Ray Leonard V Sweet Pea At 147

[ThatOne]

Who wins?

[Goodnight, Irene]

Eh, I hate to say it, but I don't think Whitaker can pull this one off. Sacrificing speed, output & size against a fighter of Leonard's quality & versatility, on top of the fact he'll struggle to convince Sugar Ray to lead, & I think Sweet Pea probably gets out-worked & frustrated, going down 8-4, 116-112.

He'd have his moments, but it's just a very difficult set of circumstances for Whitaker to overcome. I'd love to be proven wrong.

[BoxBuzz]

I think there's too much size difference. Pound for pound is a bit different.

But just for the record are you saying Ray is faster than Pernell? If so I would disagree on that. Not that it would help Pernell

[Robinson]

Pea does his best, but Ray gets the win. It would be close, but Pernell is too defensive
and struggles to counter as well as he would like.
The decision is a fair one, unlike most of Pea's losses at the hands of the judges.

[NazNaci1]

Yup, very close call, but i figure Leonard's speed (certainly equal, at the very least), size and greater power will just be too much for 'The Pea'.

Close decision win for SRR, imo. Two great fighters though and I would have enjoyed watching it.

[bjermaine]

i'll actually go with whitaker in this fight by very close decision. he'll frustrate leonard enough and make an ugly fight of it.

[Grimm]

I don't think it matters who wins because no one would stay for the decision.

[Goodnight, Irene]

I think there's too much size difference. Pound for pound is a bit different.

But just for the record are you saying Ray is faster than Pernell? If so I would disagree on that. Not that it would help Pernell

Faster overall, yes. Quicker wheels, & at least the equal of Whitaker in hand & reflex speed (maybe not regarding reflexes, on second thought, but I don't think it's a deciding issue). If Leonard keeps busy, throws in combination, continues moving & throws the harder shots (put simply, if the best Leonard shows up), I don't think Whitaker can put him into enough awkward spots to out-point him, sadly. As Robinson alludes to, Whitaker would also have to win more convincingly to get the decision --- with lighter punching & probably fewer shots landed overall, I can't see it.

Pound-for-pound, as stated, might've been a different story. Great fighters, the pair of 'em. I'm not sure which I'd consider the greater all-time fighter. You are, however, talking about a brace of fighters whose best division is two weightclasses apart, with one making a cameo no higher than Jr. Middle, & the other eventually reaching as high as, what, Light-Heavy?

[elmersalsa]

To me it's a toss up...Both have a chance to win. It is hard for me to pick a winner in this fight because both were extraordinary good. To me, both could lick any fighter in history, including the great Sugar Ray Robinson

[BoxBuzz]

elmer....am I off the mark with thinking that Pernell was smaller than Leonard or Robinson? Once again if this is pound for pound I just might lean to Pernell, but my recollection just has him a shade too small to truly compete with these guys......though he just might be able to tie either of the guys in knots as he carved out a draw.

[elmersalsa]

elmer....am I off the mark with thinking that Pernell was smaller than Leonard or Robinson? Once again if this is pound for pound I just might lean to Pernell, but my recollection just has him a shade too small to truly compete with these guys......though he just might be able to tie either of the guys in knots as he carved out a draw.

We kind of forget of how good Whitaker was. It would not surprised me if he beats Leonard, Duran or Robinson or Armstrong...He was that good.

[Goodnight, Irene]

I actually do favour him against Duran at Lightweight (I'm sure the judges' screw him, though).

I'm not sure I rate him quite as highly as Elmer, but it's nice to see him so appreciated. He was simply brilliant.

[tennessee]

same as de lahoya, but ray looking a little better swinging in the air

[Diamond WEAPON]

Leonard wins a clear decision in an ugly fight. Leonard was about as quick as Pernell but bigger, stronger, and more apt offensively. Whitaker would likely try to stink the joint out by being totally negative but Leonard is amongst the few that are quick enough to catch him cleanly with some consistency. Whitaker's defensive ability is slightly ocerrated as he really got hit with a lot of shots in his career, but he made it look like they missed thanks to his reflexes that allowed him to roll with them to the degree of making them mostly grazes. He wouldn't have that luxury against Leonard thougg, who could hammer the shorter Whitaker with his jab and force P to try to come after him. People may think I hate Whitaker, but I'm just trying to be real about his abilities, and despite his quality, it wouldn't be enough to beat Leonard, whom I consider a better boxer on top of being a naturally bigger and stronger fighter. When the bigger fighter is also the more skilled one it makes things VERY difficult for his opponent, just look at Whitaker v. Chavez.

[Goodnight, Irene]

Whitaker was more skilled than Leonard. He worked harder at patenting his manouevres, & his skill-set was broader. Leonard was, perhaps, more talented, if that's what you mean to say.

Btw, even though Whitaker was more accustomed to Welter, he & Chavez were each natural Lightweights.

[Diamond WEAPON]

Whitaker was more skilled than Leonard. He worked harder at patenting his manouevres, & his skill-set was broader. Leonard was, perhaps, more talented, if that's what you mean to say.

Btw, even though Whitaker was more accustomed to Welter, he & Chavez were each natural Lightweights.

I thought Whitaker carried the weight better, he was thicker, and he did drain some given his similar physique at 154. Chavez never drained at all though and was just 142 at the weigh-in. I'd be willing to bet Whitaker outweighed Chavez by a good 8 lbs. Or so.

[Goodnight, Irene]

Chavez was just arriving at the weight, though. No surprises he was on the light side. Whitaker did start in a heavier class, so he was probably a bigger man somewhat, but I think he bests Chavez at Lightweight as well, hypothetically.

[Ezzard]

I think Whittaker was a better boxer who used angles as good as anyone. But Leonard was faster and had more power.

I think Leonard could stop him late in a 15 round fight if he went for it.