Sugar Ray Robinson vs Sugar Ray Leonard.

Leonard lost to the greatest lightweight who ever lived at 147, he'd definitely lose to the greatest welterweight of all time

 

Leonard was solid and tough. It's not a foregone conclusion that he gets stopped but I think it is a possibility because Robinson would go for the kill if the opportunity is present. He had the durability Hearns was lacking in 1982. IMO he hit every bit as hard with either hand.
The other thing is I think Robinson would have developed an intense dislike for Ray Leonard.

 

Sugar Ray Robinson wins this bout by unanimous decision over Sugar Ray Leonard. Robinson was extremely fast at this weight, beating the likes of Tommy Bell. Leonard had a good chin, schooling the likes of Roberto Duran, in the second bout. George Gainford, was an excellent trainer, as was Angelo Dundee to Leonard. Robinson fights a very technical fight, searching for openings in Leonard's defense. He then begins to beat Leonard to the punch, and Leonard has a rather difficult time adjusting to Robinson's combinations, movement.

 

SRR by a close decision. Probably the #1 and #2 h2h at WW.

 

I'm still pissed off that Leonard adopted SRR's nickname. Robinson: THE greatest fighter PvP in history!! Think eras as well! Prime 1982 SRR vs. Prime 1982 Leonard? Prime 1949 SRR vs. prime 1949 Leonard? Come on! My $0.02

 

Sugar Ray Robinson by KO. Leonard's punches aren't hard enough to bother Robinson, he'd go through Leonard like a hot knife through butter.

 

Robinson easily. It would look like the Norris fight and end like the Camacho fight. Leonard couldn't handle speed at all. Duran, Hearns, Norris, Camacho. I never though Benitez was fast, just accurate.

 

SRR is considered pretty much unbeatable at the weight. But, if you're gonna pick one guy to win a one-off against SRR, I'm picking Leonard to do it.

* Robinson, at welterweight, could be troubled by guys with good legs who could box off the backfoot. Servo ran him close twice, as did Gavilan.

* SRL also hit hard enough to keep SRR honest, and I think could probably time and maybe even flash SRR on the way in if he gets too aggressive.

* And, at welterweight, he's tough enough to take the shots that SRR throws.

It wouldn't be easy, but to hell with it...at present I think Leonard manages to secure a controversial SD over 15 well contested rounds.

 

But neither man fought like Duran.

 

srr is favourite by a fair margin but the idea that this is easy for him is a bit of a nonsense.

 

While I do believe Robinson wins this one. It wouldn't be a dominant win, both men would would have moments, Robinson would only have more. So all the nonsense of "Robinson going through Leonard like a hot knife through butter" or using the Camacho fight as some indication of what Robinson would do to Leonard, and not take into account Leonard was a shot 40yr old is what it is nonsense.
Both fighters were similar in their styles and ability, both were aggressive fighters that sometimes got hit more than they should've because they came to fight. But because of that aggression in both men , it lead to their greatest victories.
Leonard may have been a little faster, but Robinson hit much harder, both were experienced fighters and could "Create a different fight plan in the heat of combat , if the 1st plan wasn't working. Adaptability.
But I choose Robinson because overall, he proved more, over a much longer period. If Leonard stayed active and focused, there's nothing that suggest he couldn't have had a similar career to Robinson.
But Leonard allowed the eye injury, feeling sorry for himself, and because of that, drugs and alcohol consume the best years of his career .
But ability wise, he was the 2nd best welter in history, he proved that by fighting and winning against some of the best welters in history, while they were in their primes.
In a 3 fight series Robinson wins 2, all 3 would showcase absolute brilliance and skill by both, and also absolute violence and aggression. But Robinson wins most of the skirmishes, in the fights. Wins a close dec 2 of 3 times. Robinson was just a tad better in every category.

 

50/50 tbh

 

Obviously one of the most debated fantasy matchups in boxing.
I feel like Robinson was a more well rounded fighter, could box well on the outside, maybe not as good as Leonard, but there’s not too much in it, but in the trades and up close, it’s a no-contest, Robinson is much better, yes Leonard could throw lightning fast combinations, but Robinson was great at keeping his cool in those situations and catching them and finding the right moment to catch and shoot, I feel like it’s competitive on the outside, but the inside and trades is where it’s decided, he forces the action from range, and makes Leonard trade and has more success in those situations as he’s better at tightening up his punches and has better timing up close and in the trades, Leonard lands some stiff jabs and fights from range, but it’s not as notable as the work Robinson gets off up close and in the trades, and Robinson also has some of his own success from range, but Leonard does slightly better there, but it’s the work done in the trades that decides it since the difference in skill in that department is wider for Robinson than skill at range is for Leonard and Robinson wins on points.
Edit: A few other things I may add, Leonard was faster in combination, but for one punch, they were very similar speed wise. Robinson had the better punch selection in combinations though. Robinson was better at going to the body and finishing.

 

I picked Robinson but having trouble with deciding for a stoppage or KO, or a decision. Cautiously I backed him to win inside the distance.

 

Is it? I’d venture a guess that generally there is a 95%+ ratio in one man’s favour in this topic.