong is great but against the great Welters he loses every time, hes too small

Get back to nuthugging Sturm, Otke, DM and Abraham :yep

 

Leonard did not fight like he always did, they wanted to intercept Duran because Dundee saw that Duran always made a few steps forward to get his pressure going, they wanted to intercept him there to take away his efficiency. It´s on tape. It did not work out.
I agree that Duran´s feinting and footspeed played a big part there.

Yes and no, I don´t think he would employ his usual style. He would not respect Armstrong due to his size. He would go out there and trya to take him out. Armstrong would set the pace. Leonard would have success in the beginning but the pace would take its toll and Armstrong takes over and decisions him. In the first fight.

 

Yeah, because I have such a history of nuthugging these fighters.

 

Yep, admitting it is the first step on the road to recovery bodhi

 

Leonard says he got buzzed so bad in the second round he was out of it until the 6th, I think this played a role in him not being able to adjust

 

Armstrong would beat him up.
I think Armstrong's better than Duran, and Leonard, and Hearns, and would probably beat all three.

Armstrong's up there with Robinson.

 

:dead

Very possible.

 

Leonard a clear favourite here - a natural welterweight vs the smaller Armstrong, he has a harder punch, stronger chin, better hand speed, and better footwork. Armstrong's only advantage would be his stamina and work rate, but unless Leonard is dumb and fights toe to toe (like Duran I), that won't be enough. Even in the latter case I still think Leonard wins it, he only just lost to Duran after all.