What was sugar Ray Leonard's greatest performance?

[Nawfal]

SRL is a fucking beast, he fought some top fighters

overall id say his greatest win was against hearns. rewatching it now through the first through rounds, i still cant believe how he managed to win. it seemed like he was outclassed

it was fighting a huge puncher, undefeated, tall powerful fighter in hearns and jesus he won impressively.

he finished it like a true champion.

srl is the best fighter i have ever seen.

[GazOC]

I'd go for Hearns too. SRL isn't the best boxer ever, but he's the best I've seen.

[Nawfal]

I'd go for Hearns too. SRL isn't the best boxer ever, but he's the best I've seen.

everyone always says sugar ray robinson.

ive never seen any prime reel of him, so how could i tell. also i havent seen any of his opponents prime reels.

leonard is the best i have seen, and hes also the best opponents

[GazOC]

I've never seen Robinson at 147, but enough people say he was The Greatest that you've got to believe it might be true.

[bb251]

His 1st fight with Hearns for sure...

[brooklyn1550]

His 14th round stoppage of Thomas Hearns

[Vantage_West]

hearns but hearns was by no mean the brutal puncher and body shot artist in his later career he was very green and only now was he growing into his frame.

ray as 'great' as he is....was flat out running away from him till he knew only to knock him out and he struck gold and made hearns do the track meet.

not a good side of him. i would say duran 1 it was on durans own fight he looked amazing super quick hands knocked duran around a bit. he showed he could fight any way he wanted.

[Hitman]

Leonard would have been ko'd if they fought two yrs later at 154, because that's when Hearns peaked.

[GazOC]

Leonard would have been ko'd if they fought two yrs later at 154, because that's when Hearns peaked.

I think Leonard beats Hearns at 154, probably not at 160 but SRL was never really a middleweight anyway.

[Dantes]

SRL is a fucking beast, he fought some top fighters

overall id say his greatest win was against hearns. rewatching it now through the first through rounds, i still cant believe how he managed to win. it seemed like he was outclassed

it was fighting a huge puncher, undefeated, tall powerful fighter in hearns and jesus he won impressively.

he finished it like a true champion.

srl is the best fighter i have ever seen.


I love watching the guy's amateur's on youtube aswell. He had great handspeed and put together relentless combo's- a pleasure to watch.:good

[roadrunner]

SRL was one of the greatest all time. He may not be the best in terms of power and skills, but arguably he was the most intelligent fighter of all time.

[doknochrisan]

Cant forget when he fought Danny Lalonde, it was like David and Goliath, but the Hearns fight was the best.

[JohnThomas1]

Good to see some SRL appreciation. It's hard picking his best, Hearns was a great win but Hagler was totally against the odds. He showed what true self believe and chasing a dream could do.

[CarltonBlues]

Hagler, while not being the best fight he was a big underdog.

[sandwichsurgeon]

It wasn't his greatest performance but the beatdown he put on Mayweather SR was funny as fuck, no wonder he is so ugly:lol:

[heerko koois]

What about the Dave "boy"green fight ?

[achillesthegreat]

His four major wins are equals I think.

Against Benitez he had to fight the nip/tuck fight. It was his first major fight and he was fighting a two division champ who was undefeated.

Against Duran he'd lost the first and then embarrassed him and made him quit.

Against Hearns he face adversity. Hearns was tall, rangey, undefeated, powerful, fast, ahead on the cards and Leonards eye had shut. He came back amazingly.

Against Hagler he was facing a dominant middleweight and he hadn't fought in years. Leonard came back and fought his fight.

They are all amazing.

Arguably the best 135, 140, 154 and 160 of all time - case closed. He himself, is arguably the best 147 of all time.

[achillesthegreat]

hearns but hearns was by no mean the brutal puncher and body shot artist in his later career he was very green and only now was he growing into his frame.

ray as 'great' as he is....was flat out running away from him till he knew only to knock him out and he struck gold and made hearns do the track meet.

not a good side of him. i would say duran 1 it was on durans own fight he looked amazing super quick hands knocked duran around a bit. he showed he could fight any way he wanted.
Rubbish. Hearns was a devastating body puncher at that point. Hearns wasn't green.

