Sugar Ray Leonard vs Hector Camacho

Not sure I have much to contribute. Leonard was a complete shell of himself. No legs left whatsoever.. Timing and reflexes were completely shot. Even the version of Leonard who fought Norris years earlier was 10 times better

 

He was a soft 40 year old

 

Ray picked badly in the 1990s.. He is lucky Norris did not stop him, but the damage Norris did contributed to this. Ray should not have fought again. I think Norris beat him every round and I give Ray credit for taking those punches. Then Camacho Ray looked flat and just no tone. I am not sure why he took the fight. He was inactive and had a beating in this last fight 6 years before. He had not had a win in almost 10 years. There is not much to say about this fight except why fight on if you are not going to put in the time and take it seriously, even at 41 years old.

 

Leonard was washed

 

Money making scam to lure casuals and fans of the two fighters who remembered them in their primes

The significance was quite low.

I certainly didn't pay for this crap fight.

Sadly, Rooster touts this fight as significant in analyzing Leonard's prime worth. Lol.

 

It revealed a 20 year fighter with a 40 fight record isn't all he was touted as. Fast hands, really! Under rated power, but he couldn't outbox Benitez. Had to slug it out.
Whooped by Duran. The stoppage in rematch was a pissed off Duran who wasn't being outboxed, just out-witted (like Ali-vs Foreman it was a one time trick unable to be duplicated)
Outboxed & out jabbed by Hearns who was called an assassin a fierce puncher not a boxing aficionado. Like Bentiez fight he had to bang out a win, not a sweet science fight by any means.

Then he got dropped by..was it Finch or Howard? His comeback vs Hagler, ok. That was a masterful performance. Then Lalonde was clocking him repeatedly. Just like Wilfredo and Tommy...he had to bang out Donny for a TKO. Up to that point Lalonde was boxing and landing nice shots.
What a coincidence that after Hearns who had to eke out a MD against Kinchen? and starched by Barkley...now Ray wants a rematch 8 years later.
Just like the 1st fight Hearns jab dictated the pace, dropped Ray hard 2x...a testimony to Ray's beard. A set of whiskers to get up, but because he wins the 12th round he deserved a draw? Crappy decision -thank U ray for admitting Hearns whooped U. Again.

Next up the trilogy with Ray vs Roberto.
Duran's ring age was 497 rounds via 92 fight over 20 year span
Leonard's rung age was 237 rounds via 37 fights over 12 year span.
Ray looked gr8 dancing around a 160lb 5'7 fighter, regardless that by the 12th round he was bleeding pretty bad over the left eye. Had this been a 15 rounder?
1991 not sure why he chose Norris. It was some years since he was KO'd by Jackson and was looking sharp. He didn't try to KO Ray, he just outboxed him. So well some could say he beat Ray up.
6 years later Takes on Camacho who was on 19 win 1 draw streak since his last defeat, so this wasn't really a cherry pick fight either

This content is protected

Ray retired with 40 fights in 20 years to Camacho 88 fights in 30 years. Both did nose candy, yet only Camacho went on to keep winning 16-3-2.
Macho went from Superfeather to SuperMiddle
Ray went from Welter to Super Middle

Macho had wins over Rafael Solis, Jose L. Ramirez, Rosario, Bosa-Edwards, Howard Davis, Ray Mancini, Pazienza, Haugen (1-1), Leonard & Duran.

Ray vs Hector was a fight with 2 flashy fighters. One who had a brief moment in the spotlight the other had longevity.
One guy had the power/personality to make the fights he wanted when he wanted. The latter was so over-the-top clownish that it dampened the respect he earned by boxing when needed & fighting when needed.
One guy lost his speed, reflexes and went into this fight looking like the stereotypical shell fighter. The latter seemed to lose some speed, but kept enough that it made him look fast as hell against the former (Ray)
I loved Ray as an amateur and his early years, but his antics of playing down Pryor who walked up & challenged him. Denying Hearns a rematch for 8 years, punking Hagler by inviting him & thousands to an arena just to say...this fight will never happen.
Then changing his mind once he felt Hagler's ring years had come full blown..now he wants to fight Marvin when he feels the deck is against Marvelous.
Spanked by Norris, embarrassed by Camacho.
That's what I thought then and now, not so much Ray was past it. Both were. One just got exposed as a media darling the other the media villain.
The villain won in the end.

 

Along with Ali vs Holmes, I've never been more sure of a formerly-great fighter having no chance whatsoever ... he looked horrible; reminded me of that photo of a past-prime Sugar Ray Robinson with a roll of flab around his middle, bathed in sweat and looking exhausted; hard to reconcile that with the flashing brilliance of his youth. And in some sense, a bit of karmic payback for a guy who played fast and loose with boxing because his star power allowed him to ...

 

Leonard was as finished against Hector, as Ali v Holmes. Done! Totally shot and can't think of one person who gave sugar a chance tbh.

 

terrific bout to gamble on. But it sure makes you nervous picking against Leonard in what looked to be a decision bout.

Not many were picking the former 130 pounder to win the fight.

Hindsight is about on par with the Tyson--McBride fight. All of a sudden guys like Camacho at middle are turned into climbing mount Everrest.

 

I think Ray hated Macho and just wanted to beat his a** and thought he could. Didn't work out though

 

Leonard was actually the favorite.

 

Favorite?!! What were they basing that on, Leonard beat marvelous Marvin Hagler, so he must be good??