Sugar Ray on Pacquiao, Money May: "I'd knock 'em both out."

 

Of course, he was kidding when he said that...sort of.

 

Sugar Ray Leonard may be one of the best to ever lace on gloves, an Olympic gold medalist and six-division world champ who blended technique, tactics and tenacity like few others, but he has one thing in common with the rest of us.

He's a boxing fan.

His insights into a hypothetical superfight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather may carry more weight than mine or yours, but like me and you he'd rather see the fight than speculate about it.

But that didn't stop us from asking him a few questions about the fight we all want to see but might never witness.

Tuesday afternoon we caught up with Leonard to discuss his new autobiography, and after talking books he agreed to go twelve rounds with your favourite sportswriter, tackling topics from his favourite place to fight, to whether he deserved a draw in his rematch with Thomas Hearns, to how Mayweather and Pacquiao would fare against him in his prime.

Fun stuff as always, and props to Sugar Ray for his honesty. 

To listen to an interview that goes way more than twelve rounds, click the link below.

FightingWordsSRL_July12_2k11_1

 

 

Comments

[Mark]

I believe it. The Four Horsemen (Leonard, Hearns, Duran and Hagler)can knock out either Pacquiao or Floyd with ease.

[Jerry Lynch]

C'Mon now Ray, I believe a fight between you and either of these guys would be great at Welterweight but you would have to add Duran into the mix and that would be the greatest tournament ever if all 4 had fought each other in their primes.

[glenn manikis]

common rey.. athletes today are much faster, technical, and stronger because of new and much more advance technologies in food, diet, nutrition, training.. etc.. than before..

[JJ]

I still think PAC can beat Leonard, Hearns and Duran but Hagler would be his test, because of Hagler's bulk, size and constant pressure. Whereas, Mayweather would have had a hard time against Leonard, Hearns and Hagler. He would easily beat Duran.

[July]

maybe he can knock out floyd but not manny. sorry sugar ray..manny is one of a kind

[Benny]

I agree Ray would KO Floyd Jr with ease. As for Manny, i think Pacquiao would KO Leonard. he won't be able to handle Manny's speed, power and the weird punching angles....the volume of punches. Manny would be too much even for Leonard.

[prince]

no way... floyd will retire early before it happens

[erwin b. acosta]

nope, i don't believe you rey. its just like saying, the 8o's version of la lakers can beat the 2010 version of la lakers hehehe.

[manuel pacheco]

sugar ray leonard is right, the crop of today's welterweights couldn't carry the jockstraps of welterweights of the 70's, 80's and even 90's. thomas hearns, roberto duran, sugar ray would have beaten either mayweather jr. and pacquiao.

and the likes of wilfredo benitez, pipino cuevas, donald curry, felix trinidad, a prime oscar de la hoya, john stracey, lloyd honeyghan, carlos palomino, vernon forrest, marlon starling, milton mccrory and hedgemon lewis would have given them hell.

i believe both mayweather jr. AND pacquiao are very fortunate to be fighting in this very weak era of welterweights.

[oel zedumreb]

you're absolutely right jerry lynch....leonard is great in his time....but today's athletes are different, could it be in speed, power or technique...it's because of the advent of new technology...

[Morgan Campbell]

How about we consider all other things equal -- Sugar Ray growing up in today's era of super-scientific training, or placing floyd and manny in the 70s, when people thought steak and eggs and orange juice were advanced nutrition.

Place all three guys in the same era and put them in the ring at 147 and Leonard does both of them in. Fight with Mayweather is a chess match like the Benitez fight, but SRL's punching power carries it. And he's just too much of a boxer for Pac. If you don't believe that you probably need to watch some more SRL video...

[UnavowedGenius]

Morgan is absolutely right, not to mention the fact that Sugar Ray is 6'1 and is just naturally bigger than the both and if not as fast just a hare shy of their speed.

[Chris]

I believe Sugar Ray; when Leonard, Hagler, Duran and Hearns were in their prime it was the golden years of welter/middle weight boxing. You can't just take the new school boxers and say they are better, let's face it there's a reason why those were the golden years, these guys were exceptional and Leonard was the best of them all. Sugar knocks them both out; I think Hagler knocks 'em both out, he was a beast.

[JP]

Sugar Ray would have knocked out or at least decisioned Mayweather. As for Pacman, that would be an interesting fight. Guys like Leonard fought 15 rounds. With today's fighters only going 12, stamina would be the issue. Hearns and Hagler would have easily beat both. Duran is a different story. Mayweather would be too fast but Pacman would probably be an interesting test. The dream fight would be Aaron Pryor against Manny Pacquiao. That would be non- stop action.

[Juvy]

Mr Sugar Ray Leonard, Pacquiao has 8 world title belt. He does have one of the greatest strength and conditioning coach to educate Manny in food, diet, propert exercise and nutrition. Pacquiao's sparing partners are much heavier than he is, and Freddie Roach the best of the best boxing trainer. Pacman once again, the best fighter of the world 2011 ESPY Award.

[Markymark2112]

Come on people, the boxers today are stonger and faster than ever due to advances nutrition and training do you honestly believe Ray would get away dancing away against Manny like he did with Duran. He was also an alcoholic and cocaine addict. Manny would knock him out in two rounds.

[Mike N]

For some reason, I never warmed to Mr. Leonard. Perhaps it was because he used Sugar Ray Robinson's moniker. I was surprised that he stopped the Hitman in their first bout (and even more surprised that Hearns was outboxing him before the stoppage. I did enjoy, however, Tommy knocking him to the canvas a couple times in a later bout.

[Gio]

Hey, great post!