I'm glad he gave Marcos Geraldo his due. Even though Leonard was young and still learning, that was a very tough fight for him. What was the Leonard camp thinking when they made that fight? Geraldo was a natural middleweight, big, tough and tenacious at a time when SRL was still a welterweight. Why take a chance on blowing a lot of big paydays by fighting a guy like that?
Because they actually wanted Leonard to develop into a hardened, fully realised pro? Leonard was brought on flawlessly for the modern era requirements of the sport.
The rest of the Leonard camp was pissed off at Angelo for putting Ray in with such a tough fighter, though. He talks about it in his book. But all in all Dundee brought Leonard along beautifully, just as he did with Clay. Gave him some hurdles before the big one, but nothing he couldn't handle in the end.
Compare this to the best Duran faced. [url]https://www.ringtv.com/462377-best-faced-roberto-duran/[/url]
Several years ago at a Talk In I was able to ask him who was the best he fought, and he replied Benitez. So he has been consistent.
Mayweather better defense than Benitez? Uhh, No... Leonard said it himself “nobody makes me miss like Benitez” I had Benitez clearly behind against Leonard ON POINTS but points dont tell the story of that fight. It was very closely competed and one of the greatest chess matches you are likely to see.
Hearns was super fast. He outboxed Leonard and Benitez. You don't do that if you haven't got some serious speed. If Hearns had had a chin on a par with Leonard, he'd have been the best fighter of his era.
I saw Benitez fight with Hearns and take punches and avoid punches and outpunch Duran at times keeping Duran back. He was not worse than Floyd. He just happened to fight the best guys he could and had some losses. Floyd did not have the competition Benitez did.