REVISITING RAY LEONARD

powerpuncher wrote:

thats why we can only judge people off of their own era. we can never know what would have really happened if they fought in a different era. we can only assume. if SRR fought in this era and only had 40 or 50 fights, would people claim that he isnt as great as the fighters of the past because he doesnt have as many fights as they do? we just have to judge on what opportunities they were given and what they did about it.

That's not true. We DO KNOW Ray Leonard's body broke down at around 30 fights. That was in an era where the top guys fought 60+ times. It is not conceivable that his body could have handled 60+ or 100 fights. We KNOW this because it didn't even handle 40.

Leonard is an anomoly even in his own era.

Good Post, Marble. Give Leonard the credit he deserves. After Ali retired, they were alot of ATGs in the 80s who excited us every weekend on shows like "Wide World Of Sports" and "Sports Spectacular." Though, Leonard was the star, the little Ali who kept the magic of boxing going strong. The sport has had great moments since the 80s but in my opinion, has never returned to the quality of that era. Also, let's not forget that Leonard never lost to anyone named "Ralph Tiger Jones" (Sorry, couldn't resist that.)

marbleheadmaui wrote:

powerpuncher wrote:

thats why we can only judge people off of their own era. we can never know what would have really happened if they fought in a different era. we can only assume. if SRR fought in this era and only had 40 or 50 fights, would people claim that he isnt as great as the fighters of the past because he doesnt have as many fights as they do? we just have to judge on what opportunities they were given and what they did about it.

That's not true. We DO KNOW Ray Leonard's body broke down at around 30 fights. That was in an era where the top guys fought 60+ times. It is not conceivable that his body could have handled 60+ or 100 fights. We KNOW this because it didn't even handle 40.

Leonard is an anomoly even in his own era.

maybe in a different era he would have been poor and fought through it and just gone blind. who knows. just being the devils advovcate

powerpuncher wrote:

marbleheadmaui wrote:

powerpuncher wrote:

thats why we can only judge people off of their own era. we can never know what would have really happened if they fought in a different era. we can only assume. if SRR fought in this era and only had 40 or 50 fights, would people claim that he isnt as great as the fighters of the past because he doesnt have as many fights as they do? we just have to judge on what opportunities they were given and what they did about it.

That's not true. We DO KNOW Ray Leonard's body broke down at around 30 fights. That was in an era where the top guys fought 60+ times. It is not conceivable that his body could have handled 60+ or 100 fights. We KNOW this because it didn't even handle 40.

Leonard is an anomoly even in his own era.

maybe in a different era he would have been poor and fought through it and just gone blind. who knows. just being the devils advovcate

And the devil is lucky to have you!

thats the nicest thing anybody has ever said to me

marbleheadmaui wrote:

I don't buy that. Durability counts. It takes a certain constitution to fight 100 fights. Ray didn't have it.

Didn't the drug culture in boxing in the 80s hurt his longevity? Based on what I've been told, I'd say his nose went before his eyes.

Also, he had a pretty strong amateur record. I'm not sure how that factors into his durability, but it seems like all those fights can take a toll on a fighter (BHop and S. Martinez being two good examples of guys without a big amateur background who hit their primes later in their careers and are holding onto them longer).

Gumby wrote:

marbleheadmaui wrote:

I don't buy that. Durability counts. It takes a certain constitution to fight 100 fights. Ray didn't have it.

Didn't the drug culture in boxing in the 80s hurt his longevity? Based on what I've been told, I'd say his nose went before his eyes.

Also, he had a pretty strong amateur record. I'm not sure how that factors into his durability, but it seems like all those fights can take a toll on a fighter (BHop and S. Martinez being two good examples of guys without a big amateur background who hit their primes later in their careers and are holding onto them longer).

Good question on the nose candy. I thought it was eye issues, first retirement THEN Bolivian Marching Powder...but I could be wrong.

your remembering right , in a Leonard vid Ive watched his wife said he got on the nsoe candy after the first retirement