Sugar wasn't running, he was letting Hearns blow his load. Listen to him and Dundee talk about it in the corner. Then he realised Hearns wasn't going to punch himself out. He found out that yes, hes a puncher but Hearns can box too.

[Illmatic]

1. Hearns I
2. Hagler
3. Duran II
4. Benitez
5. Kalule

[Asterion]

His best win was Hearns.

His best performance was against Dave Boy Green, imo.

[Danny Ocean]

benitez

[Boom_Boom]

Hagler

SRL was coming off so much, a long layoff,impairing vision,crack addiction,moving up in weight.

[Alo2006]

His 1st fight with Hearns for sure...

Agrees :good

[Calroid]

Hearns followed closely by Duran 2. The only man to ever make Duran quit.

[C Money]

The Hearns fight gets my vote!!

Leonard was winning, then Hearns came on and began running away with the fight, and suddenly Leonard dug down and found the will to pull it out by KO finish.

That version of Thomas Hearns was amazingly difficult and powerful. I still contend that Floyd would have to be physically restrained and carried into the ring to face that guy:good

[RafaelGonzal]

Leanords moment of greatness was against Hearns, he won only because he was a special fighter, he was being out gunned by a taller fearful puncher and only that certain something we cant measure pulled him through!!!
its called greatness! we dont all get that moment, but when we do thats the window of oppurtunity for greatness, Sugar showed everyone.

[Sonny Carson]

Leonard would have knocked Hearns out at 154 too. Did you see the second fight between them he almost knocked Hearns out in the 12th round. He was only an average puncher at middlweight yet he still hurt Hearns badly. Hearns won the fight on my card but he almost got stopped again.

[dave82]

i have to go with the Wilfred Benitez.

[bigtime9]

beating donny lalonde for the 168-175 title. ray showed what true grit was all about by knocking out the bigger fighter in dramatic fashion. I remember watching that fight and thingk ray is going to lose but he found a way to win as always. one of the top 5 legendary immortals of boxing.:deal

[enquirer]

Maybe the first fight with the hitman,but the wins over duran and hagler were also very special,and the mr benitez win was also a great win over an atg fighter in his prime...The lalonde and hearns II fights were also excellent gritty perfomances....

[Shareef]

Leonard would have knocked Hearns out at 154 too. Did you see the second fight between them he almost knocked Hearns out in the 12th round. He was only an average puncher at middlweight yet he still hurt Hearns badly. Hearns won the fight on my card but he almost got stopped again.

The second fight was at supermiddleweight and hearns was considered a shot fighter. He was coming off a horrible performance against James Kinchen and thats the only reason Leonard even took the fight. Hearns around 1984ish would beat Leonard at 154. He had filled out better and his body had more meat to absorb body shots. Hearns wasn't drained at that point.

Back on the topic SRL's first win against Hearns and the 1st Duran fight are his greatest performances. Even though he lost against Duran he showed the world he had the right stuff and wasn't just a pretty face with fast hands.

[achillesthegreat]

When Leonard rematched Hearns he was also coming off of VERY weak performances.

I hate the morons who try to justify SRLs career as one big fluke.

It doesn't matter how you slice it, you don't best the greatest 135, 140, 154 and 160 by accident.

[Guru_Too_You]

When Leonard rematched Hearns he was also coming off of VERY weak performances.

I hate the morons who try to justify SRLs career as one big fluke.

It doesn't matter how you slice it, you don't best the greatest 135, 140, 154 and 160 by accident.

He didnt beat the greatest 154 pound fighter at 154, and crediting a natural welterweight for beating a natural lightweight, although it may have been the best ever is a little absurd, especially considering that lightweight had already beaten him.

Still, Hearns was his greatest win.

[achillesthegreat]

He didnt beat the greatest 154 pound fighter at 154, and crediting a natural welterweight for beating a natural lightweight, although it may have been the best ever is a little absurd, especially considering that lightweight had already beaten him.

Still, Hearns was his greatest win.
It doesn't matter.

The 135, 140 and 154 fighter he beat were multi division champs. The 160 champ he beat wasn't but he moved up to face him.

