Sugar Ray Leonard and Floyd Mayweather Jr both reached the pinnacle of boxing during different eras.
Leonard competed professionally from 1977 to 1997, with his success helping him become known as one of the greatest boxers of all time.
He was a five-weight world champion, and was also part of the ‘Four Kings’ alongside Marvin Hagler, Roberto Duran and Thomas Hearns due to the epic battles that they were all involved in with one another.
Mayweather is also viewed as one of the best ever. His career began in 1996 and ended in 2017, and just like Leonard, he was a five-weight world champion,
While it may have been nearly a decade since Mayweather last competed professionally, he arguably remains one of the biggest names in the sport, after compiling a perfect 50-0 record and defeating fighters such as Manny Pacquiao, Canelo Alvarez and Oscar De La Hoya.
One big debate that always remains is how Mayweather would have competed in different eras, and Leonard has now given his take to Boxing Hub TV on how his countryman would have done against the ‘Four Kings.’
“Mayweather can compete with the four of us in our era, but a bit more fire would come his way. Could he beat me? No. Could he beat Tommy? I don’t think so. Could he beat Hagler? No. Could he beat Duran? No.
“With that being said and all due respect to Mayweather who was an incredible technician, if you ask him he would say the same thing that he could beat us and beat our guys in my era. Fighters say that and believe that. Fighters believe they can beat anyone, and if you don’t say you can beat anyone, you’re not a fighter.”
