Quote Originally Posted by El Gamo
I was just wondering why the hate on SRL? I've seen him being dissed on older threads and called over rated and manipulative. I was not a boxing fan at the time,so I was just wondering why some of you thought this? Did something happen? All I see is a guy who fought some of the best fighters of all time and beat them. A master boxer.
I just think he picked some of his fights very well i mean he ducked Aaron Pryor, lets remember Pryor went to press conference and kept calling Leonard out. But Leonard kept ignoring him and didn't want to know, Pryor also used to beat up on Leonard in sparring i think Leonard see Pryor as too dangerous at that time but whatever the reason he certainly ducked him IMO. He was also supposed to fight Hagler in the early 80s but he waited until he see Mugabi vs Hagler where Hagler looked past his best. And also Leonard only fought Hagler on his demands. Bigger ring size, 12 rounds instead of 15 rounds etc. But i still admire Leonard coming back from a long lay off to beat Hagler like that because that was amazing. But still he only fought Hagler because he see a great opportunity when Hagler didn't look nowhere near his best in the Mugabi fight. And if the fight would of been 15 rounds he certainly would of lost.

Also the rematch with Hearns he waited 8 years to give Hearns a rematch, and he only gave Hearns a rematch because he thought Hearns was a shot fighter after seeing Iran Barkley KO Hearns. And lets not forget the absolute joke decision in this fight.

I think Leonard was a great a boxer and he has a great resume, i think he picked some of his fights very well and waited just at the right moment. But overall great boxer one of the best of the 80s.