Henry Armstrong vs Sugar Ray Leonard. Who wins?

Question

15 rounds at welterweight. Dream match

Answer 1

sugar ray all the way

Answer 2

Thumbs up to Galactus, great answer, I agree Armstrong by decision.

Answer 3

Ray is a SOLID Third at Welterweight.   Of all the dream matches and rankings I have ever been involved in this is the one I am most certain of.  I rank the best 3 welterweights of all time as follows

Sugar Ray Robinson

Henry Armstrong

Sugar Ray Leonard.  

People are so afraid to give credit to contemporary fighters in favor of the old-timers but the truth is that Leonard would have been far too talented for guys like Basilio and Zivic and others.  He's not as tough as some of them but he's tough enough to take what they dish out and come out ahead.

Still, he's a solid 3rd, behind Robinson and Armstrong.  Henry would fight Ray in much the same way Duran did in the first fight.  The difference is that he would throw FAR more punches than did Duran.   Also, if Ray chose to box and move, as he should have against Duran,  Armstrong would have no trouble tracking him down.  

The point is that Ray would not be able to keep Henry off him.  He's just too busy and throws FAR too many punches per round to allow Sugar Ray to set up his offensive attack.  Hammering Hank would turn it into a dog fight for survival for Sugar Ray.  

Ray was a pretty boy but he was a lot tougher than many gave him credit for.  Still he would cave in against the onslaught of Armstrong.  

Ray would win the early rounds, probably 4 of the first 5.   However, as time passes he will realize he's not going to slow down nor discourage Armstrong.   He will lump Henry up but not enough to force a stoppage because he will also take his share of lumps.  

Leonard had excellent stamina.  However Armstrong would certainly push him to the limits.  He would soon run out of places to run and be forced to show his toughness.  He would prove himself by surviving the distance.  However, he would take a terrible beating in the process as Armstrong takes the later part of the fight.  It makes me wonder why Leonard avoided Arron Pryor.

Leonard would narrowly escape a stoppage in round 14 and gain a great deal of respect for his effort.  There would be no last round rally as there was against Duran.  Armstrong comes to fight EVERY minute of EVERY round.  He will be in Leonard's face until the final bell.  

Armstrong by clear decision.