Hearns was still a great 147 pounder, as was Duran and Benitez.

All four of his wins were legendary. You couldn't really set them apart. They each asked for something different and he rose to the challenge.

[Nawfal]

i dont think he was the best at 160. i think he could have been if he was younger.

but the guy was such a beast in his prime.

[achillesthegreat]

i dont think he was the best at 160. i think he could have been if he was younger.

but the guy was such a beast in his prime.
I'm saying he beat arguably the best middleweight ever.

[Nawfal]

yeah

i think he may have fought the best opposition of all time.

[Guru_Too_You]

It doesn't matter.

The 135, 140 and 154 fighter he beat were multi division champs. The 160 champ he beat wasn't but he moved up to face him.

Hearns was still a great 147 pounder, as was Duran and Benitez.

All four of his wins were legendary. You couldn't really set them apart. They each asked for something different and he rose to the challenge.
Again, he lost to the best version of Duran he faced.

He fought both Duran and Benitez at their heaviest weights to date, where SRL himself was the naturally bigger man.

He never fought a peak Hearns, who was his best at 154, and Ray waited until Hagler had severely slown down before he attempted to fight him. Theres a reason he stood up at the Mugabi fight and said he could beat Marvin.

That being said I've always felt that his best win was either Hearns or Benitez at 147 though neither were at their most comfortable and most successful weights.

[Shareef]

When Leonard rematched Hearns he was also coming off of VERY weak performances.

I hate the morons who try to justify SRLs career as one big fluke.

It doesn't matter how you slice it, you don't best the greatest 135, 140, 154 and 160 by accident.

It is clear that Hearns looked like shit against Kinchen and many people were picking a KO SRL victory.

Anyhow i have not heard one person in this thread claim SRL's career to be one big fluke. You have to look at things objectively. His competition is top notch and yeah he is top 10 p4p #2 welter all time str8 up great fighter. But you have to look at things even if its your hero objectively.

[achillesthegreat]

It is clear that Hearns looked like shit against Kinchen and many people were picking a KO SRL victory.

Anyhow i have not heard one person in this thread claim SRL's career to be one big fluke. You have to look at things objectively. His competition is top notch and yeah he is top 10 p4p #2 welter all time str8 up great fighter. But you have to look at things even if its your hero objectively.
It is clear that SRL looked like shit against Lalonde.

Your point doesn't stand.

Its like the revisionists saying Hatton picked Castillo because he was shot to shit. They forget Hatton also looked like shit.

This thread amazingly hasn't turned into a flame Leonard thread. Probably the first ever.

I look at everything objectively, it doesn't matter if hes my dad. Leonards record speaks for itself. I can take apart anyones record - doesn't matter if its Ali or Robinson.

[Nawfal]

Again, he lost to the best version of Duran he faced.

He fought both Duran and Benitez at their heaviest weights to date, where SRL himself was the naturally bigger man.

He never fought a peak Hearns, who was his best at 154, and Ray waited until Hagler had severely slown down before he attempted to fight him. Theres a reason he stood up at the Mugabi fight and said he could beat Marvin.

That being said I've always felt that his best win was either Hearns or Benitez at 147 though neither were at their most comfortable and most successful weights.



he beat a prime undefeated hearns
Dont forget ray had 1 fight in 5 years during that time hagler was tearing through his opponents and had to MOVE UP IN WEIGHT!!

you are going out of your way to discredit the man.

[achillesthegreat]

Again, he lost to the best version of Duran he faced.

He fought both Duran and Benitez at their heaviest weights to date, where SRL himself was the naturally bigger man.

He never fought a peak Hearns, who was his best at 154, and Ray waited until Hagler had severely slown down before he attempted to fight him. Theres a reason he stood up at the Mugabi fight and said he could beat Marvin.

That being said I've always felt that his best win was either Hearns or Benitez at 147 though neither were at their most comfortable and most successful weights.
Duran similarly lost to the best version of Leonard he faced. Your point doesn't stand.

It doesn't matter if he fought Duran and Benitez at their heaviest. We are assessing him historically and hindsight tells us Duran and Benitez were ALREADY major players at 147 and went on to be players at 154 and 160.

