What were Sugar Ray Leonard’s flaws as a boxer?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by mark ant, Aug 28, 2019.


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  1. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    You would really need to be nitpicking to find major flaws in Leonard's style, flaws that curing would have altered his outcomes for the better.
     
    Seamus, Aug 29, 2019
    Seamus, Aug 29, 2019
    #31
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  2. mark ant

    mark ant Canelo was never athletic Full Member

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    Leonard was badly faded by the time he moved up that far in weight and he took the same shots well at 147 in `81, the hook Duran hurt Ray with was a good shot just like the shot Duran floored the 160lbs Barkley.
     
    mark ant, Aug 29, 2019
    mark ant, Aug 29, 2019
    #32
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  3. Saad54

    Saad54 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    An total inability to handle an opponent with hand and foot speed...just kidding. An ode to that Norris nu&job there.

    I guess a tendency to not always follow the right gameplan I.e. the first Duran fight and the early part of the first Hearns fight.
     
    Saad54, Aug 29, 2019
    Saad54, Aug 29, 2019
    #33
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  4. Golden_Feather99

    Golden_Feather99 Active Member Full Member

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    Hearns was a lot bigger than Leonard the second time they fought. And getting dropped by Hearns doesn't really make you chinny. Hearns dropped Dennis Andries 6 times who was a natural LHW and quite durable. Duran carried his power well as he moved up in weight. He dropped Palomino with a right hand. I'm not 100% sure but I think that was 1/2 times Palomino was dropped in his career (vs Muniz). Duran KO'd Nsubuga in the 4th round who was a decent welterweight. Duran carried his power to 154 where he battered Cuevas and Moore. I think Leonard's fights against Duran/Hearns/Hagler prove that Leonard had a granite chin. These are 3 ATG punchers and they put Leonard down twice over 72 rounds (Hearns x2).
     
    Golden_Feather99, Aug 29, 2019
    Golden_Feather99, Aug 29, 2019
    #34
  5. mark ant

    mark ant Canelo was never athletic Full Member

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    I`d say Hearns and Duran caught Ray with more power shots than Hagler did, Ray moved excessively v Hagler who never really caught Ray flush with his best shots, while Ray stood toe to toe with Duran and ended up walking right into Tommy`s shots in `81.
     
    mark ant, Aug 29, 2019
    mark ant, Aug 29, 2019
    #35
  6. GoldenHulk

    GoldenHulk Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Well let's see he was floored by Eklund, Howard, twice by Hearns, twice by Norris, and once by Camacho. That's 7 knockdowns in 40 fights, not glass chinned but Eklund, Howard, and Camacho weren't noted for their power either.
     
    GoldenHulk, Aug 29, 2019
    GoldenHulk, Aug 29, 2019
    #36
  7. Fuzzykat

    Fuzzykat Member Full Member

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    Can't think of anything really. Leonard was the best I've seen (started following boxing in 78). It pains me to see the young people compare him unfavorably to DeLaHoya or Mayweather. Now I guess I know how the old timers felt when I was young.
     
    Fuzzykat, Aug 29, 2019
    Fuzzykat, Aug 29, 2019
    #37
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  8. surfinghb1

    surfinghb1 Member Full Member

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    Was one of the best ever for a short window compared to his entire career … so Confidence for the majority of 2 decades
     
    surfinghb1, Aug 29, 2019
    surfinghb1, Aug 29, 2019
    #38
  9. The Morlocks

    The Morlocks Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    No. But they were all fleet of foot and hands.
     
    The Morlocks, Aug 29, 2019
    The Morlocks, Aug 29, 2019
    #39
  10. GoldenHulk

    GoldenHulk Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Not as fast as Wilfred Benitez and he couldn't knock Leonard down.
     
    GoldenHulk, Aug 29, 2019
    GoldenHulk, Aug 29, 2019
    #40
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  11. RulesMakeItInteresting

    RulesMakeItInteresting Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Ewwps, thanks for the correction. Perhaps, if I hadn't been talking out my bunghole I would have just said Lalonde couldn't keep him down...which, given the disparity between Welter and Light-heavy I think he should have been able to do.
     
    RulesMakeItInteresting, Aug 30, 2019
    RulesMakeItInteresting, Aug 30, 2019
    #41
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  12. mark ant

    mark ant Canelo was never athletic Full Member

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    Do you seriously think Camacho punched harder than Hearns in `81? All these knockdowns happened after Ray`s first retirement and three of those fights were above 147, the Eckland knockdown was wierd.
     
    mark ant, Aug 30, 2019
    mark ant, Aug 30, 2019
    #42
  13. mark ant

    mark ant Canelo was never athletic Full Member

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    Hearns had faster hands when he fought Ray at 147 in `81 though.
     
    Last edited: Aug 30, 2019
    mark ant, Aug 30, 2019
    mark ant, Aug 30, 2019
    #43
  14. mark ant

    mark ant Canelo was never athletic Full Member

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    DLH would have been destroyed by Hearns and Duran.
     
    mark ant, Aug 30, 2019
    mark ant, Aug 30, 2019
    #44
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  15. Clinton

    Clinton Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    John, I just started on my first Guinness. I'm going to be loopy in about 2 hours
     
    Clinton, Aug 30, 2019
    Clinton, Aug 30, 2019
    #45
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