Sugar Ray Leonard vs Nigel Benn At MW

These keyboard warrriors know nothing. Ray was not a career middle right!!

 

Damn I'm surprise Benn got alot of votes. SRL victory of the great Hagler should automactically win him this game match up.

 

Benn was a badass MW, but I think Leonard takes this one on points. Ray Leonard would know better then to duke it out with The Dark Destroyer and use his speed/smarts to neutralize Benn's advantages.

 

Leonard in a tough fight.

 

Bumped

 

100% agree

No way Benn beats the SRL who fought Hagler.

 

I don't think Ray would take the fight .. a naturally bigger, stronger, blazing fast, murderous punching Benn would be a very dangerous opponent for Ray .. it wold be an explosive , very exciting fight ..

 

Benn was not beating the best MW Leonard. Way too quick and too savvy. Clear win over the distance with Benn taking lots of head shots especially that jab and lead right hand.

 

Leonard by decision. He's too refined to get caught up in Benn's type of fight. He'd comfortably outbox Benn.

 

Who was the best middleweight Ray Leonard and what dangerous middleweight did he fight ? A faded, slow Hagler ? Hearn's or Duran ? Ray was a natural welter and a small jr. middleweight who struggled w Kalule before taking him out .. of course Ray was an exceptional fighter ... just do't write Benn , the best Benn off so quickly .. his speed would make him very dangerous ..

 

Its not a question of the points you raise. He did clearly beat Hagler who was a greater fighter than Benn. Leonard had the boxing skills to beat any middleweight at his best. Incredible lateral movement, fastest hands Ihave seen this side of Ali, sharp puncher, great ability to avoid/slip punches and an all time jab. From a skill standpoint it hard to beat him at his best.

 

Clearly beat Hagler in my mind and I was rooting for Marvin.

 

Benn was a kamikaze at 160. Yes, he was fast, but he left himself wide open. Leonard would counter him to death.

 

87 Leonard still had more than enough left in the tank to beat the Hell outta Benn. The gap in class is too huge for Benn's size and power to overcome.

 

That Hagler was considered as the without a doubt best MW in the world before the fight. Benn was never even the best MW in Britain.

As for the thread question... I'd have to go for Leonard since Benn was still so relatively green and crude at MW. I wouldn't completely rule out Nigel winning by KO, but Leonard was as savvy and tough as they come so I wouldn't bet on it either.