Duran, Hagler and Hearns are major words. They are better than wins against Castillo, Hatton, De la Hoya and Corrales. Leonard > Mayweather Benitez doesn't impress me so much. In fact, someone Hatton has accomplished more at 140, and someone like Oscar de la Hoya has accomplished more overall.
Man you give Floyd too much credit. Duran would beat Floyd at 135 which is a prime weight for Floyd. and beat him soundly, Hearns? Hearns is Floyd Mayweather Jr's worst worst nightmare. He takes everything away from Floyd that he could do, Hearns would outbox Floyd if you made Floyd a natural welter I would bet my shirt on it. Leonard is arguable about the H2H. I would say the combination punshing and ability to break people down late on into a war would prove telling. He would beat Benetiz though, just about if he were a natural welter. Not if he was actually what he is.
Right, but this post is only about a fight at 147. At 147, SRL is too much for Floyd: too big, too strong, and just as fast (though without the defensive skills). Floyd is able to compete and dominate at 147 because the level of fighters isn't what it was during SRL's time. Had he fought then, he would have stayed at 140.
It is also unfair to compare all of this men -except Duran- to Mayweather because Mayweather is a natural 130er.
Hatton didn't accomplish more at 147 or 154 though, where Benitez holds wins over Duran and Palomino, as well as the win over Cervantes at 140 at age 17. Benitez head to head was fantastic, a great win for Leonard. Better than anyone on Floyd's resume, including DLH, given that DLH was well past his prime at the time.
Correction. Faster. The Floyd at 147 is fast, but nothing special in that regard, Leonard had special handspeed.
Which win to you consider more impressive? Mayweather's TKO over Hatton or Leonard's TKO over Benitez?
That would be a great fight and a nice clash on contrasting styles. I'd take Pryor by UD over 12 (a wide one at that).
I easily rank Leonard's win over an A class Benitez over a win over a B- class Hatton. I too would pick Benitez over Oscar at 147. I think he would frusturate him and land more/the cleaner punches over 12. He would knock out Hatton.