Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Mike McCallum

The guy I think Leonard would look forward to fighting is Fernando Vargas. You can just about bet your life that if Vargas were holding the middleweight title in the early 80's Leonard would fight him eye or no eye.

 

Ok Rooster. Now for the big one. Hagler v Hopkins at middleweight. I'll give my thoughts briefly. Hagler did have a bit more power than Hopkins, but not a vast difference. Slight edge to Hagler in the power department. If Hopkins traded with Hagler and got into a war, ala Hearns, he'd not be lying flat out on his back after 3 rounds. He's more durable than Hearns. Trinidad hit like a mule at middleweight, as he showed against Joppy, and Hopkins took his bombs with no problem. Handspeed, probably even.

Prime or past his prime, Hagler had problems with Duran and Leonard, who both stood off. Well, he certainly never looked convincing against Duran, thats for sure. Hopkins' style is rather cagey and defensive.

Here are Hopkins' thoughts on fights with Robinson, Monzon, and Hagler.

Sugar Ray Robinson at 147 pounds was close to perfect,” Hopkins posits. “But at middleweight, he was beatable. I would have fought Ray Robinson in close and not given him room to do his thing. He’d make me pay a physical price. But at middleweight, I think I’d wear him down and win. Me and Marvin Hagler would have been a war. We’d both be in the hospital afterward with straws in our mouth. We’d destroy each other. I wouldn’t run from Marvin. My game-plan would be, rough him up, box, rough him up, box. You wouldn’t use judges for that fight. You’d go by the doctors’ reports. Whichever one of us is damaged less gets the win. Carlos Monzon? I could lose that fight. Monzon was tall, rangy, did everything right. I see myself losing that fight more than winning it. I ain’t saying I’m number one, but I’m one of the best middleweights of all time. My legacy is what it is. If you want to be great, then beat Bernard Hopkins.”

 

No offense but I have hard time going against Hagler. I know that if this were held during Hagler's day that Hagler would probably be the favorite. that's not to say Bernard wouldnt have a chance. He's got good tools.

As far as weaknesses its hard to say what they are until he gets in with someone like hagler. Believe me, they would show up because after a fighter loses they begin to analyze why the fighter lost.

This was the problem with the middleweights of his time. They all impressive fighters and the flaws are hard to pinpoint until they get in with Hagler. I still cant figure out the problem with Tony Sibson. The man had endless stamina combined with terrific hand speed and devestating combinations. he should have won but he still somehow lost.

Roldan was just as srong as hagler with roughly the same experience. he was harder hitting than marvin, better defensively and faster with his hands yet Hagler still won.

And no one was saying Tommy Hearns had problems taking punches until Hagler knocked him out.

You see? Every fighter looks flawed when they fight Hagler. before the fight though, I kept reading comments like "hagler will never be able to deal with the class and speed of hearns", "He barely managed to beat Duran", "hagler's not in the same class as hearns", "Hagler's never been in with anyone like Hearns", "He wont be able to deal with Tommy's reach", "Tommy will outbox him with ease", "hagler's weak competition will be his undoing"

Even Tommy got into the act saying Hagler wasnt good enough to be in the same ring. And afterwards people are putting Tommy down for failing. Everyone looks beatable after hagler finishes with them but Marvin is still better than most people think.

 

Leonard's speed is the deciding factor in this fight in which he will win like 9-6 or 8-7

 

short but spot on for me:good

 

Your kidding right?Mccallum had fits with Milton Mccroy who was pretty good but nowhere close to Leonard.
Leonard would be the fastest boxer(other then Roy Jones) that Mccallum would ever have faced.Leonard also hit harder then Mccallum.
I enjoy watching Mccallum but Leonard would outclass him.You saw what Curry was able to due against Mccallum now just imagine someone twice as good against Mccallum.
You saw what Kalalmbay's movement did to Mike the first time?Ray could move almost as good as Kalambay if not better.
Leonard TKO11 Mccallum.

 

To ****in right he would:yep you could just imagine the circus style build up 2 it, if it was today he'd demand the WBC DIAMOND belt as well.

I just don't see Leonard hurting McCallum, but Leonard would take the early rounds but it would'nt suprise me to see McCallum TKO/KO Leonard down the stretch, but as far as McCallum getting the UD even he'd know that he had 2 starch Leonard as he'd absolutly have no chance of getting the nod in Vegas as it's Leonards town as Leonard would always have one judge leaning his way eh-hem! as in JOSE JUAN GUERRA scoring for Leonard 118-110 in the Hagler fight:hey

As a wise old cabby on the strip once told me, who wins the fight in Vegas is who's best for Vegas:smoke

 

Leonard would turn him in there. And those wide lead right hands McCallum threw from the outside isn't the punch to throw against this guy. It won't land and he'll get countered and peppered and Leonard just won't stand still which would really help the McCallum chances. It's going to be very difficult to win rounds on the scorecards if Leonard is landing those flashy combos. This is a decision bout all the way and McCallum will certainly hang tough, but it'll be hard for him to win a lot of rounds and even harder to get the judges to say he wins a lot of rounds.

 

What's leonard really done at 154 besides beating Kalule? Kalule is everybody's favorite whipping boy. Do people realize Mike's starched him twice? MM on points

 

Mike stopped a weight drained Kalule once..Didnt beat him twice and never starched him.

 

Srl ud.

 

Leonard beats him...no way he stops him.

Leonard was better then Kalambay but not the same stylistic puzzle..He was more the boxer-puncher..He would be more there for Mike to beat but given Ray's chin and many other top shelf qualities I dont think it will mean much.

Ray will quickly learn the smart and conservative approach is the best one against a bigger and very durable man..Pushing for a stoppage will likely only allow Mike back into the fight.

 

Re-up.

If anybody feels confident that McCallum would win this fight I would like to hear why.

 

I always enjoy reading your posts.

 

Leonard wins this 116-112. I cant believe Red Rooster said Leonard was fragile. That is why he took Hearns best shots,Went toe to toe with DUran, Pulled a clutch performance in a tough fight against Benitez. Maybe a washed up Leonard isnt the sturdiest guy but i dont think the post is talking about the Leonard that fought your china chinned Hero. If CUrry,MCcory,Graham and Kalamby(who beat him) gave him trouble. Leonard would out box him hed have the big advantage in speed and Leonard had a good chin also so mccallum would not spring a ko like he did against Mccory and Curry.