There were reporters and historians in Louis' era (two were Ernest Hemingway and Jimmy Cannon) who also thought he could beat Dempsey as well.
:: Good point. While we can't underrate previous eras, at the same time, I do think contemporary fighters totally get taken for granted. Pacquiao is one of them, and Marquez is another, who I actually think is better than both Sanchez and Chavez.
You're basically a Pacquiao hater/Floyd nuthugger. If you chose Floyd to lose to Ray by close decision I could say.
Quote of the year. You are kidding yourself. History will have fonder memories of Pacquiao than it will Leonard, even if Leonard would've likely won at Welter. Count on the former.
I don't think so, but those would be terrific fights. No one sided ass kicking or "schooling" either way.
Agreed. LG seemed like a decent poster at first, but now it's come to light that he is a fully fledged Floyd groupie and Pacquiao hater. He was controlling himself at first, before showing his true colours.
Hopkins may not have fought a 15 rounder but he IS a 15 round fighter make no mistake. have you ever seen bernard gassed in the 12th? Besides, as whiskey said this is an irrelevant criteria to mention. IMO, Bernard beats Monzon 6 times out of 10 and all the fights go the distance and end in close decisions.
I would pick Ray over Floyd all day, and I'm a confirmed Leonard hater. I just don't allow my biases to color my perception of fighters. Leonard is just as fast Floyd if not faster, hits harder, and has a better chin. It has nothing to do with overrating old school fighters, either. Anyone who watches Pac and Leonard fights and doesn't realize that Leonard is the clearly superior fighter is not aware of what they are seeing. I'd pick Hearns over both Floyd and Pac with 0 hesitation as well. And I agree, Pac would have no chance against Floyd, forget SRL. Again, I fucking hate SRL, can't stand the guy. He was a bitch at the negotiating table, as bad as Manny Pac.
Leonard was a GREAT fighter, but he tends to be overrated these days. Pacquiao is more durable than hearns was IMO, even at Welterweight. It took Leonard 14 rounds to stop Hearns. Now granted, hearns' height reach and power was a factor also, but where manny doesn't have that Height and reach..and power is less, he has more stamina, workrate, southpawedness and overall quickness to compensate. I don't see how Ray Leonard stops him early. Leonard is only seen as a puncher NOW (with rose coloured spectacles)...in his prime he wasn't known as a puncher. Even he admitted that he wasn't a big puncher in an interview before the Hagler fight: "I'm not known as a big puncher...just as a consistent puncher" Leonard will win, no doubt, because with his size and style he'd be too much for Manny to overcome. But to think it would be an easy night for Ray is ridiculous. Manny brings pretty much would Duran brought to the table.
Duran is my favourite fighter by a pretty huge margin, far more than Pacquiao. Like I said in another thread, I prefer Morales to Pacquiao, and rooted for him all 3 times. Morales is my favourite fighter of the modern era, Duran is my favourite fighter ever. But Manny is absolutely on Duran's level. They are two of the very best fighters ever. Manny isn't "1000 times worse" than anyone. "Like I said before", not only are you a Floyd nuthugger, you're basically a Pacquiao hater. No-one who has followed Manny's career since flyweight, seen him transcend however many weight divisions, destroying almost everyone in his path - could think he is significantly worse than any fighter in history unless they hate him or have an IQ of 60 or below.
I think TLC just overrates 70s and especially 80s way too much. They were great decades for sure, but as you said, Manny is not leagues below anybody in the history
Pacquiao hasn't fought anybody to indicate he would have any chance vs. Leonard. Cotto, Margarito, Clottey = Victory or close fight vs. LEONARD? Hell no... If the fight was P4P I would give Pac a chance...not a great chance...
Of course he was overated....Hearns, Benitez, Duran and Hagler...were NOTHING!!!!! Pacquiao would want Hearns to amputate both his arms before fighting him...wait for until 1990 to fight Benitez, Asked Leonard to come down to 143-144 to fight....and ask Hagler to fight at 147..... and Mayweather would ducked all of them straight up...
That's not true when you consider that people actually knew who Ray Leonard was when he was fighting.
This forum makes me shake my head sometimes. Now Ray Leonard, who defeated an undefeated Hearns, an undefeated Benitez, and a Duran who had only lost one fight (that he avenged twice) is overrated.. but a Pacquiao who beats up on faded/declining and limited opponents and is "afraid of needles" is underrated? Forget Hearns, Duran, and Benitez.. Ayub Kalule is better than anyone who Pac has beaten at 147.