did ray leonards power increase 3/4 into his pro career.

[rightsideup]

what do you think?

[Scott9945]

It's not unusual for fighters to pick up more power as they move up in weight and settle down on their punches, but I don't see that much difference in Leonard's career.

[rightsideup]

I am not sure if I agree Scott he sure laid some guys out about 5 fights before his first championship.

[Scott9945]

I am not sure if I agree Scott he sure laid some guys out about 5 fights before his first championship.

It looks to me like we do agree. Maybe I misunderstood the question?

[Fast Eddy]

No, not that drastic. Though Ray Leonard naturally gained power as a pro, he also had pop in his punch as an amateur. He ko'd his Cuban opponent to win gold. Also, in the amateurs there is more protection from power blows - headgear, quick stoppages, and generally more attention to mismatches. Lastly, Leonard's power was overlooked because of his exceptional quickness.

[#1Assassin]

ray was known all the way back in the amateurs as a puncher, he used to knock people out cold even back then and at world level too. he knocked a lot of guys out at WW, i personally think he was one of the better punchers in the history of the weight class.

he just didnt use it all the time due to his other abilities, his boxing skills, intelligence, speed and stamina allowed him to win fights in other ways. as he got older and less mobile he had to sit down on his shots more frequently, but the power was there all along. in fact he had more power at the lower weights if anything.

[rightsideup]

ray was known all the way back in the amateurs as a puncher, he used to knock people out cold even back then and at world level too. he knocked a lot of guys out at WW, i personally think he was one of the better punchers in the history of the weight class.

he just didnt use it all the time due to his other abilities, his boxing skills, intelligence, speed and stamina allowed him to win fights in other ways. as he got older and less mobile he had to sit down on his shots more frequently, but the power was there all along. in fact he had more power at the lower weights if anything.

Interesting you mention this in Dundee's book he viewed leonard , hearns I as a Ali/ liston match up but with ray being listion. He thought ray could take tommy's best punches and tommy would revert to his amateur boxing skills which where very underrated Dundee compared rays Jab and hook to liston's

[Ray Corso]

He simply learned to sit down on his shots when he got his opponent to stop
moving. He then broke down and added some leverage to his punches. Duran taught him in their first fight that after you move your opponent where ypou want them you need to apply power! That's what he did, he had the technique
he needed to mature in regards to punching correctly.
Leonard was such a fine mover that he could win against 85% of his opponents
just by playing "hit and not get hit"! A lot of that did come from Dundee but most of the credit doesn't go to Dundee or Ali. Light heavyweight Champion Willie Pastrano was a great boxer who moved in & out and laterally and that's when Dundee experienced
that Method and leaned the Techniques that are employed when using it!
Leonard was the benefactor of Ali to Pastrano to Robinson to Pep from Benny Lenard!
However when your in with someone that can pressure you in a hurry you need to gain respect and room, so your punches better mean something.
Leonard learned his lessons well, he was a terrific athlete!
Ray.

[Dynamite76]

Not to me, but Ray Corso said it best.