Was Sugar Ray Leonard...

Sure.

 

extremely competitive. This is not Ayub Kalule we're talking about but a slick quick, and very clever boxer with fast hands

Terry Norris wrote the book on how to master Leonard. It was COMPLETE mastery based on sound strategic planning, akin to the attack our Navy seals launched on Bin laden to lay siege his compound. Same thing

The trick is, while Leonard is sizing you up, getting ready to unload, you beat him to it. Norris had this ability due to his unrivaled handspeed. We seen it time and time again thru out their epic battle royale

While he's sizing you up, beat him to it, and put him on the defensive.

Norris did it, and got away with it. Floyd would follow the same approach on the foundation set by Team Norris

 

remember, you're not lying to me; you're lying to yourself

it was an amazing feat really that confounded the experts. Here u had a no name champion with none of Leonard's accomplishments, or quality of opposition, and yet it was Leonard who could not put up a decent fight

that's what happens when u lay siege and ambush the champ; u take him out of his game, and before anyone realizes it, he's fighting for his life. Never mind trying to win the fight, Leonard just wanted to come out of it in one piece.

and I suspect Floyd wouldve done much the same but I dont think he wouldve hurt Leonard the way Norris done

No demoralization here, no knockdowns, just a clearcut win for Floyd

"WINNA & STILL UNDEFEATED.......!"

 

Heavy hands, that's the beauty of kicking ass in the ring is that u get to gloat then watch the other side squirm & make excuses

 

Leonard was a great fighter. BUT let's be serious with each other here....he lost to Duran, Hagler, Hearns, and Norris. I throw out his last fight with Camacho. He put up a good fight with Duran, and fought well against an old Hagler. But his record should have ended with 5 losses in under 40 fights. Not a top 5 ever candidate....top 25 sure...but not close to top 5.

 

Legacy wise,I think we can throw out the Terry Norris fight. Leonard was way over the hill at that point in time. As for the Hagler fight,it's down to opinion as to whether he really DID lose. He's in the record books as having BEATEN Hagler,and I scored that fight for him as he easily won the first three rounds or so which stood him in good stead at the final count.


I agree he was lucky in not being judged the loser in the second Hearns bout.

 

Only inactivity circa 1982-84 and 1984-87 prevent him being rated any higher than he already is.