It doesn't matter that SRL was the naturally bigger man, he showed this v Hagler and Hearns.

What you say are merely excuses. FACTS - Hearns was a great welter who'd sparked Cuevas. Hagler was a great middleweight who was the favourite.

It doesn't matter if Leonard chose Hagler because of so and so. Leonard had fought ONE fight in FIVE YEARS and looked BAD.

I reiterate, all 4 wins were legendary. You can' set them apart.

[Guru_Too_You]

Duran similarly lost to the best version of Leonard he faced. Your point doesn't stand.

It doesn't matter if he fought Duran and Benitez at their heaviest. We are assessing him historically and hindsight tells us Duran and Benitez were ALREADY major players at 147 and went on to be players at 154 and 160.

It doesn't matter that SRL was the naturally bigger man, he showed this v Hagler and Hearns.

What you say are merely excuses. FACTS - Hearns was a great welter who'd sparked Cuevas. Hagler was a great middleweight who was the favourite.

It doesn't matter if Leonard chose Hagler because of so and so. Leonard had fought ONE fight in FIVE YEARS and looked BAD.

I reiterate, all 4 wins were legendary. You can' set them apart.
Well obviously not, because you want them to all count the same.

God forbid I apply some logic to it.

So it is what you want it to be Achilles.

And please tell me what I am excusing? Why would I be applying excuses? Please let me know ASAP.

[achillesthegreat]

Well obviously not, because you want them to all count the same.

God forbid I apply some logic to it.

So it is what you want it to be Achilles.

And please tell me what I am excusing? Why would I be applying excuses? Please let me know ASAP.
In terms of legacy, you can't definitively set his great wins apart.

You haven't applied logic.

You are making excuses for Leonards wins. This can be done to all fighters.

[Titan1]

He "looked" best against Dave "Boy" Green. I like to think of that fight as Leonard's Cleveland Williams.

He just put on a clinic and landed everything in the book and the KO almost killed Green stone fuckin dead!

LETHAL!


:good :good :good :good :good :good :good

[Drew101]

Best win was the first fight with Hearns.

Best performance, all things considered, was against Benitez. El Radar made SRL miss a lot that evening, but I'd be hard pressed to give Benitez any more than four or five rounds throughout that entire fight. Pretty impressive stuff.

[Vantage_West]

Rubbish. Hearns was a devastating body puncher at that point. Hearns wasn't green.

Sugar wasn't running, he was letting Hearns blow his load. Listen to him and Dundee talk about it in the corner. Then he realised Hearns wasn't going to punch himself out. He found out that yes, hes a puncher but Hearns can box too.

mate your one of my fav posters and i hate to argue with you but from my point of view hearns at this point was not the man we saw a few years after. he was a jab-cross fighter and had a left hook to the body your right but he wasnt matured yet. he was a young fighter and was years away from ray. ray had been a star for a long time he had warmed to it hearns hadnt and was enjoy the detroit love he got.

his left hook to the body was amazing but he didnt use it at this stage of his life as much as he did at higher wieghts. he was a puncher but had only just now got into his frame in the amatuers he only had 15 ko's in a 100+ record...he had only just started to learn while ray had been in top form ,the olympics was a big step up.

my idea was that ray didnt know how fast hearns was and only until he got into the ring with him. technical abilties came late on in life at this point in time...he wasnt the hitman he was the moter city cobra

[TIGEREDGE]

Best win was the first fight with Hearns.

Best performance, all things considered, was against Benitez. El Radar made SRL miss a lot that evening, but I'd be hard pressed to give Benitez any more than four or five rounds throughout that entire fight. Pretty impressive stuff.

SPOT ON MATE

[Thread Stealer]

He fought both Duran and Benitez at their heaviest weights to date, where SRL himself was the naturally bigger man.


Duran had some over-the-WW-limit bouts before he faced Ray.

Benitez was heavier in the Palomino fight before he faced Ray. Benitez was light against Leonard, weighing 144.5. He probably trained harder than usual, meaning he worked out twice a month instead of the usual one time.

[Thread Stealer]

His best win was Hearns.

His best performance was against Dave Boy Green, imo.

Agree.