Sugary Ray Leonard vs Oscar De La Hoya

[BIG H]

Sugar Ray was able to adapt when needed in fights. Oscar hasn't. Leonard by UD12.

Vargas fight

[diamonddavestafford]

I was thinking that Oscar would have an edge in hand speed- certainly in footspeed- while Leonard would be the harder puncher and be the superior in terms of defensive skills. Two "mental" issues weigh in on my pick. First , Oscar does not react well at all when hit hard by an opponent that he percieves as a real threat. I base this on how giddy he was over his blck eye after the Gonzalez fight (Oscar's best), those weird lulls in the Quartey fight , how after the Trinidad fight he gave me so distinct an impression of a man who had just been very very afraid and how he kept saying that their fight plan was that he not get hurt, how he seemed to be unraveling against Vargas, who blew it by looking for one punch instead of putting hands on Oscar, and his loss to Hopkins. Second, Leonard, as much as I disliked him (and Olympians in general) always found a way to win. Leonard by wide decision, maybe stoppage inthe 9-12th range. Oh with one caveat. Had DeLaHoya continued on with Rivero training him, he would beat Leonard by clear decision and he would be undefeated today. That man was creating a work of art and Clancy and especially Emmanuel Stewart should be expelled from the HoF for what they did to destroy Oscar's career and potential. Neither of thos two has a shred of credibility with me since then.

I dont know about that. Steward is a great trainer. Possibly Oscar just didnt click well with him? Maybe Steward got Oscar later in his career and trying to change him didnt work like if he had started with him early on...either way, either (or any) trainer, Oscar Delahoya does not beat Sugar Ray Leonard. No way. Trainers are important but at the end of the day, they aint fightin anyone...you are.

[LegendBoxing65]

Leonard by 9th round knockout. He was a little too good for Oscar. Oscar is great , but not that great. Ray had a spirit and skill which surpasses Oscar.

[spekterscript]

Sugar Ray was able to adapt when needed in fights. Oscar hasn't. Leonard by UD12.

Excellent point and I use this also whenever this topic is discussed. Leonard also had KO power in both hands. Leonard scores 2 knockdowns and wins via UD.

[RozzySean]

I can't imagine ODLH being able to cope with Leonard. The only modern welter who would could stand a chance against him is Floyd.

[LegendBoxing65]

This fight is not hard to predict. Ray beat all the good guys he fought when he was in his prime. Benitez, Duran, Hearns, Hagler.. And Delahoya did not beat the guys he fought. So my pick is Leonard by UD or late knockout. Oscar did not have the finishing skills of Ray or the speed. He has a good jab and left hook counter and knows the game, but Ray was more multifacited. Oscar came along in a time when he could look good, yet if you look at his record the really top guys he lost to.. And Bernard by bodyshot.

[bigragu]

Sugar Ray everytime!

He stepped up & won all his superfights, unlike Oscar.

I'm not really gonna go there...aww the heck with it...Leonard lost to both Hagler and Hearns II!!! but aside from those I do see SRL winning this one..

[headson]

i think ray leonard like the big names other than iran barkley
& oscar doesn't
i think ray leonard have more power than odlh
ray 12ud

[VictorCharlie]

As a fan of ODH I'd like to pick him but I can't....He would make it close and have some great rounds but lose a SD.

[LegendBoxing65]

Fact is Ray beat the top guys he fought and Oscar did not. Although that might change next Sat. If Oscar beats Floyd next Sat. especially by knockout he should retire and enjoy that for the rest of his life.. Wouldn't that be something? Oscar knocks out Floyd for the count with a 10 count and then retires and does not give Floyd a rematch? If Oscar wins he erases the Tito, Mosley and Bernard fights. I think.. Maybe I am wrong. Case in point-Thomas Hearns did beat Virgil Hill in 1991 and Virgil was undefeated and had 10 title defenses at light heavyweight when Tommy beat him, and still people remember Tommy Hearns for the Hagler and Leonard fights. No one ever mentions the fact Tommy beat an undefeated light heavyweight champion. Never.

[Pugilistic]

sugar ray leonard beats the golden boy by decision

[LegendBoxing65]

I have heard Floyd Mayweather say that Sugar Ray Leonard and Robinson would be beatable since Leonard was beaten by a lightweight Duran and Robinson was flat-footed and kept his hands low. Unbelievable. I guess that in confidence, but usually it is better to have confidence with your generation. I think Floyd has a long way to go to match those two guys. Long way.

[DarkDestroyer]

Indeed a very long way

[diamonddavestafford]

Both were golden boys, both were pretty boys, had lightning fast hands, very sturdy chins, were commanding figures in their times and dominant at welterweights. Man the list of similarities is exhausting who would win and why.

The similarities would end there, when we would be forced to look at the one-sided ass beating Leonard would give Delahoya. Here's why I think that: Oscar has typically had problems with slick defensive boxers with great footwork, fast hands, and great head movement. IMO he did not beat Ike Quartey. IMO he did not beat Pernell Whitaker. IMO the first Mosley fight was much less close than the split decision SSM was awarded. When it comes to lateral movement, great defensive footwork, hand speed and head movement, there was no one better, aside from maybe the original Sugar Ray Robinson himself, who would have practically punched a hole in Oscar's chest, ripped out his heart and drank his soul. Oscar I think would look good if he boxed a la Trinidad in the early rounds (he would have to just to keep up with Sugar Ray Leonard) but it still would not save him as he would slow down and gas out quicker than Leonard, who had too much speed, too much ring smarts, too good of a defense, and was the original "show stealer". Leonard would pepper him all night and dance around him, either forcing a stoppage or a KO late in the fight. Doesn't matter the weight class IMO. Leonard outclasses him at jr welterweight through middleweight (unless u take prime delahoya against old sugar ray). Two different leagues, Oscar Delahoya is just a few steps behind (an there aint no shame in bein just a few steps behind one of the greatest of all time).

[LegendBoxing65]

Oscar is a good fighter but again he lost to Floyd. I know people are saying he gave it a good fight, well he threw punches at a guy who was smaller who didn't punch that hard. But Floyd fought a beautiful fight and beat Oscar I thought better than the scoring said. Oscar fights them all but he is a small step behind the really good guys. Look at his record.