Sugar Ray Leonard:why do some hate him/think he was over rated?

[cockey cockney]

Sugar Ray Leonard was a magnificent fighter who was driven by ego - so to say he ducked anybody in his prime is a joke. You don't fight an undefeated Thomas Hearns in his prime but are somehow scared to fight others.

He lost the rematch to Hearns IMO but both were past it and it holds no real value on their legacies.

I thought he lost to Hagler at the time but I was 10 then and since growing up and watching it I have no qualms with the decision. Both fighters were faded and Hagler in particular was just too slow and hardly landed many decent punches.

Leonard won the rematch with Duran fair and square - Duran quit. The 3rd fight was pointless.

Leonard's speed, reflex's and his venom made him a truly great fighter. He had a great chin to go with the flair. Sure he was cocky but he had the ability to back it up.

Hearns was a nasty son of a bitch when he had people hurt but Leonard was pure evil when the killer instinct kicked in.

so to say he ducked anybody in his prime is a joke.

If its such a joke explain why Leonard moved up a weight in the Amateurs to avoid fighting Pryor ?? also explain when Pryor called Leonard out in a press conference why Leonard dismissed Pryor's challenge if he wasn't avoiding Pryor ??

You rekon Pryor beats Leonard at 147? Honestly?

I don't know because both men have never met anyone like each other before, obviously the favorite would be Leonard and if i had to choose i would pick Leonard by close decision with both men getting dropped in the fight. I think people are getting the wrong impression of me on this subject, i don't hate Leonard i think he is one of the most skilled boxers in the history of the sport, but i believe he did avoid Pryor but like i have said before every great fighter has avoided a fighter even Sugar Ray Robinson avoided Charley Burley, and he is considered the best boxer in the history of the boxing.

In the end Leonard beat some great fighters and did achieve a lot in his career even with his long lay offs. He also had a few questionable decision's and a few question marks on his overall career but so does every boxer, you could break down anyones record and say its questionable/overrated etc. Overall great fighter, great heart, great speed, flashy, underrated power, amazing foot work, one of the best Welterweights of all time.

fair play there bruva.... i think it was a timing thing more then anything else. SRL searched for a combination of the hardest challenges with the biggest pay days and when he took on hearns this was by far the most challenging and financially rewarding fight out there. And striaght after this he then retired and it took a middleweight king who was beating everyone left, right and centre to get him out of this retirement, which we all know was a HUGE challenge and wudda no doubt made him a mint!