SRL Or Sanchez who deserved Fighter of the year in 81

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by PhillyPhan69, Oct 13, 2018.


who should fighter of the year 1982 be?

  1. Sugar Ray Leonard

    9 vote(s)
    69.2%

  2. Salvador Sanchez

    3 vote(s)
    23.1%

  3. Someone else

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  4. Ring got it right this time

    1 vote(s)
    7.7%
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  1. PhillyPhan69

    PhillyPhan69 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Rings annual choice for fighter of the year has ended in a tie 4 different times...who deserved the nod or is there another more deserving candidate?

    World welterweight champion Leonard had tallied three knockouts: Thomas Hearns (KO 14), Ayub Kalule (KO 9), and Larry Bonds (KO 10).

    WBC featherweight titleholder Sanchez had won four bouts in ’81, defeating Wilfredo Gomez (KO 8), Pat Cowdell (W 15), Robert Castanon (KO 10) and Nicky Perez (W 10).

    So could you, would you break the tie? Or even add a new candidate?
     
    PhillyPhan69, Oct 13, 2018
    PhillyPhan69, Oct 13, 2018
    #1
  2. PhillyPhan69

    PhillyPhan69 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Oddly I think SRL deserved it by a slim margin. His fight with Hearns was epic, and fight of the year as well.

    I am much more of a Sanchez appreciator and enjoy rewatching him more.

    I don’t want to be a history revisionist but I don’t find his victory over Gomez as impressive (not to be confused with unimpressive) as SRL over Hearns 1. Both in terms of the day or historical context.

    I give it to SRL by a slim but existent margin.
     
    PhillyPhan69, Oct 13, 2018
    PhillyPhan69, Oct 13, 2018
    #2
  3. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    I think you mean 1981. Leonard also won the 154 pound title beating Kalule so it was a pretty good year. Sanchez's was great too. Not much in it. If i split them i might lean toward Leonard beating a top guy fighting in his own division vs one moving up.

    You could debate it may ways tho. One person might say well Leonard struggled madly with Hearns and was behind where as Sanchez dominated but another might say, well Leonard had to show more adversity.

    I'd accept either. Maybe sharing it was fair.
     
    JohnThomas1, Oct 13, 2018
    JohnThomas1, Oct 13, 2018
    #3
    PhillyPhan69 likes this.
  4. PhillyPhan69

    PhillyPhan69 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    PhillyPhan69, Oct 13, 2018
    PhillyPhan69, Oct 13, 2018
    #4
    JohnThomas1 likes this.
  5. Sangria

    Sangria You bleed like Mylee Full Member

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    Leonard by a nose. Fantastic battle from start to finish against Hearns. Maybe I'm a bit bias since that fight is the earliest boxing match I remember acknowledging. Hearns looked scary, like a genuine bad guy and Leonard was my Father's favorite fighter in 1981.

    Leonard KO14 Hearns carries a bit more weight over Salvador KO8 Gomez. Both were warranted SuperFights.
     
    Sangria, Oct 13, 2018
    Sangria, Oct 13, 2018
    #5
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  6. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    Well it was the turn of 82 when they picked hahaha. Good thread mate, something a teeny bit different and quite thought provoking.
     
    JohnThomas1, Oct 13, 2018
    JohnThomas1, Oct 13, 2018
    #6
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  7. Titan1

    Titan1 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Leonard. Greater accomplishment though the defeat of Gomez was a great thing.
     
    Titan1, Oct 13, 2018
    Titan1, Oct 13, 2018
    #7
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  8. ChrisJS

    ChrisJS Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I think the share was fine. Gomez was 2-1 favorite and had been a champion for 4 years and had destroyed Zarate. Sanchez took him apart.
     
    ChrisJS, Oct 13, 2018
    ChrisJS, Oct 13, 2018
    #8
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  9. Nighttrain

    Nighttrain 'BOUT IT 'BOUT IT Full Member

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    Which is the flight that is still talked about today? Leonard versus Hearns is it all time top five for me! I think it was a great call.
     
    Nighttrain, Oct 13, 2018
    Nighttrain, Oct 13, 2018
    #9
  10. PernellSweetPea

    PernellSweetPea Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Ray had a surreal year in 1981. 2 titles. Won 154 and became undisputed when there were only two titles.
     
    PernellSweetPea, Oct 13, 2018
    PernellSweetPea, Oct 13, 2018
    #10
  11. Flea Man

    Flea Man มวยสากล Full Member

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    Leonard.
     
    Flea Man, Oct 13, 2018
    Flea Man, Oct 13, 2018
    #11
  12. Flea Man

    Flea Man มวยสากล Full Member

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    Sanchez vs. Gomez is still talked about today
     
    Flea Man, Oct 14, 2018
    Flea Man, Oct 14, 2018
    #12
  13. Nighttrain

    Nighttrain 'BOUT IT 'BOUT IT Full Member

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    Do you think at the same level? Shown as often? Considered by as many fans as a great fight?
     
    Nighttrain, Oct 14, 2018
    Nighttrain, Oct 14, 2018
    #13
  14. Flea Man

    Flea Man มวยสากล Full Member

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    Crazy that a fight between two bigger black American fighters is shown more often or cared about by as many fans, rather than two Latin American featherweights. Even more crazy given that Leonard and Hearns are two of the most famous fighters of all time.

    Who cares about ‘many fans’ anyway? This is the classic boxing forum.

    Ask a Mexican or a Puerto Rican which fight they care about more.
     
    Flea Man, Oct 14, 2018
    Flea Man, Oct 14, 2018
    #14
  15. Nighttrain

    Nighttrain 'BOUT IT 'BOUT IT Full Member

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    Oh. I see, a racial thing.
     
    Nighttrain, Oct 14, 2018
    Nighttrain, Oct 14, 2018
    #15
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