“I Beat His Father”: Sugar Ray Leonard Gives Honest Response to Who Would Have Won Between Him and Floyd Mayweather Jr in a Fantasy Fight

One of the most storied careers of the 1980s belonged to ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard. He fought for two decades, from 1977 to 1997. Alongside Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns, and Roberto Duran, he made up the ‘Four Kings’ quarter that enthralled crowds in the post-Muhammad Ali era. They fought not only each other but also several other big names during the period. No wonder they remain favorites to be picked for fantasy fights.

Though they differed in style, one of the most frequent attempts remains the comparison between ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard and Floyd Mayweather Jr. The former ignited the last two decades of the previous century. The latter, the first two of the current one, So what would have happened if one of the greatest boxer-punchers and arguably the greatest defensive fighter ever squared up? The media posed the question to Ray Leonard. He shared his perspective. After all, besides many others, he fought Mayweather Jr.’s father in a classic.

Battle of the Greats: ‘Sugar’ versus ‘The Money’

‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard joined other boxing legends in Saudi Arabia last week to watch the Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou match. When asked, “People obviously make comparisons with you and Floyd Mayweather Jr. What do you think about when people who would have won out of yourself and Floyd?” Ray Leonard replied, “No, Floyd’s is a very, I was going to say good fighter; he’s a great fighter. And I beat his father. I told him that, and I reminded him that I beat his father years ago. But [he] holds his own.”

Ray Leonard might have put it thoughtfully this time. However, in the past, when checked for his opinion on whether, in his prime, he would have knocked out Floyd Mayweather Jr., ‘Sugar’ very candidly responded with a “Yes.”

It was barely a year after his professional debut that ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard fought Floyd Mayweather Sr. The match, held at the Civic Center in Providence, Rhode Island, ended in a technical victory for the former.

Welterweight King vs. Lightweight King

Perhaps the question will remain open to frequent debates for a long time. Besides the differences in size and fighting style, one of the glaring disparities many point out between ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard and Floyd Mayweather Jr. remains whom they fought—the former took on fighters who were legends in their way and had defeated other world champions. Ray Leonard was a natural Welterweight. He would have gone ahead with his pressing attacks to subdue Mayweather Jr. if he had not been able to knock him out. On the other hand, Mayweather Jr., who lacked power, would have held the North Carolina-born great with his masterly defensive touch in the Lightweight division.

Read More: “That’s the Excitement”: Describing His Own Experience, Sugar Ray Leonard Warns Terence Crawford of Moving Up in Weight Class to Fight Canelo Alvarez

Talking about fantasy fights, who do you think would have won between Roberto Duran and Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a Lightweight bout? Please share your views with us in the comments below.

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