Sugar Ray Leonard 50 today

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 17 May 2006, 09:41

The great Sugar Ray leonard is 50 today, bet that makes alot of people on here feel old as well

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 17 May 2006, 09:48

Happy B'day to one of the greatest ever to lace em up.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 17 May 2006, 10:14

Yes that does, it feels like only yesterday he was embarking on his final comeback vs Camacho.

He still looks like a million dollars.

Boxingmad · Post by **Boxingmad** » 17 May 2006, 10:33

stujones wrote:Yes that does, it feels like only yesterday he was embarking on his final comeback vs Camacho.

He still looks like a million dollars.

Indeed. He looks amazing for a) a 50 year-old and b)a boxer who's been involved in some of the greatest clashes of all time

Still my all-time favourite.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 17 May 2006, 12:19

A great fighter robbed of his best years.

KO Artist · Post by **KO Artist** » 19 May 2006, 14:44

Class Act with a load of talent.

Portrayed a a sweet kid, but a massive puncher (left hook) with a great killer instict and tremendous chin, heart and temperament.

Syntax Error · Post by **Syntax Error** » 19 May 2006, 15:35

He still only looks about 35!

kevo · Post by **kevo** » 19 May 2006, 15:49

My favourite of all time. Had a bit of everything, could box, punch, and despite his superstar status, had the heart of an assasin. His KO of Dave Green was feckin brutal!

Happy B-day champ!!

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 19 May 2006, 16:39

I think if you look at Leonard's early career, there's a case for saying he is the best-managed fighter of all time. His opponents were brilliantly picked.

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 19 May 2006, 16:47

bennie wrote:I think if you look at Leonard's early career, there's a case for saying he is the best-managed fighter of all time. His opponents were brilliantly picked.

Some people say that but really he wasn't fighting bums was he, and then he was put in with Benitez, then Duran and Hearns... compare that with the record of say Hatton who took about 17 'defences' before he fought one of the really top 140 fighters and I'd say Leonard was in no way protected. I think he let himself down a bit with his reluctance to give rematches and stuff like that but all in all he was a great boxer wgo gets a raw deal from some people today... I still think he beat Hagler...

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 19 May 2006, 16:52

silkov wrote:
bennie wrote:I think if you look at Leonard's early career, there's a case for saying he is the best-managed fighter of all time. His opponents were brilliantly picked.
Some people say that but really he wasn't fighting bums was he, and then he was put in with Benitez, then Duran and Hearns... compare that with the record of say Hatton who took about 17 'defences' before he fought one of the really top 140 fighters and I'd say Leonard was in no way protected. I think he let himself down a bit with his reluctance to give rematches and stuff like that but all in all he was a great boxer wgo gets a raw deal from some people today... I still think he beat Hagler...

I wasn't knocking him, believe me. He was brilliantly managed in that every fight brought him on.

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 19 May 2006, 17:01

bennie wrote:
silkov wrote:
bennie wrote:I think if you look at Leonard's early career, there's a case for saying he is the best-managed fighter of all time. His opponents were brilliantly picked.
Some people say that but really he wasn't fighting bums was he, and then he was put in with Benitez, then Duran and Hearns... compare that with the record of say Hatton who took about 17 'defences' before he fought one of the really top 140 fighters and I'd say Leonard was in no way protected. I think he let himself down a bit with his reluctance to give rematches and stuff like that but all in all he was a great boxer wgo gets a raw deal from some people today... I still think he beat Hagler...
I wasn't knocking him, believe me. He was brilliantly managed in that every fight brought him on.

I know what you mean, ...his management must have had a lot of confidence in him to put him in with Benitez though... you would have thought they'd go for the slower Cuevas though maybe they were wary of his power... Benitez only trained for 10 days for Leonard!!...

E · Post by E » 19 May 2006, 17:07

Still can't believe he got stopped by Hector Camacho - arguably Hector's first stoppage win over a world class fighter since 1983 - Rafael Limon....

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 19 May 2006, 18:55

E wrote:Still can't believe he got stopped by Hector Camacho - arguably Hector's first stoppage win over a world class fighter since 1983 - Rafael Limon....

.

I still think (and so does Angelo Dundee) feel he made a big mistake in fighting his last two fights at Light Middle.

He hadn't fought at Light Middle since the early 80's and was more frequently fighting at 12 stone than anything else. People get naturally bigger as they get older - yet Leonard wanted to drop a stone at 35 and then 40 years of age.

Dundee was convinced he could have done a better show, not necessarily win, had he just continued training with him - cause he wouldn't have been near Light Middle. He also heard that he was adding different things to his training regime, that he had never done before.

BoxBuzz · Post by **BoxBuzz** » 19 May 2006, 20:46

I was in D.C. when Ray was involved in some sort of a big news story maybe invovling a kidnapping or something like that....seems only yesterday but I think it was in the 80's.

hitman_hatton1 · Post by **hitman_hatton1** » 20 May 2006, 11:42

leonard's my favourite atg.

the 1st battle with duran is surely one of the best fights ever.

Nile4000 · Post by **Nile4000** » 31 May 2006, 11:11

It only seemed like yesterday that he stopped Hearns.

Southpaw Stylist · Post by **Southpaw Stylist** » 31 May 2006, 13:29

The fight against Floyd Mayweather was pretty good.

Floyd Jr is better than his Dad, and his Dad gave Leonard trouble.

So boy...

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 31 May 2006, 13:54

SRL, very fast but dull

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 31 May 2006, 14:42

viciousmaussa wrote:SRL, very fast but dull

As in Marilyn Monroe naked was dull...

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 01 Jun 2006, 04:48

bennie wrote:
viciousmaussa wrote:SRL, very fast but dull
As in Marilyn Monroe naked was dull...

well. she didn't have the best physique. nice cock sucking mouth however

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 01 Jun 2006, 06:27

viciousmaussa wrote:SRL, very fast but dull

Dull? Are you mad, I would hardly call his victories over Benitez, Duran, and Hearns dull....

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 01 Jun 2006, 06:30

KO Artist wrote:Class Act with a load of talent.

Portrayed a a sweet kid, but a massive puncher (left hook) with a great killer instict and tremendous chin, heart and temperament.

That's it, looked like Bambi, but he was a real killer when it counted.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 01 Jun 2006, 06:42

jamesmcdonnell wrote:
viciousmaussa wrote:SRL, very fast but dull
Dull? Are you mad, I would hardly call his victories over Benitez, Duran, and Hearns dull....

it was a joke, some guy over at boxers of the past has started a whole thread on my comment,

i have to say though, that when a great fighter like leonard is portrayed so often in the media, in the books, the press, on the websites, in the marshall cavendish video/mag series, it's like a post modern condition where overfamiliarity gets dull. there's a less euphemistic way of saying it, 'i get sick of smeg hearing it' lol

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 01 Jun 2006, 06:56

Oh right, that's ok then.