WAS SUGAR RAY LEONARD A BIT OVERRATED???

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[quote=tedsares;368695
Numbers don't lie. Oh, I'll give you the draw against Hearns, but remember, he also stopped Benitiz and beat some other pretty good fighters.[/quote]

Numbers do lie .... you can make a set series of numbers to prove any point at all, that's why politicians do so well.

I must admit that I never did like Ray Leonard ... I thought he got everything on a plate (earning more in his pro Debut that Hagler did after 50 odd fights), he played around with the sport and didn't respect it by defending his titles and then retiring and unretiring all the time. He could be an arrogant prick at times and - to the day I die - I don't believe that he beat Hagler or drew with Hearns.

Still, having said that, he was a helluva fighter and I would never cast doubt on his ability, heart or skill in the ring. He always had a good chin and was as brave as they come (when he had to be). He would have taken Floyd Mayweather into a corner and ripped him apart. He could box, he was fast and he could hit.

A great fighter, definitely an all-time great ....... but IMO not the absolute legend of boxing that he is sometimes seen to be. The only reason I say this is because he did not have longevity ... which sounds strange as he was around for ages, but his lack of defences - or motivation to dominate a division - counts against him in my book.

(note: Marvin defended his title and reigned undisputed for years, Duran dominated the lightweights for a decade, and Hearns would fight anyone anyplace anytime ....... Hearns was a destroyer)

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PS - the Adelphi is a shithole.