Terence Crawford vs Sugar Ray Leonard would have been a fight for the ages in any era. Who would have taken the win?

The hypothetical bout between Terence “Bud” Crawford and “Sugar” Ray Leonard in their prime is a boxing fan’s dream match up.

Crawford is the best welterweight in today’s times, sure.

What a fight.

Skill, speed, power, grit and heart.

Both fighters were undisputed champions in their times.

Switch-hitters, and masters of their craft.

Always unpredictable. Quite brilliantly so.

Analyzing their styles, strengths, and weaknesses may provide insight into who might have emerged victorious — let’s take a look.

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Styles Make Fights At The End Of The Day

Terence Crawford: Crawford is a versatile boxer-puncher, can mix it up. He is known for his exceptional ring IQ, defensive acumen but at the same time, his devastating power in both hands. He is a master of creating angles, cutting off the ring, and exploiting his opponents’ weaknesses, patiently so.
Sugar Ray Leonard: Leonard was a dynamic and charismatic fighter in his day with incredible speed, footwork, and punching combinations in particular, electric fighter. He was adept at outfoxing his opponents from the outside and at mid range. He possessed a killer instinct when he smelled blood.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Crawford’s Strengths: Crawford’s ability to switch stances seamlessly, his defensive prowess, and his calculated aggression make him a difficult puzzle to solve for any opponent. His power is also undeniable. Capable of ending a fight with a single punch. His patience.

Crawford’s Weaknesses: While Crawford’s adaptability is a strength, it can sometimes make him venerable as he settles into a preferred rhythm during a fight. Additionally, he has not faced the same level of elite competition as Leonard did during his career — Hagler, Hearns, Duran, etc.
Leonard’s Strengths: Leonard’s speed, athleticism, and boxing IQ were his greatest assets. He was a master at controlling distance and dictating the pace of a fight. His hand speed and rapid combinations could overwhelm opponents at times.
Leonard’s Weaknesses: Leonard’s defense was not as airtight as Crawford’s you could say, and he could be susceptible to power punchers every now and then. He also tended to fade in the later rounds sometimes, particularly in longer fights. Crawford would have preyed on this.

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The Tale of the Tape

While comparing fighters from different eras is always challenging, alas, some key factors can help paint a clearer picture.

Size: Leonard would likely have a slight height and reach advantage but Crawford is known for his ability to close the distance and negate size advantages, ability wins fights, not size.

Power: Crawford might hold a slight edge in power. Particularly in his right hand but Leonard possessed enough pop to hurt anyone he landed clean on with those combos.
Speed: Leonard’s hand and foot speed were legendary and he would likely hold the advantage in this category, certainly actually.
Chin: Crawford has shown a solid chin throughout his career while Leonard was stopped a few times in his career. Toughness you’d probably lean towards “Bud” in this one.

The Verdict

Predicting the outcome of this hypothetical matchup is a matter of opinion and depends on individual preferences and biases when formulating a possible fight.

However, based on a thorough analysis of their styles, strengths, and weaknesses above, a few scenarios are possible:

Scenario 1: Crawford could use his superior defensive skills to frustrate Leonard early on, gradually wearing him down with his power and precision. Leonard’s tendency to fade in later rounds could play into Crawford’s hands leading to a late stoppage or a clear decision win for “Bud”.

Scenario 2: Leonard may use his speed and movement to outbox Crawford from the outside, piling up points with his combinations while avoiding Crawford’s power shots. Leonard’s ability to adjust mid-fight could be crucial in neutralizing Crawford’s switch-hitting advantage, nullifying it.
Scenario 3: The fight could be a closely contested back-and-forth affair, with both fighters having their moments. The outcome could depend on who lands the cleaner, more damaging punches or who makes a crucial mistake, particularly early on, given confidence to an eventual winner.

Ultimately, the fight between Crawford and Leonard in their primes would likely be a captivating and competitive spectacle.

The pinnacle of welterweight match ups, almost. 147 lbs. of pure boxing ability and heart.

Both fighters possess the skills and attributes to win.

Making it a true toss-up really.

Hard to call.