Mayweather vs Sugar Ray Leonard - who wins?

[CubanGuyNYC]

Everyone thinks srl would beat floyd, but no-one thinks it would be easy.
Floyd didn't take risks, is known as Mr cautious get things in his favour type of guy.
Nothing he has done to suggest he would beat srl. Sure Floyd has did enough to make people think he would make things tricky for srl. Same as whitaker.

I don’t think it would easy. Of course not. But I do believe that, most likely, the only way Floyd finishes on his feet is by being almost purely defensive. If he tried to actually win, there’s a very good chance Leonard scores the KO.

[CubanGuyNYC]

I don't remember Leonard every making easy work of Duran. I remember the fateful night Duran turned his back, but make no mistake Leonard was at best up by a point on the cards. Nobody ever made easy work of Duran, except maybe when he was 50 years old, and even then he was getting robbed because they couldn't believe this old man was still kicking around.

there is absolutely nobody on floyds resume that prepares him for Duran. Duran isn't just a pressure fighter, he's crafty as hell, counter punches - has the GOAT head movement would speedbag with his godamn head. he could stand right in front of you are roll or slip every punch while landing his own in between. In James Toney refers to Duran as "the master"

Seems to me Duran is under-appreciated by many around here. The man was a fantastic fighter. His defensive skills are highly underrated. Too many fans think of Roberto as some kind of brawler. This misconception isn’t just limited to casuals. I recall reading an interview a few years ago with Carlos Palomino, where he said Duran surprised him with his speed, footwork and elusiveness.

[bojangles1987]

'Cause I remember Leonard's rematches with Duran where he fought defensiviely and completely outclassed him. That's the way Floyd always fights, and that's why it's clear to me he'd probably make easy work out of Duran

Leonard did not outclass Duran in the rematch. It was a close, competitive fight. That's why Duran quitting is still such a scandal and a black mark on his record.

Plus Leonard's version of fighting defensively was not anything like how Floyd fights.

[JK1700]

Gotta go with Mayweather. Nostalgia is a helluva drug and I’m a huge fan of all those guys, but let’s be real. If Duran was able to get into SRLs head and get him fighting his fight, best believe Mayweather would too. Ray also got outboxed in both fights by Hearns (an ATG and a much bigger guy than Floyd, but defensively Floyd is on another level. People just don’t want to admit it because it’s a popularity contest when we get into these discussions. People can’t see it logically when they don’t like the guy.

To me the hardest fight for Floyd out of all those guys would’ve been Hagler because he kept coming and had an unbelievable IQ and belief that he was the best. The fact that Leonard felt the need for years to stay retired then only came back once he felt Hagler had slipped, says to me that he knew he wasn’t as great as Hagler. Legendary fighter for sure and don’t get it twisted I’m a fan of SRL, but you guys who think he would stop Floyd are straight hating. Floyd is the greatest defensive fighter ever and by far the smartest fighter in the history of the sport. It’s a close fight but skill wise Mayweather was better than SRL.

[bender2000]

leonard is way way better than floyd could ever dream to be , rays faster way more active stronger fought better quality of opponents threw lightning combinations and found ways to win floyds just an arrogant ******* cheery picker **** floyd

[TheMyspaceDayz]

Ray Leonard is several levels above Castillo.

End thread.

[O Prophet]

Leonard stops Junior.

[champion4ever]

Close tough fight. There were spurt moments where Floyd Sr got off some nice counter punch shots against Leonard. Jr is 100x the boxer his father was and I think he would’ve given Leonard hell. Leonard was a textbook boxer and it’s not easy to hit and setting up Floyd with the same variation of punches over the course of a 12 rounds fight. It would’ve probably look like Mayweather vs De la Hoya with Leonard being active and Floyd landing all the eye-catching shots.

What you quoted was very true but the one thing you left off was Floyd, Sr's lack of punching power. Leonard when interviewed years later about that bout reflected that the major difference between himself and Floyd, Sr was big Floyd's lack of punching power.

He said he couldn't feel his punches. The very same would hold true with Floyd, Jr. If he can't hurt SRL, then he doesn't stand a chance against him either because Ray would swarm him with a barrage of power punches as well.

[djtmal]

Sugar Ray calls out Floyd after Floyd beats Hatton but oops, wouldn't you know it, Floyd had to go on vacation, then Floyd makes the Sugar Ray fight after past prime , raked thru the coals Sugar loses to Norris and Camacho. Floyd wins and the Floyd Boys whine about Floyd not getting full credit and crown him the goat

[JK1700]

Sugar Ray calls out Floyd after Floyd beats Hatton but oops, wouldn't you know it, Floyd had to go on vacation, then Floyd makes the Sugar Ray fight after past prime , raked thru the coals Sugar loses to Norris and Camacho. Floyd wins and the Floyd Boys whine about Floyd not getting full credit and crown him the goat

Mayweather beat all the top guys in his era and was older than most of them when he fought them (everyone he fought after 2010 was significantly younger). What about SRL refusing to fight Hagler in his prime then jumping at the chance to fight him once he had two absolute wars that took a lot out of him, then not doing the rematch. Every time Mayweather had a close fight he had a rematch and completely dominated (only twice in his career). I’m a huge fan of SRL as well but mentally and skill wise he wasn’t as great as TBE. Ray came along in a better era, and he’s more popular because he played up the “good guy” image, but the reality is that Floyd is the greater fighter.