Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Mike McCallum

Leonard by dec. Curry was handling Mccallum pretty good till he got caught and Ray at that time(81) had a solid chin, so I could see Ray outclassing 'The Bodysnatcher' over 12.

 

SRL moved back down & fought Hearns after the Kalule fight.

So, I think he still physically was a welterweight at that point.

However, McCallum was the epitome of a Jr. Middleweight and a big body puncher.

I think McCallum will wear SRL down late and win a split decision.

 

You know, this fight could have happened in '87 right after Mike destroyed Curry. It was a natural, a megafight that had come along at the right time as Leonard should have given Mike first dibs at a title shot.

There were no other superfights around and what better way to follow up a victory over the great Hagler than a defense against the great champion mcallum who was unbeaten professionally.

Anyways, this fight could never happen in real life and it didnt. The only way it would is if Mike looked worse than Don lalonde and we all know that's impossible.

But IF it had taken place, my guess is that Ray would have probably taken a couple early rounds but by the 4th round or so Mike would have caught up to him and begin putting some real hurt on him the way Norris did in his fight with Leonard. And as in the Norris fight, you'd see the hound in leonard come to the surface and begin spending more time on the ropes, a sure sign that he has resigned himself to defeat on a subconscious level.

This fight should be over by the scheduled limit. SRL has shown that he is fragile in fights (Lalonde, Howard, Norris, Camacho) and I just dont see Leonard going past the tenth.

 

"This fight should be over by the scheduled limit. SRL has shown that he is fragile in fights (Lalonde, Howard, Norris, Camacho) and I just dont see Leonard going past the tenth"


If you're judging Leonard against Mccallum with those fights...then you have never seen a prime Leonard. Go watch Leonard VS Hearns 1, Kalule, Duran 1, Benitez , Green and even Hagler , then you'll see a totally different fighter.

 

redrooster thinks that a prime Leonard was in the ring with Norris, since Leonard had beaten near 40 Roberto Duran handily in his previous fight. Leonard was near 35 when he faced Norris.

McCallum never faced anyone with Leonard's speed. Leonard did not face anyone skilled quite like McCallum.

Leonard by decision. McCallum would win rounds in ways that look like he may know how to win by stoppage. McCallum would still lose a clear decision victory for Leonard.

 

Short but spot on. Ray is doing the same thing and has the chin to handle what Curry can't.

 

leornard by ud. curry did good by just using his speed before getting caught, beating the body snatcher to the punch.

leonard had a far better chin and was more versatile than curry. mccullum would be in the fight all the way, but leonard would simply outspeed him.

 

Hopkins was 36 when he beat Tito but only 28 when he lost to Roy. What about that?

Terry never faced anyone with leonard's speed/experience and still beat him. You act as though Mike's punches are somehow not going to have enough of an effect on Ray Leonard. How is that possible? Ray Leonard would already be in trouble by the 5th.

McCallum is not Ayub Kalule. Kalule was slow. Kevin Howard even put him on the floor and is much weaker and smaller than Ray Leonard physically yet you're talking that Mike is going to lose with dignity in a close decision.

Tell me why didnt Leonard take a fight with Mike in 87 or 88? You see he had the chance like he had the chance to fight Hagler in 82/82 and passed it up and no one says anything. Yet this thread is about McCallum-Leonard. Leonard didnt lose his chance he just plain afraid of healthy competition.

 

He'll just bounce up and down a few times on his way to a unanimous decision win right?

 

Yeah, just like in the Hagler fight

:good

 

more like the Norris fight

 

See that man in the picture John? That's what a real fighter looks like.

 

SRL, close UD.

 

Leonard by close unanimous decision.