Thought of this when I read the Hopkins-Hagler thread. Leonard controversially beat past prime Hagler while Taylor got two verdicts over past prime Hopkins. Which one of them wins head to head?
Very good MM actually. Leonard wasn't as Lethal at Middleweight and seemed to fight more in spurts. Taylor was a very big Middleweight and had good speed and power. He survived 24 rounds with Hopkins and survived Pavlik in their rematch so i don't see Leonard stopping him at Middleweight. Then again, Leonard did almost stop Hearns at 168lbs...but then again Hearns was somewhat damaged goods at that point. Leonard wins a close decision.
I wouldn't rule out the possibility that Leonard stops him. In fact, that's what I think would happen.
Even realizing that the 160 lb. version of Leonard is way beyond prime, I'd still have to take him here. Regardless of how you scored either fight w/ Hopkins or his draw w/ Winky, one thing that worked to Taylor's advantage in all three fights was his ability to steal rounds. Leonard would never allow that to happen, and it's quite possible that he causes Taylor to waste even more energy than is usually the case. My safe pick is Leonard by UD, though like steve_dave I don't rule out the possibility of a late stoppage.
Leonard UD...Taylor has NO History of Being Stopped by a BROTHER, so No Reason To Think a Past Prime Ray Leonard Could Do it...Now if Leonard was WHITE..... REED:mj:
I actually don't know about this one, though reflexively I'd lean towards Leonard. Taylor would force a much faster pace on Leonard than Hagler did though, and was a much bigger man, to boot. The Lalonde fight is probably a more useful comparison and Leonard really had all he could handle there in the early parts. It would take every ounce of Leonard's grit and inventiveness to outwork Taylor at that advanced, faded stage of his career I think. Had Hagler fought him like he fucking should have instead of trying to prove something stupid to himself, Leonard, the media or whoever, I suspect less people would be so quick to put their faith in 87 Leonard. I'll back Leonard to pull something out of the fire but there would be fire.
Ah fuck it, I just rewatched the last couple of rounds of the Lalonde fight. Leonard, Leonard, Leonard. That's fucking bad assery, right there.
LOL. Anybody thinking Taylor is competitive with the Leonard that beat Hagler is delusional. This would be a one sided ass whuppin, and Taylor would not go the distance. Basically the ONLY thing Taylor had which gave Hopkins trouble is his handspeed, and against Leonard he has no such advantage in that area. Other than that, JT was just a shitty fighter.
I don't think that's accurate at all. One doesn't beat an ATG such as Hopkins with just a single attribute, and one that wasn't even that prolific. That doesn't even make sense.
Against Ray Taylor would not be faster but he had much more reach, bigger punch and more strength. Taylor was better than Donnie Lalonde and would make Leonard work for it. I would pick Ray though, as some have said he is too smart to lose here, but it is not like Leonard was as good as in welter
Of course not, but he beat twice a fighter who is undeniably a better middleweight than Leonard and thus this deserves a thread.
Exactly. Great fighters, and especially great fighters 2 divisions and 7 years past their best only ever lose to great fighters.:bears:
You'd have to be to walk the streets with a hair-do like that. Same reason I never mess with a guy with a non-ironic tache.
Who cares..as long as Leonard goes life and death with Canelo at 155...you can have whatever prediction u want!!
Leonard MIGHT edge Canelo, but it could be a draw. That's in a 12 rounder. In a 15 rounder Canelo drowns him.
Taylor's lightheavyweight frame causes problems early, Leonard would pinch enough rounds to win. Very late stoppage certainly not outlandish
You go from one extreme to another. It's ridiculous. So either Leonard beats Canelo EASILY and stops him...or opposition to that thought means everyone is saying that Leonard struggles or loses.
